I love the bright, crisp scent of this Lemon & Lavender All-Purpose Cleaner, but vinegar is too acidic for granite countertops. Over time, it can corrode the countertops sealant, making it more vulnerable to staining, etching, and chipping.
Lemon juice and citric acid are a no-go for the same reason, but common store bought options have their own concerns. Many earn a safety rating of a C or even F from the Environmental Working Group, and they tend to be pretty pricey.
Fortunately, we don’t need them. This easy, pH neutral recipe works without leaving streaks or a grimy residue, and you can still incorporate the fresh scent of lemon without using lemon juice. That’s because essential oils, even citrus oils, are pH neutral and therefore considered safe to use.
Essential Oil Options
Organic lemon essential oil is my go-to in this recipe, but there are also a few other options that work well for cleaning. All are safe for use around kids. Click here for more info on using essential oils safely with babies and children.
- Cinnamon Leaf (Cinnamomum verum) – NOT cinnamon bark. Warm, inviting scent.
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata) – Similar to peppermint, but safer for use with kids under six.
- Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) – Bright, clean, uplifting citrus scent.
- Lemon (Citrus x limon) – Fresh, crisp, mood lifting aroma.
- Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia) – Refreshing, citrusy and energizing.
- Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) – Mood lifting, supports healthy respiratory function, and can also be used in homemade bug spray.
- Pink Grapefruit(Citrus x paradisi) – Crisp and clean.
- Sweet Orange(Citrus sinensis) – Sweet and fresh.
- Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) – Herbaceous, relaxing scent
What To Buy When You Don’t Have Time To DIY
When you’re short on time, sometimes it’s better to buy a pre-made option so that you can focus on other priorities.
Most granite cleaners get a D or an F from the Environmental Working Group. Although this one from Eco-Me is not specifically rated by the EWG, it contains two plant-derived soaps that are rated as an A, plus aloe vera, radish root ferment (which is antimicrobial), and a food-grade preservative. It’s formulated for granite and sealed natural stone surfaces.
DIY Granite Cleaner Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup rubbing alcohol/isopropyl alcohol or vodka
- 1½ cups distilled water
- 20 drops of essential oil (see options above)
Instructions
To Make
- Add the essential oil to the alcohol and stir thoroughly with a fork.
- Pour into your spray bottle and then add the water and shake well.
To Use
- Shake granite cleaner, then spray your countertop.
- Wipe down the surface with a clean cloth.
More Natural Cleaning Recipes
Streak-Free Glass Cleaner – Why make your own glass cleaner? Because it’s easy, it works, and the most popular store-bought brand gets a “D” from the Environmental Working Group.
Homemade Soft Scrub – Wipe away grime on sinks and tubs with this simple recipe.
Homemade Bleach Alternative – If finding a homemade bleach alternative feels a little like hunting for a mythical laundry unicorn, I think you’ll like this simple but effective recipe.
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I love the idea of making my own cleaners but they too often have fragrance in them. I am allergic to all fragrances. For a woman who loves flowers that is a big problem. Thankfully when the smell is in the flower it’s ok. It’s only when they use it to make fragrances for essential oils or any other products then I have a problem. Can the cleaners be made without the fragrances?
Thanks for your help
I make a granite cleaner you might like. Fill a bottle about 1/4 full with rubbing alcohol. Fill the rest with water and add 1 drop of blue Dawn dish soap. Works well and doesn’t streak.
I found a recipe on Pinterest for room spray using straight vodka and several drops of lavender essential oil (buy the CHEAPEST vodka you can find; Grey Goose is meant for drinking!). Somewhere along the way i read info saying rubbing alcohol was bad to breathe in, like might happen if you’re atomizing a spray cleaner (or room spray). I have no idea if vodka is dangerous (i think it is 35% alcohol for 80 proof while rubbing alcohol is usually 71% up to 90% alcohol. I think.) The theory is the alcohol evaporates almost instantly, while the aroma of the oils remains. I think your recipe would work just as well using cheap vodka, and tho costing more, possibly safer? Another note worth making, whenever EOs are mixed into any alcohol, SHAKE WELL each time you use it.
LOVE the Grey Goose comment!
Love this! Thank you!
Lovely idea. Great essential oil choices.
I love this post. I have been looking for a natural granite cleaner for a while that works. Now do you have a cleaner for marble? Maybe this will work as well on marble?
I haven’t researched marble but I’ll put it on my list!
I use it on marble all the time and it works great!
What about just diluted Castile soap? That’s what I’ve been using on my counters.
Ha! So funny! Just yesterday I was wondering if you have a recipe for my granite countertop! Thank you!
Great article! Will definitely share this with our clients. Thanks for posting this one. 🙂
Hi ! Thanks, will this work on a glass cooktop also?
Yes, I would think so.
Yes, I use it all the time and it does not streak. I also use it to clean my floors.
So many great recipes for both the home and delicious meals. I am impressed by the scope of your blog.
I wonder why so many love microfiber. It is made from plastic (think petroleum!)
“During the middle of the 20th century, the manufacturing of synthetic fibers began to expand into new areas. One of the breakthroughs was to take the sludge that was left over after oil had been refined and turn it into a synthetic fiber”
And all it does for me is smear wet things (if you can even get it to absorb the liquid at all) I dislike it SO much! Especially when I am trying to go healthy and non toxic. Microfiber just doesn’t make sense to me.
And no, I don’t use fabric softener, which reduces the ability of towels to absorb. Haven’t in decades.
I understand that it is supposed to do the exact opposite, but for me, this is what it does. The more important factor to me is the fact that it is made from petroleum oil sludge!!!
I’ve also read that mirofibers get into the waterways through our laundry and are not good for the environment. I also hate how some stick to my fingertips!
I agree with you Carol and Jan.
Hi! Thanks so much for this recipe! Do you know if it would work on quartz countertops as well?
Hello!
So, how well will this cleaner work on marble and quartz? I was wondering if you found out.
Also, do you have a stove cleaner that is ok to use with gas stoves and ovens?
Thank you very much for these recipes I certainly will use them. I am changing all my cleaners and room sprays to homemade!
Do you know where I can purchase the book for homemade cleaners for grout, granite and other surfaces, such as glass? I have problems getting my ebooks to come up on my kindle.
Can I use filtered water reverse osmosis instead of distilled water?
I think that would probably be fine.