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Let’s make a fun homemade cleaner for autumn!

We share a DIY cleaner for autumn several years ago, and I had some requests for an autumn cleaner without having to add essential oils.

By combining infused rubbing alcohol and autumn scented dish soap, you can get a DIY cleaner that has a nice autumn scent without needing an essential oil (although if you love powerful scents, feel free to add it in).

Homemade Cleaner For Autumn

This is a unique solution with NO essential oils needed! I love essential oils for scents, but many readers have asked for a seasonal cleaner without needing an essential oil.

To get a nice scent, but still have the scents of autumn, an infusion is perfect.

I also love to change up dish soaps for seasonal purposes, and I just discovered this Honey Crisp Apple dish soap and WOW! It smells good and works really good too. The closest alternative I have used to Dawn is 7th generation.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp infused rubbing alcohol **
• 1 tbsp crisp apple dish soap (or another autumn scented dish soap)
• 1 cup water
• Spray Bottle

Directions:

1. To make the infused rubbing alcohol: take your favorite herbs (I used rosemary) and place in a glass jar. Top with rubbing alcohol and allow to infuse for 2 weeks. You can also go with a citrus infused rubbing alcohol which has a sweeter scent. Use the same method, but use orange or lemon peels instead of herbs.
2. Once infusion is done, add the rubbing alcohol, dish soap, and water to a spray bottle. Shake gently before each use.

**If you would like, you can use vinegar instead. However, it doesn’t infuse as strongly and still has a vinegar scent. Rubbing alcohol is all-purpose, vinegar should be avoided on natural stones.

How long with this solution last?

Since this is alcohol based, it will be good for months. We create homemade cleaners in a small ratio, so they should be used up in the right amount of time.

Let’s Break Down The Purpose Of Each Ingredient:

The ratios of each ingredient are very important along with the actual ingredients used. Here is some more information for you.

Water

Water is actually an important ingredient. If you look at the back of any store-bought cleaner, you will see water listed as one the main ingredients. Water has a naturally high surface tension. This is why when you wipe off a counter with just water, it will remove debris. It doesn’t remove it all, but it dissolves dirt or certain food particles. Water is also a universal solvent, so it mixes well with the other ingredients. It is a key part of this solution!

What Does Dish Soap Do in Homemade Cleaners?

I get this question often, and there is usually some misunderstanding on the purpose of dish soap. The purpose of adding in some dish soap into a homemade cleaner is getting the surfactant properties. I have tested out many methods and ratios, and this 1 tbsp addition is the perfect amount. It provides just enough suds to scrub and clean, but once you wipe off where you have sprayed, it doesn’t leave any residue.

There is NO rinsing required when you follow these ratios. You really need a surfactant when you create a DIY cleaning spray, so this is why we use dish soaps. Many of our homemade recipes use Dawn dish soap because it has the best performance in my opinion. For my seasonal cleaners, I will vary and use something with a scent. I am using the 7th generation dish soap in this recipe because it has a wonderful crisp apple scent. 

The results are still good using a concentrated dish soap. I don’t recommend using a non-concentrated dish soap in this recipe or Castile Soap. 

Why Is Rubbing Alcohol In This Homemade Cleaner?

This is one of the best all-purpose cleaning ingredients because it is safe for all types of surfaces. I love adding this to a homemade cleaner, and readers have said it is their favorite too. Remember, cleaning and disinfecting are different. If you are making homemade cleaners, please remember they are for cleaning. To disinfect, you always need to use the full strength of a household item like rubbing alcohol or peroxide. Read our post about cleaning vs disinfecting so you can learn more about these steps.

Isopropyl alcohol works well when it is mixed with water and dish soap to clean grim, dirt, soap scum, food messes or more! You can use it in the bathroom, kitchen, living room, or anywhere else in your house. Since the alcohol is diluted to the right ratio, you can even use it on wood, trim, and walls.

What Is The Benefit of Using Infused Alcohol?

For recipes like this, there are a few benefits to infusing the alcohol. Herbs will leave a scent in the alcohol which can minimize the traditional rubbing alcohol scent. Check out our popular lemon infused rubbing alcohol for more information. I chose to use herbs to make this have a nice autumn like scent.  You can use any type of herb you like. If you want a sweeter scent for your homemade spray, I would go with the citrus infused rubbing alcohol.

Can I Use Vinegar Instead in This Homemade Cleaner For Autumn?

Above is a picture of the infusion after two weeks, you can see the vinegar is not as potent for infusion of scent or substance. But for those who love using vinegar, you can use it! Just remember, vinegar is NOT all-purpose like many people think. It should not be used on grout, natural stone, or caulk. I personally do not like to use vinegar in this type of cleaner because it overpowers the scent of the dish soap.

What If You Don’t Want To Make The Infused Alcohol?

If you actually prefer essential oils, check out this DIY all-purpose autumn based cleaner we shared from a few years ago. It uses the same base, but also has the essential oil option!

I hope you enjoy this homemade cleaner for autumn!

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