A bottle of all-purpose cleaner costs about four dollars and lasts maybe a month. The homemade version costs about thirty cents per bottle and works at least as well. You need three ingredients: white vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap. Maybe some essential oil if you want it to smell nice. That is it.

I switched to homemade cleaners two years ago when I realized I was spending about twenty-five dollars a month on a collection of plastic bottles that all did essentially the same thing. Now I spend maybe three dollars a month.

All-purpose spray cleaner

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of dish soap and ten drops of essential oil — lemon or tea tree work well — if the vinegar smell bothers you. The vinegar smell disappears when it dries. I promise. I was skeptical too.

This cleaner handles countertops, stovetops, bathroom sinks, mirrors, and windows. It cuts through grease and kills most common household bacteria. Vinegar is acidic enough to dissolve soap scum and hard water spots but gentle enough to not damage surfaces. Do not use it on granite, marble, or natural stone — the acid can etch the surface. For those, skip the vinegar and just use dish soap and water.

Soft scrub for sinks and tubs

Make a paste of baking soda and dish soap — about half a cup of baking soda with enough soap to form a thick paste, like toothpaste consistency. Spread it on the sink or tub, let it sit for five minutes, then scrub with a sponge or brush. The baking soda is a mild abrasive that removes stains without scratching. The dish soap breaks down body oil and soap scum.

For really stubborn stains, sprinkle a little extra baking soda directly on the stain and scrub with a damp sponge. The increased friction helps.

Glass and mirror cleaner

Mix one part white vinegar, one part rubbing alcohol, and two parts water in a spray bottle. The alcohol makes it evaporate fast, which prevents streaks. Spray on glass, wipe with a microfiber cloth or crumpled newspaper — newspaper actually works better than paper towels because it does not leave lint.

What you do not need

You do not need a different cleaner for every room. The marketing industry has convinced us that the kitchen needs one product, the bathroom needs another, and the floor needs a third. Look at the ingredient lists. Most commercial cleaners are water, a surfactant like dish soap, an acid or base, fragrance, and dye. The homemade version is the same thing without the dye, fragrance, and plastic bottle.

I kept one empty bottle of my old all-purpose cleaner and refilled it with the vinegar mixture. My partner used it for three weeks before I told her it was homemade. She did not believe me. “It cleans the same,” she said. Exactly.