When I think about things I want to spend my money on, cleaning products are not on the top of the list. In fact, I’d rather take all the money I spend on cleaners and spend it on something else like a manicure or maternity clothes! So, I’m going to show you how you can clean your whole house for $7.25! And that’s not just one cleaning, that’s multiple cleanings.

As many of you know, I have my own cleaning company, and the way I like to train my staff is to clean with the most basic cleaning products where possible. Of course, if the job calls for it they can use the heavier duty products, but as a general rule, I like to use these very basic and inexpensive DIY cleaning product recipes to get the job done.

All Purpose Cleaner

Instead of going out and purchasing a bottle for $5 or $6, just make your own:

  1. Clean spray bottle
  2. 2 cups of water
  3. 1 tsp dish soap
  4. Mix and shake well

You can use this product just about anywhere! It’s great for cleaning surfaces like furniture, cupboards, bathroom counters, and general spot cleaning. In fact, when I was doing my research for the book, I learned that the majority of surfaces can just be cleaned with soap and water.

Now, if you have essential oils lying around, of course, I didn’t include them in the budget, but if you already have them at home, you can throw in 10 to 20 drops of your favorite one to make the product smell a little bit better.

diy glass cleaner

Glass & Mirror Cleaner

Here’s a simple DIY glass cleaner that works like a charm.

  1. Clean spray bottle
  2. 1 cup water
  3. 1 cup vinegar
  4. Mix and shake well

You can use this mixture on any of the glass surfaces in your home that need to be polished to a streak-free shine. Vinegar is amazing at cutting grease and removing oil, and this product works even better when it’s used with a flat weave microfiber cloth.

De-Greaser

While you’re cleaning, you might encounter some extra greasy, grimy or super dirty spots. To tackle these greasy disasters here’s a simple degreaser.

  1. 1/2 cup baking soda
  2. 1/4 cup dish soap

I absolutely love this cleaner! I use it all over the kitchen, whether it’s for the stovetop, the backsplash, the overhead exhaust, or even dirty pots and pans. Apply the product to the surface, scrub it in, let it sit for a few minutes and then with a clean sponge (or cloth) you can start wiping it away. Whatever the greasy stuff is, it will lift off pretty easily—and as an added bonus, this makes a great hand scrub. So, if you’ve had a busy day in the garage or the garden or your hands just need an extra good cleaning, use this!

bathtub tile cleaner

Tub, Tile & Grout Cleaner

For your tub, your tiles, even your bathroom sink and grout lines, I have a great multi-purpose heavy-duty solution.

  1. 1/4 cup of baking soda
  2. 1/4 cup of dish soap to a glass
  3. 2 tbsp hydrogen peroxide
  4. Add all ingredients to a glass bowl and mix well.

Once you achieve a nice paste consistency, wet a sponge and apply it to the surface that needs to be cleaned. Let it sit for 5 – 10 minutes. Finally, rinse your sponge off and with the scrubby side, start scrubbing the area down. Give it a final rinse and a buff dry. This product is so powerful it’s going to get rid of even the grimiest grime and the groutiest grout!

Toilet Cleaner

No one likes cleaning the toilet, but it does need to get done from time to time, so, let me give you a recipe for an easy DIY and very effective toilet bowl cleaner.

  1. 1/2 cup water
  2. 1/2 cup baking soda
  3. 1/4 cup dish soap
  4. 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide

Add all of the ingredients to a squeeze bottle, give it a good shake and then squirt it around the bowl, make sure to get under that rim! After a few minutes get your toilet bowl brush out and go to town! Once you’re done scrubbing, flush the toilet, let your toilet bowl brush dry off and voila! You’ll have a nice sparkling clean toilet bowl.

floor cleaner

Tile & Vinyl Floor Cleaner

Making a video about cleaning the whole house on the cheap would not be complete without talking about a floor cleaner. So, to make your own tile or vinyl cleaner, you just need two things:

  1. A bucket filled with a gallon of hot water
  2. 1 cup of white vinegar

Put this in your bucket, mix it up with your mop, and after a minute of letting everything kind of saturate your mop head, you can wring it out well and start mopping. Remember to use the S-pattern, making sure that you don’t leave too much moisture behind.

