One of the woes of undergoing a home renovation is the constant mess. It is not that the workers, myself included, are sloppy, but rather there is so much going on. Projects seem to take forever and tools and materials tend to clutter and create a mess. As tough as it is to deal with, the absolute worst thing is the dust that accumulates everywhere.
For years I have used this DIY dusting spray and believe me, it has been getting a good workout. Today I share the recipe but be forewarned, this formula is going to revolutionize your daily cleaning chores.
How to Make a Non-Toxic Dusting Spray aka “Furniture Polish Lite”
The ingredients you will need are common to every household with the possible exception of lemon essential oil. This recipe will make 16 ounces.
Ingredients
2 tsp Olive Oil
1/4 cup White Vinegar
20 drops Lemon Essential Oil (see note below)
Water, preferably filtered or distilled
16 oz Spray Bottle
Directions
Add all of the ingredients to your spray bottle. Before using, shake things up a bit since the oil and vinegar tend to separate. This formula can be sprayed directly onto your wood furniture or directly onto your cleaning rag first. Microfiber cloths are definitely the way to go since they will leave a streak-free finish and will launder beautifully.
Total cost? As near as I can figure, the cost is 56 cents per batch, including the lemon essential oil but excluding the bottle. **Print Recipe**
Good to Know
Why does this work so well? The olive oil conditions and also helps cut grease. You did know that oil cuts oil, right? The vinegar serves as an additional cleaning agent plus is excellent for removing film and residues left by food, beverages, and commercial cleaning products. It also acts as a sanitizer.
If you don’t have any lemon essential oil on hand, you can use lemon juice instead (bottled is okay). In that case, you will want to use it up quickly or make a half-batch so that it does not spoil. That said, lemon essential oil is very inexpensive and has many other uses so you might want to have some on hand for use in your other cleaning products.
I tend to use pure Olive Oil in the recipe. It is a lot less expensive than EVOO which I prefer to save for cooking.
Ways to Use Dusting Spray for Everyday Cleaning
In addition to wood furniture, this DIY Dusting Spray is an excellent choice for the following cleaning applications:
- Remove fingerprints and grime from doors and cupboards
- Revitalize leather and faux leather furniture
- Spiffy up the enclosures to your electronic gizmos (but please, not the screens)
- Clean bases to table lamps and floor lamps
- Remove built up dust on windowsills and baseboards
Resources
When it comes to essential oils, I use products from Spark Naturals. That said, if you are only going to use your EOs in cleaning products, you can consider other brands that are less expensive. You can purchase a full ounce of NOW brand Lemon Essential Oil for about $6 on Amazon.com or locally in shops that sell supplements or natural foods. One ounce will last you a long, long time, especially if kept in the fridge. I have used this brand myself and can attest to its quality for non-topical use in cleaning products.
On the other hand, I use Spark Naturals for all of my other essential oil applications. Over the years I have gotten to know the owner and the head of the customer service team. I trust them to deliver a quality product at a great price. Plus, they have fantastic sales, especially when using my discount code “gayelevy” (without the quotes).
For microfiber cleaning cloths, you can’t beat the Amazon Basics brand. I purchase two dozen over three years ago and they are still going strong. Finally, for spray bottles, I have never had a failure with these: Soft ‘n Style Clear Plastic Spray Bottle, 16 oz.
Want to give CBD Oil a try? Get a 20% discount using code "gayelevy" at checkout. Free shipping and a 60 day return policy.
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Summing It All Up
Luckily, our remodel is almost complete. There is still some sealing work to do on our new patio as well some additional painting but the major dust generators have come on gone. Still, I am finding that the forest floor creates its own form of dust that seeps indoors, especially during those days when the windows and doors are kept open to bring in some fresh mountain air.
Although I have been using this formula for years, it is doing double and triple duty here in Arizona. Fortunately, it is easy to whip up at a moments notice. I do hope you will give it a try.
Yours for a Joyful Life,
Gaye
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What????? So easy and thrifty!
Thanks,
Jo
I don’t care how much money you have, thrifty is always good. Next up? Club soda for glass and mirrors. Amazing stuff!
Thanks Gaye, this is just what I needed. I’m making a major effort to reduce toxins and cleaning product replacement was on my list.
I have been using DIY cleaning products since I was in my 20s. At the time, it was more to save money than anything else. A mix of vinegar and water was my go-to cleaner! These days, I am careful with the vinegar since I do not want to etch my granite counters. But other than that, I have gallons stashed away just in case TSHTF knocks on my door.