All Purpose Cleaner Put to the Test

Today I discovered a recipe for an all-purpose cleaner I've had tucked away on my computer for who knows how long.

 

It's recommended for general cleaning in the kitchen and bathroom: for countertops, toilets, mirrors, etc.

 

Because I'd rather save money by making my own cleaners, I decided to give it a try and put it to the test.

Here's the recipe:

 

All-Purpose Cleaner
2 cups water
1/4 cup vinegar (distilled white)
1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid (like Dawn)

 

Mix well and pour into a spray bottle (like an old Windex bottle).

 

I made one batch and used it in the kitchen on the stove, over the stovetop, on the kitchen cabinets, appliances and counters.  I also tackled the top of my fridge which, for some reason, is a favorite hangout for dust bunnies.

 

In the bathroom, I used it on the mirrors, counters, toilet, cupboards and baseboards.

 

First thing I noticed? No chemical smell. In fact, it really doesn't have a scent at all.  Maybe just a hint of a mild, clean scent. A good thing if you're trying to, well ....clean!

Trish's Take:

• This stuff works great.
• It gives a great shine to all surfaces.
• It cleaned up all the baseboards in my bathroom, so I know it would be effective on floors too.
• The most surprising thing was how well it worked on my bathroom mirrors. It left no streaks or smudges.
• It didn't work well as a degreaser for over my stovetop. I also don't think it's the best cleaner for tubs and showers because it's not strong enough to handle resistant soapscum or hard water stains.

I'm glad I decided to go through my old computer files to come across this easy-to-make cleaner.  I will definitely be keeping it on hand for general cleaning needs.  Can't wait to find what else is hiding in the dark corners of my hard drive.