How To: Make Natural, Chemical-Free Wood Cleaner

How to: Make lemon-scented chemical-free wood cleaner

More and more I find myself opting for greener products in my home. Call me a hippie (you’re a hippie!), but I just don’t want all that toxic chemical junk around me. I’ve successfully transitioned all my cleaning products to eco-friendly versions, and I’m now dipping my toes in the realm of homemade cleaners. If you’ve made your own cleansing sprays before, you know the main ingredient is almost always vinegar. I love the cleaning power of vinegar, but hate the smell. Doesn’t it just remind you of decorating Easter eggs? This recipe for all-natural wood cleaner doesn’t have that overpowering vinegar aroma. Instead, is has a light lemon scent. And I have to say, it’s a crazy-pleasant smell. Like I kind of want to wear it as a perfume.

Materials

1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable glycerin (can be found at the natural foods store)
20-30 drops of lemon oil

How to make all-natural furniture cleaner

This cleaner is easy to make. Simply combine all ingredients in a large bottle, and shake it up! I opted not to use a spray bottle, and instead I’m keeping mine in a simple amber one. The reason is that I’ve found when I make all-natural cleaners, the sprayer tends to clog up and break. If anyone has any tips to prevent this from happening, let me know in the comments please!

To use this all-natural wood cleaner, distribute a little bit of the solution on a soft cloth, and wipe wood surfaces clean.

Make this: Natural wood cleaner with a refreshing lemon scent

This wood cleaning solution is more about getting rid of dirt, and less about polishing. This makes it great for cleaning floors, dishes, or wood surfaces you eat off of or prepare food on. If you’re looking to make a cleaner with a little more polishing power, add a tablespoon of olive oil to this mixture.

In case you’re curious what each ingredient is for, here’s the breakdown: The water is essentially the carrier. The vinegar is the cleansing agent. The vegetable glycerin helps the solution dry faster, and the lemon oil is there to smell amazing.