This DIY homemade bathroom cleaner is made from just two ingredients and yet super effective! It will save you money and help you avoid using chemical laden alternatives.
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After our first child was born 12 years ago, I became pretty determined to try to find ways that I could avoid chemicals in our house, especially in our cleaning products.
I never was crazy about the strong noxious smell of so many of them, but now that I had a baby that was often nearby when I was getting our house spic and span, I really wasn’t impressed!
I found a homemade cleaner recipe that was basically water and vinegar and it worked okay but was nothing great. So when I came across a recipe for homemade bathroom cleaner that people were raving over, I was pretty excited.
I made it last week, used it immediately and well, let’s just say that there was a reason that people were raving!
Not only is this homemade cleaner inexpensive and easy to make, but it also did an amazing job of getting things clean.
What impressed me the most is that the buildup that I could never get off of the caulking in our bathtub/shower wiped clean without any real effort when I used this homemade cleaner. It officially has me sold!
If you aren’t a fan of the smell of vinegar, try my friend Julie’s tip of using lemon or orange peels to help improve the smell!
Here’s the recipe so that you can make your own and enjoy the amazing results yourself!
DIY Homemade Bathroom Cleaner
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces white vinegar
- 8 ounces Dawn dish soap (I used the blue)
How to make:
1. Heat vinegar until hot and pour into a spray bottle.
2. Add the Dawn dish soap. Put the lid on and gently shake to incorporate.
3. Use and be amazed at how well your bathroom gets cleaned! For tough soap scum build-up, spray the mixture on and allow it to sit as long as overnight. Then, scrub and rinse.
Notes:
- You will only want to lightly spray the surface you are cleaning as this cleaner is quite sudsy and if you get spray happy you might get frustrated at the effort it takes to wipe it all up!
- I had originally posted this as equal parts Dawn dish soap and white vinegar. But since then have discovered that 8 oz. of Dawn works just as well and also produces fewer suds, making it easier to wipe clean.
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Mila
I have switched to cleaning with vinegar a couple years ago. I mostly use just diluted vinegar, but for bathrooms and showers add baking soda to the spray bottle with the vinegar. It seems to be doing a good job on the buildup. I have heard about Dawn/vinegar combo. It’s nice to read a first-hand experience, I will try this method!
ThriftyFrugalMom
I like the baking soda vinegar idea, too! Does the baking soda dissolve? Or how does that work with a spray bottle. If you try the Dawn/vinegar version, just be aware that it doesn’t take a lot to get things clean. If you use too much it makes an awful sudsy mess!
Helene
I use the vinegar/water combo. I can’t wait to try this!
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup
Thanks so much for sharing this! Pinning!
Jenny
Thanks for sharing this. I look forward to trying it!
Kelli
Yes! The Dawn and vinegar combo are magic! My friend told me about it a while back and every time I’ve done it, I’m AMAZED!
ThriftyFrugalMom
It definitely is a powerful combo!
Jennifer
I’ve used this formula before too! Isn’t it amazing?! Seriously, the BEST cleaning combination ever.
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
ThriftyFrugalMom
Totally agree, Jennifer! 🙂
Cheryl
Quick question….why do you have to heat the vinegar?
ThriftyFrugalMom
Cheryl, heating the vinegar helps the dish soap dissolve more and makes it easier for the two to mix. I’ve never tried not doing it, so maybe it’s not totally necessary?
Kaci
I never heat the vinegar. I have my own cleaning business, and this is all I use on all of my clients showers/tubs. I use 1 cup of dawn to 1 cup of vinegar. Shake and spray. Ready to go. Best cleaner ever! So glad I found it. I will never use another cleaner for tubs.
ThriftyFrugalMom
Good to know, Kaci! And I love that you are using this for your cleaning business.
Allison
Do you use this cleaner in other rooms, too? Would it be okay to use in the kitchen?
ThriftyFrugalMom
I do actually! It really works well for most cleaning and should be fine to use in the kitchen. Hope that helps!
Eileen Whitacre
Thanks so much for this! I will definitely be trying this out here soon!
ThriftyFrugalMom
Glad it was helpful!
Laura
I love the clean smell of this and how it leaves things sparkling fresh and clean.