This 3-Ingredient Multipurpose Cleaner Really Works—How to Use It Around Your Home

If you think you can’t make your own household cleaner using materials you already have on hand at home, think again.

Professional cleaning experts swear by a few simple yet effective three-ingredient cleaners that are made using only household staples.

One popular cleaner is made by mixing white vinegar, water, and essential oils together, while another can be made by combining white vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils together.

Below, we’ll explore how these cleaners work, when to use them, and how to make them—and you’ll wonder why you haven’t tried it sooner.

How Does a Three-Ingredient Multipurpose Cleaner Work?

The first three-ingredient multipurpose cleaner we’re highlighting is made up of white vinegar, water, and essential oils.

The white vinegar plays a crucial role, serving as a top-notch natural cleaning agent, explains Michael Bogoyavlenskiy, the CEO of Cleaning Express, who notes that white vinegar can help to break down a number of materials, including grease and limescale. It also acts as a disinfectant.

The other two ingredients—water and essential oils—play a less significant but still useful role.

“The water is there to dilute [white vinegar], and the essential oil makes it smell nice,” Bogoyavlenskiy says, adding that while sometimes essential oils can serve as cleaning agents, they’re not used at a high enough degree here to function in that respect.

Three-ingredient cleaners made up of white vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils works quite similarly.

In this instance, baking soda is added into the mix instead of water, and helps to get rid of stains and buildup due to its abrasive nature, Michael Williams, who relies upon this solution often and is the founder and CEO of Michael’s Cleaning, says.

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When and How to Use a Three-Ingredient, Multipurpose Cleaner

These three-ingredient cleaners won’t just leave your home sparkling, they’ll also rid your space of germs, Bogoyavlenskiy says. He suggests using these cleaners in the kitchen, allowing it to soak into your surface for a minute or two before wiping it away.

Williams uses these types of cleaners to tackle countertops, sinks, floors, and more, noting that it’s safe to use on wood, granite, and tile.

How to Make a Three-Ingredient Multipurpose Cleaner

Making an at-home three-ingredient cleaner is quite simple.

Bogoyavlenskiy recommends combining 100 milliliters of water, 100 milliliters of white vinegar, and a few drops of your preferred essential oil—the type you use is up to you, though he’s partial to a lemon scent—in a bottle.

When it comes to Williams’s three-ingredient cleaner of choice, he recommends combining equal parts white vinegar, baking soda, and water in a spray bottle and finishing the mixture off with a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Tips for Using a Multipurpose Cleaner

Consider where you want to use the cleaner. While this cleaner is a pro favorite, it’s not suitable for every situation.

Bogoyavlenskiy recommends skipping this type of cleaner on delicate surfaces such as metal and untreated wood, as putting vinegar on these materials can lead to damage.

If you’re curious about whether it’s suitable for a material in your home, experiment with a small patch test first, he suggests.

Bogoyavlenskiy also advises skipping this cleaning solution on glass mirrors. Vinegar alone is just fine for the job, he says, adding that you can also skip essential oils when cleaning your mirror too; these can create greasy streaks.

Apply it with a microfiber cloth. Using a microfiber cloth will also ensure that you can avoid streaking, Williams says.