🧪 DIY Cleaning Recipes: Simple Homemade Solutions That Actually Make Sense

✨ Homemade can be handy — when the recipe matches the mess and the surface.

By now, our 🧽 Cleaning & Home Care series has used a few familiar ingredients again and again.

🧪 Bicarbonate soda. 🍶 White vinegar. 🫧 Dishwashing liquid. 💧 Water. 🧵 A good microfiber cloth.

They're inexpensive, easy to find and genuinely useful for some household cleaning jobs.

But there's an important distinction between a useful DIY cleaning recipe and a recipe that simply sounds impressive on the internet.

As we've seen throughout this series, the right cleaning method depends on the soil, the surface, the cleaner and the tool. A homemade recipe that works beautifully on one job may be ineffective — or unsuitable — somewhere else.

So let's put the most useful DIY options in one place.

🧠 First: Homemade Doesn't Automatically Mean Better

DIY cleaning solutions can be inexpensive and convenient, and simple ingredients such as vinegar and bicarbonate soda can be useful around the home.

But CHOICE testing has found that homemade recipes can perform very differently depending on the job. For example, some vinegar and bicarbonate recipes performed reasonably for particular tasks, while dedicated multipurpose cleaners performed substantially better in other tests.

That means there's no need to choose sides.

Use DIY when it makes sense. Use a purpose-made cleaner when it makes more sense.

🧪 Your Basic DIY Cleaning Kit

Ingredient / Tool	What it can help with	Important point
🧪 Bicarbonate soda	Odours, light grime and gentle scrubbing on suitable surfaces	It is mildly abrasive, so don't use it indiscriminately.
🍶 White vinegar	Suitable mineral deposits, water marks and some glass-cleaning jobs	Acidic — not suitable for every surface.
🫧 Dishwashing liquid	Grease, food residue and everyday grime	Excellent for loosening oils and grease.
💧 Water	Dilution, rinsing and everyday cleaning	Too much residue can create its own cleaning problem.
🧵 Microfiber cloth	Wiping, drying and final polishing	Keep it clean so trapped grit doesn't scratch.

🍶 Recipe 1: Simple Vinegar & Water Spray

Best suited to: suitable glass, mirrors and some mineral deposits.

Basic recipe:

🍶 1 part white vinegar
💧 1 part water

Mix in a suitable spray bottle and label it clearly.

For ordinary glass and mirrors, an equal-parts vinegar and water solution is one of the better-known DIY recipes. CHOICE also recommends vinegar and water for suitable window-cleaning jobs.

How to use it:

1. 🧹 Remove loose dust and grit.
2. 🧽 Apply sparingly or spray onto your cloth.
3. ✨ Wipe the surface.
4. 🧵 Finish with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.

⚠️ Important: vinegar is acidic and is not suitable for every surface. In particular, don't use vinegar on natural stone such as marble unless the manufacturer specifically says it is safe.

🧪 Recipe 2: Bicarbonate Soda Cleaning Paste

Best suited to: suitable hard surfaces where a mild abrasive paste is appropriate.

Basic recipe:

🧪 Bicarbonate soda
💧 A small amount of water

Add enough water to make a soft paste.

Apply a small amount to the appropriate surface, work gently, then rinse thoroughly and dry.

Bicarbonate soda can provide mild abrasive action and can also help with odours. CHOICE describes it as useful in several household DIY cleaning applications.

But remember CLEAN-014: abrasive action is still abrasive action.

Do not assume that because bicarbonate soda is a familiar pantry ingredient it is safe for every polished, coated, delicate or scratch-sensitive surface.

🫧 Recipe 3: Warm Water + Dishwashing Liquid

Best suited to: everyday grease, food residue and general household cleaning.

Basic recipe:

💧 Warm water
🫧 A small amount of dishwashing liquid

This is one of the simplest and most useful combinations in the cleaning cupboard.

Dishwashing liquid contains surfactants that help loosen and lift grease and oily soil.

It is particularly useful for:

• 🍳 Kitchen benches
• 🧽 Sinks
• 🚪 Suitable cupboard doors
• 🪑 Suitable washable surfaces
• 🍽️ Food-related everyday mess

Use a small amount rather than creating a mountain of bubbles.

After cleaning, remove the residue with a clean damp cloth where appropriate and dry the surface.

