- You Will Need:
- Water, Vinegar, and Olive Oil
- Lemon Essential Oil
- Spray Bottle
I had fun dusting today.
(Hey there’s a sentence I thought I’d never write!)
But it’s true! I enjoy cleaning more than I used to now that I’ve learned how to make my own cleaners. This homemade furniture dusting spray is one of my favorites and I really do have fun spraying it in the nooks and crannies of the scrollwork on my furniture and watching it get nice and clean.
This homemade furniture dusting spray is a money saving and natural replacement for commercial cleaners like Endust or Pledge. It’s quick and easy to make using water, olive oil, and vinegar. I like to add Lemon Essential Oil
Want to give it a try too? Here’s how to do it:
HOMEMADE FURNITURE DUSTING SPRAY
-
1-3/4 cups water
-
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
-
2 teaspoons olive oil
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1/4 teaspoon lemon essential oil (about 8 to 10 drops)
Combine the ingredients in a clean spray bottle of at least a 16 oz size. Shake well to mix.
To use, spray onto wooden furniture and wipe off with a soft cloth to dust and clean the surface.
You’ll have to keep shaking this mixture as you use it to keep the oil and water mixed together, which really isn’t a big deal. You already have the bottle in your hand to spray it, just give it a shake too!
You might also like to read this follow up post:
Homemade Dusting Spray – Will The Olive Oil Go Rancid?
I'm Bev and I love to share ideas for living a more creative and resourceful lifestyle with homemade alternatives we can make for ourselves. 
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Does the olive oil get rancid at all? Just wondering if there might be a risk of that and if so, maybe there's another kind of oil to try?
Yes it can go rancid but it can take up to 1 to 2 to go bad. So if you are worried about it going bad just make up a small amount and replace it every couple of months.
It is supposed to be 1 to 2 years before it goes bad.
Good point – I would add that if you use this mixture regularly (making the size batch as given in the recipe above) as part of your weekly cleaning routine, you will probably use it up in a few months. That’s what I have found now that I been using it for over a year.
I have been using this mixture for several months and have not experienced any problem with the oil being rancid. There is a pretty small amount of olive oil in this recipe compared to the water so the oil is not the dominant ingredient. I also believe it takes several years for olive oil to go “bad” and if and when it does, it's more an issue of using it in foods and having the taste be a little off.
an idea for keeping it mixed…
when I was learning how to lanolize my wool diaper covers, I kept having the issue of the liquid lanolin making globs on the wool. then I found this tutorial that said “in a bottle mix soap, lanolin, and HOT water. Shake well” It works so great!. I use a soapnuts liquid as my 'soap'. It seems to saponify, it gets creamy, and stays together.
an idea for keeping it mixed…when I was learning how to lanolize my wool diaper covers, I kept having the issue of the liquid lanolin making globs on the wool. then I found this tutorial that said "in a bottle mix soap, lanolin, and HOT water. Shake well" It works so great!. I use a soapnuts liquid as my 'soap'. It seems to saponify, it gets creamy, and stays together.
is the essential oil just for the smellor does it help with the dusting. i need to keep cost way down so to purchase something like this ,even tho it may last a long time, if not necessary i prefer not to do . thanks
is the essential oil just for the smellor does it help with the dusting. i need to keep cost way down so to purchase something like this ,even tho it may last a long time, if not necessary i prefer not to do . thanks
The essential oil is primarily for fragrance so if you are on a tight budget, I would leave it out. It is the olive oil in the recipe that helps to condition the wood.
The essential oil is primarily for fragrance so if you are on a tight budget, I would leave it out. It is the olive oil in the recipe that helps to condition the wood.
I read the other day that if you take orange (or any citrus) peels and add to the vinegar, and let it set for approximately two weeks, you just strain, then add the mixture as normal for cleaning. The citrus in the peel helps with the vinegar smell. I've started this using a quart jar and adding peeling daily as we eat an orange. Put about 5-6 Orange peels per bottle. I've already started bottle two, and am halfway through the first week. I can't wait to see how this works after the two weeks.
I read the other day that if you take orange (or any citrus) peels and add to the vinegar, and let it set for approximately two weeks, you just strain, then add the mixture as normal for cleaning. The citrus in the peel helps with the vinegar smell. I've started this using a quart jar and adding peeling daily as we eat an orange. Put about 5-6 Orange peels per bottle. I've already started bottle two, and am halfway through the first week. I can't wait to see how this works after the two weeks.
