Ditch the chemical laden cleaning products. Cut through grease, grime and dirt with this DIY lemon thyme kitchen countertop cleaner. A simple, effective cleaning solution made with herbs and essential oils.

Homemade DIY Cleaner

Dirt. Dust. Grime.

These seem to be the enemy of a homemaker.

I vacuum, mop, spray down the counters, and am constantly sweeping up the never ending tumbleweeds of dog hair. They seem to have an unending supply. How are they not bald?

The list of cleaning chores is a never ending battle. And throughout the years I’ve learned that an imperfect home is perfect. A home is meant to be loved and lived in.

The year 2021 marked a year of change on our homestead. A change in the way we ate, how we gardened, and what household products we used. I had a calling in my heart to reshape the cleaning and body care items we used. No longer did I want to use commercial made products filled with toxins that could affect our guts, hormones and skin.

So out they went, into a couple large tubs in our garage and eventually into the trash. After collecting most of our not-so-natural cleaning products, I was amazed at how many I had to do just basic chores in our household. I guess they weren’t as effective as I thought they would be when I purchased them.

With many of the toxic chemicals out of the house, I began learning how to make homemade cleaning products. I learned how to use vinegar, essential oils and herbs to clean our home. Then I expanded into washing soda, citric acid and baking soda. What power these common ingredients had to remove dust, grease and dirt from our home! As I transitioned to making natural cleaning solutions, I came across my favorite kitchen cleaner — lemon thyme cleaning spray. It is a wonderful combination of antibacterial herbs, castile soap and grease fighting lemon essential oil.

Before we go any further, I will admit I am not a purist. Our homestead does have items in it that we purchase from the store that are not considered natural. Though we strive for most of our cleaning and body care items to be homemade or plant based, sometimes this just isn’t the case. We do our best and you should to. Don’t feel pressured to purge every item from your home. Do it slowly and as God leads you!

How to Use Vodka for Cleaning

Vodka is my go-to ingredient in this kitchen countertop spray. I feel confident using it knowing it helps to degrease our countertops and backsplash while removing germs. Vodka also makes a wonderful unscented air freshener and can be used as a multi-purpose cleaner for a variety of surfaces in the home. Don’t worry about grabbing the best quality vodka for cleaning, grab the cheap stuff on the bottom shelf! You’ll be amazed at how well it works.

How to Use Castile Soap for Cleaning

Castile soap is a vegetable-based soap that can be used for more than just washing your hands. It can be used in a variety of applications including homemade cleaning products such as this recipe for a homemade kitchen cleaner. You can also find it in DIY shampoo recipes, face wash, dish soap and more. The soap is gentle on skin while still being able to tackle tough cleaning jobs around the house. My favorite brand of castile soap is Dr. Bronners.

How to Clean Kitchen Countertops

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To create the do-it-yourself cleaning spray, select your favorite dried herb. Thyme is a great herb to prevent the spread of bacteria. Lemon balm is also antibacterial as well as antiviral and gives the cleaner an extra pop of lemon fragrance. Other options include rosemary or lavender. Whichever herb you select, infuse into the vodka overnight. Add the infused vodka, water, soap and essential oil into a spray bottle. I prefer to use an amber colored bottle to avert the sunlight from damaging the herbs and oils. If you only have a clear jar on hand, don’t worry. Just store it on a shelf in a closed cabinet or on the countertop away from an open widow.

To clean the kitchen countertops naturally, spray the counters, backsplash and/or any other unclean area. Use a microfiber cloth or dish towel to wipe up the grime. If you are uncertain as to how this cleaner will work on a particular surface, test the spray in an inconspicuous spot before cleaning the entire area.

How Do I Make My Own Cleaning Spray

Makes: About 15 ounces

Ingredients

1 1/2 Tbs dried herb (such as thyme, lemon balm or rosemary)
5 Tbs vodka
1 1/2 cups distilled water
2 tsp castile soap
15 drops lemon essential oil
Spray bottle

Directions

In a small container, place the dried herbs and vodka. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and allow to infuse overnight.

Once the alcohol has been infused, use a mesh strainer to strain out the herbs. In a 16 oz spray bottle, pour in the infused vodka, water and castile soap. Add the lemon essential oil and give the bottle a gentle shake.

To use, gently shake the bottle then spritz the cleaning solution over the countertops, stove top or small kitchen appliances. Use a dish rag to scrub away the dirt and wipe dry.

More All-Natural Cleaning Recipes

Lemon Thyme Kitchen Counter Cleaner

Materials

1 1/2 Tbs dried herb (such as thyme, lemon balm or rosemary)
5 Tbs vodka
1 1/2 cups distilled water
2 tsp castile soap
15 drops lemon essential oil
Spray bottle

Instructions

In a small container, place the dried herbs and vodka. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and allow to infuse overnight.

To use, gently shake the bottle then spritz the cleaning solution over the countertops, stove top or small kitchen appliances. Use a dish rag to scrub away the dirt and wipe dry.