🪞 Recipe 4: Vinegar & Water for Suitable Glass

Best suited to: ordinary windows and suitable glass surfaces.

This is worth separating from general-purpose vinegar cleaning because glass cleaning is a job where the final buff matters enormously.

Use:

🍶 1 part white vinegar
💧 1 part water
🧵 Clean microfiber cloth

Work in manageable sections rather than allowing the solution to dry on the surface.

Then turn to a clean section of the cloth and buff away remaining moisture.

CHOICE's recent budget-cleaning guidance specifically describes a 50/50 vinegar-and-water mixture with a microfiber cloth for windows and glass.

🫧 Recipe 5: A Simple Grease-Cleaning Method

Best suited to: fresh kitchen grease and oily residue on suitable washable surfaces.

You don't necessarily need a complicated recipe.

Try:

🫧 WARM WATER + DISHWASHING LIQUID → 🧽 WIPE → 💧 RINSE → ✨ DRY

For heavier grease:

1. 🫧 Apply the diluted detergent.
2. ⏱️ Give it a little time to loosen the grease.
3. 🧽 Wipe gently.
4. 💧 Remove cleaner residue.
5. ✨ Dry.

This follows the lesson from 🫧 BLOG-HK-CLEAN-012: don't confuse “stubborn” with “needs more scrubbing”.

🌿 Recipe 6: Bicarbonate Soda for Odour Control

Best suited to: suitable dry, washable items and areas where odour absorption is appropriate.

For some household odours, bicarbonate soda can be used dry rather than turned into a cleaning paste.

Apply a small amount where appropriate, allow it to work, then remove it thoroughly.

CHOICE notes bicarbonate soda's usefulness for absorbing odours and liquids in household applications such as carpets and rugs.

⚠️ Always check the material first. Don't sprinkle powders into electronics, mechanical components, delicate fabrics or other areas where residue could cause problems.

🧪 Recipe 7: Bicarbonate Soda & Vinegar — Separately Is Often Better

Here's the recipe combination everyone recognises:

🧪 BICARBONATE SODA + 🍶 VINEGAR = 🫧 FIZZ

The fizz is real. But fizz doesn't automatically mean superior cleaning.

When the acidic vinegar and alkaline bicarbonate react, they produce carbon dioxide bubbles. CHOICE's testing and recent guidance explain why the dramatic bubbling isn't necessarily a sign of better cleaning. The combination can have specific uses, such as some drain-cleaning applications, but using the two separately is often more useful for ordinary surface cleaning.

For example:

💧 Mineral deposit?
Try a suitable acidic cleaner such as diluted vinegar where the surface permits.

🧽 Suitable grime?
Try bicarbonate soda paste where mild abrasion is appropriate.

✨ Need a streak-free finish?
Use a clean microfiber cloth.

You don't need to combine everything simply because it fizzes.

🚿 Recipe 8: Simple Shower-Screen Maintenance

Best suited to: everyday prevention rather than heavy build-up.

There is a DIY cleaning recipe that costs almost nothing:

🚿 SHOWER → 🧽 WIPE/SQUEEGEE → ✨ DRY

In other words, prevention is part of the recipe.

Removing water before it evaporates reduces the opportunity for mineral deposits and other residue to accumulate.

For heavier mineral deposits, use an appropriate acidic cleaner only if the glass and surrounding materials permit it.

Our 🚿 BLOG-HK-CLEAN-002 guide explains the difference between routine maintenance and removing established shower-screen build-up.

🧽 Recipe 9: DIY Stainless-Steel Refresh

Best suited to: suitable stainless-steel surfaces.

Start with the simplest method:

💧 WARM WATER + 🫧 SMALL AMOUNT OF DISHWASHING LIQUID

Then:

🧽 CLEAN → 💧 RINSE → ✨ DRY → 🌟 BUFF

If mineral marks remain, a suitable diluted vinegar solution may help on some stainless-steel surfaces, but manufacturer instructions should take priority.

Our ✨ BLOG-HK-CLEAN-005 guide explains why stainless steel should be cleaned with the grain and why drying is so important for a streak-free finish.

For the final polish, a clean ✨ Evercare Microfiber Lens, Screen, Glass & Jewellery Cleaning Chamois can be useful for suitable smooth surfaces.