I made this today… and like anonymous said, I needed to keep costs WAY down. So I was restocking my vinegar and such, and bought the $2 FRAGRANCE OIL from Walmart. But I got it in Pomegranate!! Who says dusting spray has to be lemon scented?!? I love that I can make it what ever scent I want!!
I made this today… and like anonymous said, I needed to keep costs WAY down. So I was restocking my vinegar and such, and bought the $2 FRAGRANCE OIL from Walmart. But I got it in Pomegranate!! Who says dusting spray has to be lemon scented?!? I love that I can make it what ever scent I want!!
I'm really intrigued by the idea of citrus peels in the vinegar to infuse it with fragrance. I think I'll try it too!
I'm really intrigued by the idea of citrus peels in the vinegar to infuse it with fragrance. I think I'll try it too!
Thanks for the information! Can't wait to try. Looking forward to following you!
Thanks for the information! Can't wait to try. Looking forward to following you!
Bev-
I'm making cleaning products to sell locally, as we live in a green stricken place, the infused lemon or orange vinegar works wonders. Just make sure to change the peels at one week. You can also use pine needels, rosemary, lavender, and thyme to infuse vinegar for both smell and bacteria cutting qualities.
Bev-I'm making cleaning products to sell locally, as we live in a green stricken place, the infused lemon or orange vinegar works wonders. Just make sure to change the peels at one week. You can also use pine needels, rosemary, lavender, and thyme to infuse vinegar for both smell and bacteria cutting qualities.
Do you have to just remove the peels and not the other items you mentioned. Why do you remove the peels? I have had some sitting for about 2 weeks. Just wondered if I should pitch it for any reason. Thanks for the suggestions to help keep the cost down!
Do you have to just remove the peels and not the other items you mentioned. Why do you remove the peels? I have had some sitting for about 2 weeks. Just wondered if I should pitch it for any reason. Thanks for the suggestions to help keep the cost down!
I'm wondering about the vinegar. It seems like a lot in comparison to the water. Has it or will it over time damaged any woodwork because of the acid content?
I'm wondering about the vinegar. It seems like a lot in comparison to the water. Has it or will it over time damaged any woodwork because of the acid content?
I have been using this mixture for over a year now and so far I have not seen any adverse effects on my wood furniture (in fact it looks cleaner than when I used to use Pledge!). You could probably cut back on the vinegar if you were concerned about its effects on the wood.
I have been using this mixture for over a year now and so far I have not seen any adverse effects on my wood furniture (in fact it looks cleaner than when I used to use Pledge!). You could probably cut back on the vinegar if you were concerned about its effects on the wood.
I love this mixture! Gets my wood furniture clean and smelling great. The only problem I have run accross is I have my my grandmother's antique china cabinet which I just found out was cleaned weekly with Old English liquid polish and had years of build up on it (I mean ALOT of buildup – felt sticky!). The spray took off some of the build up off in places and made it look lighter. Just be prepared for that if you have an older piece that has been maintained with OE spray. Everything else looks great!!
I love this mixture! Gets my wood furniture clean and smelling great. The only problem I have run accross is I have my my grandmother's antique china cabinet which I just found out was cleaned weekly with Old English liquid polish and had years of build up on it (I mean ALOT of buildup – felt sticky!). The spray took off some of the build up off in places and made it look lighter. Just be prepared for that if you have an older piece that has been maintained with OE spray. Everything else looks great!!
i made this a couple of days ago, but i added grapefruit essential oil (that's what i had around). the spray does a great jobs removing finger stains! i have black furniture and i was really impressed to see that dust takes longer to sit on them! for this alone i love it!
http://bisozozo.blogspot.com/
i made this a couple of days ago, but i added grapefruit essential oil (that's what i had around). the spray does a great jobs removing finger stains! i have black furniture and i was really impressed to see that dust takes longer to sit on them! for this alone i love it!http://bisozozo.blogspot.com/
I also make and use the orange vinegar and it is great! My daughters (4 and 6) make orange all-purpose cleaner from it. It does a good job in cleaning the counters tops, stove, bath tubs (w/ our homemade scouring powder), refrigerator, etc..) Between my husband and the three children we go through A LOT of oranges and red grapefruit.
