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Today, we are sharing with you the absolute BEST homemade 3 ingredient countertop cleaner.
Last year in particular, I received questions from readers asking me what is the best cleaner for kitchen countertops?
This is the one!
Why?
Because it is the best homemade surface cleaner for almost any surface. It is all-purpose which means it will work safely for things like granite, natural stone, marble, tile, quartz, even laminate and corian! Plus, it is CHEAP to make!
Let’s learn how to make this easy, fantastic recipe and we will share the science behind how it works. Grab the eBook, and find this recipe on page 13 🙂
Homemade 3-Ingredient Countertop Cleaner (Only $0.19 per Batch)
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First, I am going to share the recipe with you, then I will explain more about how these ingredients work.
As a chemist, I have spent the last 10 years testing and putting together all types of cleaners to make sure I share the best with you.
By the way, combine this incredible DIY cleaner with our top 5 must have spring cleaning items, and your home will be sparkling clean in no time.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp concentrated dish soap
- 1 tbsp lemon infused rubbing alcohol
- 1 cup water
- Spray bottle(these are the best)
Directions:
- First, you will need to create the lemon infused rubbing alcohol. It is very simple to do. Simply fill a glass jar with lemon peels. Top it with 70% rubbing alcohol to let it sit for 2 weeks. After this time, strain the peels out and now you have a great mix of lemon infused rubbing alcohol. Click here to read out how to use this mix as a disinfectant. We will be using it as an ingredient in this countertop cleaning spray.
- Fill your spray bottle with water, top it with one tablespoon of dish soap and one tablespoon of the lemon infused rubbing alcohol.
- Give the mixture a gentle swirl to combine all the ingredients.
How to use this homemade countertop spray recipe:
To use this mixture, simply spray the countertop making sure to cover the entire area. Wipe off with a microfiber cloth or towel. You can also take a wet sponge and scrub extra dirty spots which will activate some of the soap and create some suds. Then you can wipe it off with a cloth. It DOES NOT leave any residue, so all you need to do is wipe it with a cloth just like you do a store-bought cleaner.
How long does this homemade countertop spray last?
We make all DIY cleaners in small batches meant to last 2-3 weeks. However, this solution works even a few years after mixing it up. I made this cleaner once before we moved from our old house. Several of our items were in storage for about 18 months. I found a bottle of this mixture in the stored items. I used it to clean my countertops, and it was STILL good.
With that being said, using this daily lasts about 2-3 weeks.
What does this cost to make?
I calculated this costs about $0.19 a batch to make using the ingredients I have.
Here is the breakdown:
- 1 cup of water = free since it is tap water and the cost is negligible
- 1 tbsp dish soap = I purchase this bottle of Dawn Dish soap which was $3.94 and it contains 22 oz. That’s about $0.17 an ounce. 1 tbsp is 0.5 oz, so that comes to $0.09
- 1 tbsp lemon infused rubbing alcohol = I purchased a bottle of rubbing alcohol for $2.08 at Walmart which is 16 oz and 2 lemons which were $0.50 each to make the rubbing alcohol. The entire batch of lemon infused rubbing alcohol cost $3.08 to make. That comes to $0.19 an oz. I used 1 tbsp which is 0.5 oz = $0.10
- $0.09 + $0.10 = $0.19 a batch
How Do These Ingredients Work So Well Together?
Last month, I had a long email conversation with one of my readers. She was blown away how well this mixture worked from the eBook, but she didn’t understand why there was so little rubbing alcohol and dish soap with more water. It didn’t make sense…I explained to her how it compares to store-bought products.
Water
Water is a key ingredient in cleaners. If you turn your store-bought product over and look at ingredients, you will notice water is often the first ingredient. Most of the time, the main substance in a cleaner is water. Water is a universal solvent and mixes well with everything, so it makes the perfect based. The ratio I have tested in this cleaner is the perfect amount of water for the best cleaning.
Dish Soap
Dish soap is a surfactant. Surfactants are crucial in cleaners because they reduce the surface tension of water, allowing it to better penetrate and wet surfaces. This increased wetting ability helps to dislodge and lift away dirt, grease, and other soils that are typically repelled by water. Surfactants also help to suspend these loosened particles in the cleaning solution, preventing them from redepositing on the cleaned surface.
If you use too much dish soap, it can leave a residue. If you don’t use enough, it won’t clean well. This amount is the perfect ratio of surfactant!
Lemon Infused Rubbing Alcohol
You can use regular rubbing alcohol for this, but I really urge you to use the lemon infused rubbing alcohol! The lemon removes the rubbing alcohol scent leaving behind a sweet citrus scent everyone loves. I love to use rubbing alcohol in cleaners. Alcohol evaporates quickly, leaving behind minimal residue and preventing streaks or smears. Additionally, it can help to dissolve grease and grime, making it an effective cleaner for many types of countertop. For a cleaner, all you need is a few tablespoons at the most to clean.
Remember, disinfecting is a completely different step! You need full 70% rubbing alcohol, applied to a countertop AFTER cleaning. And it must sit for 10 minutes. Please read cleaning vs disinfecting to learn more important information.
Conclusion On Making Homemade 3 Ingredient Countertop Cleaner:
I think you will enjoy this popular, affordable, and highly effective homemade 3 ingredient countertop spray recipe! Not only is it based on science, but it has been loved and used for years on all types of kitchen and bathroom counters.
Enjoy!
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
I’ve used your homemade cleaners over the past few years with great success (winter-themed counter-top cleaner with the pine tree scent and Meyers snowdrop soap, also the awesome window cleaner with dawn, water, and vinegar, best window cleaner ever) and truly appreciate your wisdom and tips! I will say, though that the glass spray bottles here are not my faves. I agree that glass is superior to plastic, but the spray heads on these bottles just didn’t hold up beyond a few months of use. I was disappointed.
I’m so glad you love the DIY cleaners! I’m sorry to hear your spray bottles haven’t lasted as long though. I bought mine in 2021 and they are still working well. I wonder why yours aren’t lasting as long?
I’m definitely making this! So now that we have lemon infused alcohol, can we use it separately to sterilize a surface?
Thank you!
Hi Cyndie! Yes you can, in fact, we have a great post about using the infused lemon alcohol as a disinfectant spray here you can read.
Hi!
I cannot stand the smell of dawn dish soap (synthetic scent),and I will use it like to clean a bathroom but I would never use a counter where you prepare food, nor wash dishes with it.
If you want a formula that works to clean the best, Dawn has proven time and again to be the best option. You can choose a non-scented version, free and gentle and still get the same cleaning ability. The only dish soap I have found to be slightly comparable
I’m cleaning performance is 7th generation . They have non scented options as well!
Can you use orange peels?
Yes you can. Orange peels don’t provide as much of a scent, but they can still work 🙂
I love this cleaner! Is it okay that mines in a clear spray bottle and a lovely light green color? Also, is it normal for there to be some white streaking while rubbing and does it mean there’s residue?
Yes it will be a light green when you use the blue-ish dish soap 🙂 It will have some white streaking as the suds activate, but it comes off when it wipes. It will not leave a residue! I am glad you love it too!
Thank you so much!!
Can you add lemon essential oil to the alcohol or do you have to infuse it with lemon peels?
Good morning, you can use lemon essential oil for scent, but it doesn’t have the same effect. The infused lemon is very concentrated and will eliminate almost all the rubbing alcohol scent. Adding essential oil will help a little. You can use just regular rubbing alcohol as well for cleaning purposes