🧼 Recipe 10: Gentle Bathroom Surface Cleaner

Best suited to: suitable washable bathroom surfaces.

For everyday cleaning, keep it simple:

💧 WARM WATER + 🫧 SMALL AMOUNT OF DISHWASHING LIQUID

For suitable mineral deposits on compatible surfaces, a diluted vinegar solution may be more appropriate.

But don't automatically use vinegar on every bathroom surface.

Natural stone, some coatings, plated finishes and manufacturer-specific surfaces may require a different cleaner.

And if the problem is heavy soap scum, a purpose-made bathroom cleaner may save considerable effort. CHOICE testing has found that some store-bought bathroom cleaners outperform homemade alternatives for difficult soap-scum jobs.

🪞 Recipe 11: The “No Recipe” Recipe

Here's one of the most useful cleaning tricks of all:

🧵 CLEAN MICROFIBER CLOTH + 💧 WATER

That's it.

For light dust, fingerprints and everyday marks on suitable surfaces, you may not need a bottle of cleaner at all.

CHOICE specifically notes that microfiber cloths used with water can be an effective tool for surface cleaning.

This is particularly useful when the goal is simply to remove fingerprints or light residue rather than dissolve a stubborn chemical or mineral deposit.

🧵 Keep the Cloth Clean

A homemade cleaner doesn't help much if you wipe it around with a dirty cloth.

Grease, grit and old cleaning residue can be transferred from one surface to another.

For scratch-sensitive surfaces, that can be more than untidy — it can create fine scratches.

Our 🧽 Evercare Multi-Purpose Cleaning Cloth is useful for everyday household cleaning, while the ✨ Microfiber Lens, Screen, Glass & Jewellery Cleaning Chamois is suited to delicate smooth surfaces and final finishing.

🧽 When a Cleaning Sponge Makes Sense

A sponge can provide useful mechanical action when you're dealing with stubborn marks on an appropriate hard surface.

Our 🫧 Evercare Stain-Removing Cleaning Sponge can be useful for suitable stubborn marks, including some hard household surfaces.

But this is where CLEAN-014 matters:

More scrubbing power is not automatically better.

Test first, use gentle pressure and avoid delicate, polished, coated or scratch-sensitive surfaces unless the product and surface instructions specifically permit it.

🧪 DIY Recipes by Problem

Problem	DIY starting point	Remember
💧 Water marks	Suitable diluted vinegar	Check surface compatibility first.
🪞 Glass streaks	Vinegar + water	Finish with clean microfiber.
🍳 Grease	Warm water + dishwashing liquid	Allow time to loosen before scrubbing.
🧪 Suitable stubborn grime	Bicarbonate paste	Mildly abrasive — test first.
🌿 Odours	Dry bicarbonate where appropriate	Remove all residue afterwards.
🧽 Everyday marks	Water + clean microfiber	Cleaner may not be necessary.
🚿 Shower build-up	Suitable vinegar solution	Check glass, seals and surrounding materials.
🧼 Heavy soap scum	Purpose-made bathroom cleaner	DIY may require more effort.

🚫 DIY Cleaning Recipes to Avoid

The internet is full of cleaning recipes. That doesn't mean every recipe deserves a place in your spray bottle.

Be especially cautious with recipes that:

• 🚫 Combine several strong cleaning chemicals.
• 🚫 Recommend mixing bleach with vinegar or other acids.
• 🚫 Combine bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
• 🚫 Tell you to mix products without explaining surface compatibility.
• 🚫 Use abrasive powders on delicate surfaces.
• 🚫 Recommend essential oils as if they were universal cleaning agents.
• 🚫 Suggest using a homemade cleaner on electronics without checking the manufacturer.
• 🚫 Recommend using vinegar on every household surface.
• 🚫 Promise that “natural” means harmless on every material.

⚠️ Never mix bleach with vinegar or other acids.

CHOICE warns that mixing bleach with vinegar can create toxic chlorine gas. Cleaning products should also not be casually combined with other chemical or natural cleaning products.

🏷️ Label Your Homemade Cleaners

If you make a DIY solution, label the container.

Include:

• 🧪 What is inside
• 📅 When you made it, if useful
• 🏠 What surfaces it is intended for
• ⚠️ Any important warnings

Never put a homemade cleaner into an unlabelled bottle that could be mistaken for another household product.

