Making this DIY Homemade Super Orange All-Purpose Cleaner was the first time I ever used essential oils, and to be honest, I was a little scared about using them and was pretty sure they were just “snake oils” and wouldn’t actually work. And like most things, I was wrong.

Here’s the back story. Our family had recently made the decision for me to quit my corporate gig and stay home with our two small children. And that transition meant that my beloved housekeeper would no longer be coming weekly to make my counters shine and bathrooms spic-and-span. So, while cleaning the kitchen one day, I was using a “traditional” (meaning I bought it at the store) all-purpose cleaner and my nose started burning because the scents were so strong. I realized that if I was having a hard time breathing this stuff, it couldn’t be good for my kids to smell it either.

So, I did what any good mom does, I posted a question about all-natural cleaners on Facebook. And my dear friend gave me this recipe and it works just as good as that “traditional” cleaner, plus I actually enjoy the smell because it isn’t all “chemically”. And even better, it is pennies on the dollar versus those “traditional” cleaners.

The reason “Super-Orange” works so well is the combination of the vinegar (for shine), dish soap (for cleaning), melaleuca, also know as tea tree, essential oil (for anti-bacterial), and the orange essential oil (for grime removal). The lessons I learned: Those “snake oils” really do work. All-natural cleaners work just as well as “traditional” cleaners. And if it weren’t for making this DIY Homemade Super Orange All-Purpose Cleaner, I would have never taken the steps to moving toward an all-natural home.

A couple of notes:

• Make sure to try the cleaner on a small area of your countertops before you use it on a regular basis. As a general rule, vinegar should not be used on granite surfaces because it can erode the stone.
• I use Sally Organics 16 ounce Brown Glass Bottle Sprayer. They are a little expensive, but they are very high quality and the sprayer is amazing.
• I use doTERRA Wild Orange and Melaleuca essential oils. I recommend and only use pure therapeutic grade oils. (If you are new to essential oils, here is how I use them in my everyday life.)

If you are interested in more information like this, please sign up for the Whole Living Email Newsletter. You’ll only receive information pertaining to a green and whole living lifestyle.

Do you like to make this yourself? Follow my DIY Tips and Tricks Board on Pinterest where I share ideas like this everyday.

Follow Kelly Snyder’s board DIY Tips and Tricks on Pinterest.