For these DIY cleaning recipes and a whole bunch of other ones, you can actually find them in my book, Clean My Space: The Secret To Cleaning Better Faster And Loving Your Home Everyday.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on amazon.com.

Looking for a BETTER & EASIER Way to Clean Your Home?

Cleaning Expert Melissa Maker is here to help with her game-changing 3 Wave Cleaning System that will help you clean your house faster and easier than you ever thought possible!

Learn More About The 3 Wave Cleaning System

Melissa Maker is an entrepreneur, cleaning expert, founder of Toronto’s most popular boutique cleaning service, and star of the Clean My Space channel on YouTube (but she still hates to clean!). Every week, Melissa delivers new videos dishing expert advice on cleaning products, tools, DIY substitutes, and practical, timesaving solutions to everyday problems. Melissa has appeared on the Today Show, and has been featured in InStyle, Real Simple, and Better Homes and Gardens.

14 COMMENTS

  1. I am reading your book now. It is great! In your book you also add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to your All Purpose Cleaner recipe. You state this causes the solution to dry faster and leaves fewer streaks. Do you still suggest this addition? Thanks!

  2. Hi! You have a lot of great cleaning ideas and guidance on your site! Thank you! ???? Just curious if you are intending your diy product recipes to be 100% natural and non-toxic.(?) If the recipes are intended to be so, it seemed confusing to have “dish soap” in your recipes frequently as an ingredient (maybe you are not intending the recipes to be completely natural?) – if a fully natural recipe is intended, then commercial dish soaps are not 100% natural and non-toxic (even most or all which are sold as being “organic/natural”… from my research…Typically the vast majority -or maybe all- have some sort of chemical or even may frequently have artificial fragrances included). I have only been scanning your site for a few minutes and it appears that you are using mostly natural ingredients in your diy recipes – but the term “dish soap“ is not necessarily natural (meaning chemical-free). Just thought I would ask about the dish soap in your recipes since many products marketed as natural or organic, often include a lot of chemicals/toxins.
    If you are not intending your recipes to be 100% natural/chemical-free, then of course any dish soap will do! ????
    For a 100% natural and chemical free recipe, probably one of the best alternatives to store bought dish soap is 100% Castile soap such as Dr. Bronner’s or Vermont Soap (diluted as appropriate) – in case anyone wants to be sure they are using completely chemical free products/recipes! ????

  3. If you’ve used cheaper glass cleaners, you will see how it is not possible for them to remove water spots. Ordinary glass cleaners have only a small quantity of vinegar inside them. Otherwise, there are lots of ammonia-free glass cleaners on the industry.

  4. Just found this site and I’ve fallen ????. 59 year old male who my family used to call Felix. (As Felix Unger in the Odd Couple) Have been happily married to a saint of a woman for almost 42 years but, sadly,saint that she is, she’s also a self admitted slob, Both of our children and all 3 grandchildren slobs too. I gave up ???? How do You recommend I regain my desire for a very clean home? By the way Melissa, I may have just fallen in love with ???? you! ????
    Ricky

    • I prepare all in advance. Just the toilet cleaner solution gets bubbly and separated as baking soda & hydrogen have chemical reaction

  5. Dear Melissa,
    There are plenty of recipes for toilet bowl cleaner, but living in a house with four males means the rest of the toilet has to be sanitized, too. What do you suggest for a diy all over toilet cleaner?
    Grateful for all you share,
    Cindy in a Mess

  6. Hi!
    Big fan…love your you tube videos, products, and book. Could you make a video on pet (specifically cat) friendly cleaning products and tips? I have just come to find out cats are highly sensitive to MANY essential oils which can cause toxic responses if they come into contact with product….suggestions?

    Thank you!

    • Yes I second that! Love your channel and I’ve been googling around about which oils I can use to clean around my cats. A video or post on this would be great!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here