And keep cleaning products out of reach of children and pets. CHOICE notes that cleaning sprays can be particularly attractive to children because of their colours and fragrances.

📖 When to Stop DIY-ing

There is nothing wrong with deciding that a purpose-made product is the better option.

Choose a purpose-made cleaner when:

• 🧼 The residue is particularly stubborn.
• 🏠 The surface has a special coating or finish.
• 🔥 The appliance manufacturer specifies a particular cleaner.
• 💻 You're cleaning electronics.
• 💎 You're cleaning valuable or delicate jewellery.
• 🪨 You're dealing with natural stone.
• 🦠 You need a product with a specific disinfecting or sanitising claim.
• ⏱️ The DIY alternative requires much more work for little benefit.

CHOICE's environmental-cleaning guidance makes an important point: homemade products can be a useful alternative, but they may require more effort because commercial cleaners can be specifically engineered for particular types of stains.

🧠 The DIY Decision Tree

Before mixing anything, ask:

1️⃣ What am I trying to remove?

🫧 Grease? Think detergent.
💧 Mineral deposits? Think suitable acid.
🌿 Odour? Consider bicarbonate where appropriate.
🪞 Light marks? Try water and microfiber first.

2️⃣ What surface am I cleaning?

Check compatibility before choosing the recipe.

3️⃣ Do I need chemical action or mechanical action?

Don't scrub when dissolving would be safer.

4️⃣ Can I use less?

More cleaner does not necessarily mean better cleaning.

5️⃣ Would a purpose-made product be easier?

If yes, there's no prize for making the job harder.

✨ The Evercare DIY Cleaning Formula

After 15 articles, here's the formula that ties our series together:

🔍 IDENTIFY → 🧪 MATCH THE CLEANER → 🧽 CHOOSE THE TOOL → 💧 RINSE → ✨ DRY → 🔎 CHECK

Not:

🧪 MIX EVERYTHING → 🧽 SCRUB HARD → 😬 HOPE FOR THE BEST

Cleaning is easier when the method matches the problem.

🧾 Quick DIY Cleaning Cheat Sheet

Ingredient	Think of it as...	Don't forget
🍶 White vinegar	Useful acidic cleaner	Not suitable for every surface.
🧪 Bicarbonate soda	Odour absorber + mild abrasive	Can scratch some finishes.
🫧 Dishwashing liquid	Grease and grime helper	Remove residue after cleaning.
💧 Water	Cleaner, diluent and rinsing agent	Dry suitable surfaces afterwards.
🧵 Microfiber	Gentle wiping and finishing tool	Keep it clean.

🌱 More Handy Cleaning Tips

Continue exploring our 🧽 Cleaning & Home Care series:

• 🧪 Bicarbonate Soda & Vinegar: What Works & What Doesn't
• 🚿 Shower Screen Cleaning: Clear Glass Without the Hard Scrubbing
• ✨ Make Your Kitchen Sink Shine Again
• 🧼 Bathroom Grout Cleaning: Bring Tired Grout Back to Life
• ✨ Streak-Free Stainless Steel: Clean Without the Smears
• 🚰 Cleaning Chrome Without Scratching: Keep It Bright & Shiny
• 🔥 Glass Cooktop Cleaning: Remove Burnt-On Marks & Keep the Shine
• 🍽️ Dishwasher Cleaning & Stain Removal: Keep Your Machine Fresh & Working Well
• 🪞 Streak-Free Glass & Mirror Cleaning: Clear, Clean & Smear-Free
• 💻 Cleaning Screens & Electronics Safely: Clear Without Damage
• 💎 Gentle Jewellery Cleaning: Make It Sparkle Without the Damage
• 🫧 Removing Grease & Sticky Residue: Cut Through the Grime Without the Damage
• 💧 Removing Water Marks & Mineral Deposits: Clear the Chalky Build-Up
• 🧽 Cleaning Without Scratching: Remove the Dirt, Not the Surface

⚠️ A Quick Safety Reminder

Always check the manufacturer's instructions before using a homemade cleaner on an appliance, coated surface, natural stone, electronic device or delicate material.

Never mix bleach with vinegar, acids, ammonia or other cleaning chemicals.

Test unfamiliar cleaning solutions on a small, inconspicuous area where appropriate.

And remember: DIY is an option, not a rule.

✨ Use the simplest method that safely gets the job done.