DIY Granite & All Purpose Cleaner
As Jose and I have become more educated about health, environmental toxins, the food we’re consuming, and the impacts our life has on the world around us, we’ve begun to make shifts in our lives.
One of the shifts we’ve been making involves the cleaners we use in our home. Conventional cleaners contain harsh chemicals, poison, and compounds that will continue to persist in our environment beyond our lifetime. We feel that it is our responsibility to not only care for ourselves, but also our pups - who are exposed, whether they want to be or not, to everything we chose to bring / use / have in our homes, and the world beyond the walls of our home.
We’ve been making a conscious effort to replace the conventional, harsh, chemical-based cleaners, with environmentally friendly, organic, all natural cleaners as we run out of the conventional. Today I’d like to share some of my favorite recipes with y’all! They are SUPER SIMPLE, so please, do NOT be intimidated. Most of these ingredients you already have at home.
The first recipe is a cleaner made specifically for use on granite. Granite is a material that requires a gentle, yet effective cleaner. You should never use vinegar based cleaners on granite, as it can create micro-scratches on the finish / surface. For granite it’s best to use an alcohol based cleaner and that’s exactly what I’m sharing with y’all today!
The second recipe is my absolute favorite, all-purpose, cleaner. You can use this on your bathroom countertops (as long as they aren’t granite), for your showers / tubs, on tile, sinks, floors. I wouldn’t use it for glass, or stainless, since it would leave streaks. The main ingredients in this recipe are infused vinegars. If you’ve never made and infused vinegar at home, it is incredibly simple! To make an infused vinegar you need a glass jar, the white or apple cider vinegar of your choice, and for this recipe, the peels of citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, and lemons are my fav), and fresh thyme. Add the citrus peels, thyme, and vinegar to a glass jar with plastic lid (vinegar will corrode metal!!!), and set in a dark place for a few weeks, agitating daily (or every other day), and you’re set!
I do my best to use all organic ingredients, but please y’all, use what you already have on hand!
Why do we infuse our vinegar with citrus peels and thyme? I’m so glad you asked!
Citrus peels have amazing cleaning and disinfecting properties, which is the whole point of a cleaner right? Also, the scent of the citrus peels will infuse into the vinegar and make for a much more pleasant cleaning experience. I also always use thyme in my cleaners because thyme is a natural disinfectant, is effective against food-borne pathogens (Salmonella anyone?), and also combats other bacteria and fungi. Thyme is pretty amazing!
Alright friends, now that you have some background, lets get to these recipes!
Granite Cleaner:
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup rubbing alcohol
10 drops Castile soap (you can also use dish soap)
10 - 15 drops essential oil (I like Lavender)
16-ounce spray bottle
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in the glass spray bottle of your choice, and gently shake to combine. Use on granite countertops, and buff to the perfect shine with a microfiber towel. Shake before each use, and store / use until its gone! The rubbing alcohol in this recipe will preserve this cleaner until the end of time. :)
All Purpose Cleaner:
1 cup water
2/3 cup citrus peel infused white vinegar
1/3 cup thyme infused apple cider vinegar
10 - 15 drops essential oil (again, I used Lavender, but use what you have and enjoy!)
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in the glass spray bottle of your choice, and gently shake to combine. I recommend using this for most surfaces, except glass, stainless steel, or granite. Store under your kitchen sink and use for all the messes life throws at you!
I hope you enjoy the recipes I’ve shared above. Please leave a comment below if you make either of these recipes, I’d love to read your feedback! For more fun recipes and content, check out our YouTube channel : The Espinoza’s Urban Farm
