Learn how to make simple natural, herb-infused vinegar cleaners at home.
If you’ve been looking for a simple, natural way to clean your home, herb-infused vinegar cleaners are a great place to start.
These easy DIY cleaners are made with ingredients you likely already have: vinegar and herbs.
Over the last few years, I’ve been on a journey toward a more natural home. We’ve slowly been eliminating plastic where we can, switching to natural skincare products, and replaced chemical cleaners with natural ones.
Making my own vinegar cleaner is one more step toward natural living.
The very first vinegar cleaner I ever used was one that I bought at a local flower farm years ago. The amber glass jar it came in was so pretty and I loved the floral scent of lavender it had.
I still have the glass jar, but now I make my own lavender-infused vinegar cleaner to refill it using lavender from my own garden.
I had no idea it was so easy and cheap to make!
After reading this post, I hope you’ll be inspired to make your own infused vinegar cleaner too, and bring a little bit of your garden into your cleaning routine.
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Why Make Infused Vinegar for Cleaning?
Making infused vinegar for cleaning is a small, simple way to live more naturally. And it comes with perks.
First, it’s budget-friendly. One gallon of vinegar is about $2.50 at my local grocery store, while the cheapest store-bought cleaner costs over $3 for a small bottle.
When you make infused vinegar for cleaning, you’ll also reduce food waste. Citrus peels and herb trimmings from dinner prep that otherwise would’ve gone in the trash (or compost) can get a second life.
Additionally, you’ll get to bring the garden into your home by making herb-infused vinegar from what’s growing outside. Every season offers something different to infuse so your home will smell fresh and seasonal.
Interested in growing your own herbs? These are my favorite herbs for beginners!
Finally, DIY vinegar cleaners are antimicrobial and effective for cleaning. Combine them with the cleansing properties of herbs and citrus, and you’ve got a natural, chemical-free surface cleaner that you can feel good about using around your family.
Things You’ll Need
To make herb-infused vinegar cleaner, you will need these supplies:
- White vinegar
- Glass jars with plastic or non-corrosive lids
- Fresh or dried herbs to scent your vinegar
- Strainer
- Spray bottle (preferably glass)
- Distilled water
Let’s get started!
How to Make Herb-Infused Vinegar
First, infuse your vinegar.
Fill a clean glass jar halfway with your chosen fresh or dried herbs. Feel free to add citrus peels and/or spices.
For this tutorial, I combined lavender flowers and leaves with lemon thyme from my garden. Interested in making seasonal infused vinegars? Find more ideas in this post.
Cover everything completely with vinegar.
Seal the jar with a non-corrosive lid, such as a plastic or glass lid. If you’re using a metal lid, place a piece of parchment or wax paper between the lid and jar to prevent corrosion.
Let the mixture steep for 1–2 weeks in a cool, dark place like a basement or pantry.
Strain the solids. You now have simple infused vinegar that you can use for cleaning.
Store your infused vinegar in a sealed glass container out of direct sunlight.
Wondering what infused vinegar smells like?
It’ll still have a sharp, acidic smell, but it’ll also smell like whatever you added to infuse it. Depending on what you choose to use, the vinegar scent will be less prominent and (as with lemon) mostly disappear.
Turning Infused Vinegar into a Cleaner
When you’re ready to clean, mix equal parts vinegar and distilled water in a glass spray bottle. For example, half a cup of infused vinegar and half a cup of water is just right for my needs.
And that’s it! Easy, right?
Now you’ve got your own natural, homemade cleaner that’s ready to use around the house.
How to Use Your Infused Vinegar Cleaners
To use your homemade cleaner, give the spray bottle a quick shake, then mist and wipe as you would any all-purpose cleaner.
Vinegar cleaners can be used on:
- stainless steel
- glass and mirrors
- microwaves, stovetops, and kitchen sinks
- bathroom counters, sinks, and toilets
Use it to clean outdoor windows as you do your spring home refresh. Dilute with more water and clean tile or laminate floors.
Vinegar makes a great deodorizer as well. Lightly spray onto the trash can or in the toilet bowl and allow it to air dry. The vinegar scent will fade as it dries, taking any lingering odors with it.
Use vinegar to cut through grease. Spray it on a greasy stovetop, let it sit for several minutes, then wipe the surface clean.
This cleaner is really all-purpose, even on heavily soiled surfaces.
Just be sure to use it only on non-porous surfaces.
Avoid using vinegar on natural stone (granite, marble, quartz, etc.) or on wood. The strong acid in vinegar, even diluted, can harm the finish on these surfaces. I suggest spot testing your vinegar cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area if you’re unsure.
Final Thoughts and Encouragement
I’ve enjoyed making my own infused vinegar and playing around with scents.
I’m surprised by how satisfying it is to make my own cleaners, especially using herbs I grew myself.
This simple tutorial makes me feel more connected to my garden and to the seasons.
Once you know how to make your own herb-infused vinegars, it’s easy to branch out into seasonal scents like the ones I’ve made in this post.
So, the next time you’re peeling citrus or trimming herbs from your garden, set a few scraps aside and get them infusing. In just a couple weeks, you’ll have a natural cleaner ready to use whenever you need it.
If you try this, I’d love if you shared your favorite scents or herb combinations below!
Thanks for reading.
Looking for an herb-infused vinegar for your salads and marinades? Try my recipe for chive blossom vinegar next!