I also make and use the orange vinegar and it is great! My daughters (4 and 6) make orange all-purpose cleaner from it. It does a good job in cleaning the counters tops, stove, bath tubs (w/ our homemade scouring powder), refrigerator, etc..) Between my husband and the three children we go through A LOT of oranges and red grapefruit.
Thank you for posting this! I have been looking for a recipe everywhere that would not go rancid. (Called for too much oil.) My daughters will be so happy to be able to dust the furniture now. (I do not let them use store bought cleaners. Too many fumes.) This was the last cleaner on my list of replacing store bought chemicals in our home. Thank you again.
Thank you for posting this! I have been looking for a recipe everywhere that would not go rancid. (Called for too much oil.) My daughters will be so happy to be able to dust the furniture now. (I do not let them use store bought cleaners. Too many fumes.) This was the last cleaner on my list of replacing store bought chemicals in our home. Thank you again.
My question is do you have to use the Essential oil or is that just for the smell.
My question is do you have to use the Essential oil or is that just for the smell.
Trish – the essential oil is really just for fragrance. Another way you can get some scent is to use infused vinegar. Here's a link to a post I did on that so you can see how it's done.
http://www.themakeyourownzone.com/2012/04/making-scented-vinegar-for-homemade.html
Trish – the essential oil is really just for fragrance. Another way you can get some scent is to use infused vinegar. Here's a link to a post I did on that so you can see how it's done.http://www.themakeyourownzone.com/2012/04/making-scented-vinegar-for-homemade.html
Thank You I will check it out.
Thank You I will check it out.
Hi there,
I was wondering if you have been using this blend on a weekly basis, biweekly, or about once a month.
And have you seen any wear and tear, build up/stickyness, streaks, peeling, or anything else adverse?
Have you used it on anything other than wood?
Thanks so much!
I’ve been using my furniture dusting blend every week and have not seen any adverse effects. I use it mainly on my bedroom furniture and haven’t noticed any stickiness or any change in the wood, and I have been using it for many months now. I have also used it once in a while on my kitchen counter and on the bathroom sink area simply because that was the cleaner I had in my hands. I worked well on those surfaces too.
I found a furniture polish recipie once that was only olive oil & lemon juice. Though it really shined up my wood it seemed to attract dust after. I am happy to find the additions.
I have heard other people report the same thing. The oil does shine things up but if it’s not diluted, it seems to attract dust.
I’ll have to give this a try since I’m on a mission to replace our old commercial cleaning supplies with natural ones.
Hope you don’t mind I am going to link to this on my “Living Green” blog. I tried this recently and OMG, I am never going back to Endust or Pledge! This worked so well and I love that my kids can help with dusting without being exposed to who knows what chemicals! Heck, they can even drink this if they wanted to (I replaced the lemon essential oil with a fresh squeezed lemon instead so it really is “edible”.)
I would be flattered to have you link back to this recipe.
This is one of my most favorite homemade cleaners and I use it all the time. Bye Bye Pledge!!
Thanks!!! I’ve been looking for a recipe like this!!! i just discovered some excellent info that gives some healthy reasons to use lemon oil.
http://www.natural-aromatherapy-benefits.com/lemonessentialoil.html
What about for laminate furniture? I have been using a water/vinegar mixture for mine, but don’t want to do that on the real wood we have. Does this leave laminate oily?
I have used this mixture on both laminate and real wood surfaces and it has worked well on both with no ill effects. It does not leave surfaces oily either.
I test out popular “pins” on my blog, and I tried yours out and found it to be a great dusting spray. I decided to give it a whirl as a stainless steel cleaner, and it is literally the best stainless steel cleaner I’ve ever tried (diy and store bought)! You should definitely give it a a try, if you haven’t already. Here’s my post if you are interested: http://myso-calledmommylife.blogspot.com/2013/03/pinterest-hits-misses-part-4.html#
Thank you for sharing!
I’m excited to hear this works good on stainless steel too! I don’t have any stainless steel appliances, but maybe I will have to test it out on my stainless steel sink. One of the things I love about homemade cleaners is that they are almost always so multi-purpose and can be used in many different ways. Thanks Bridget for giving this new idea for the dusting spray!