I’m a cleaning fan – here are the exact ingredients for my ‘family secret’ DIY spray that works miracles
MULTISURFACE cleaning sprays can be hit or miss: when they work, they really work, but when they fall flat, you might as well be using plain water.
One cleaning fan shared the secret recipe behind her mom's favorite "miracle worker" cleaning spray that could revolutionize your supply cabinet.
Writing for The Kitchn, Annita Katee recalled a recent visit home, when before she could even settle in after her flight.
"Within the first five minutes of my arrival, she had taken out her clear spray bottle for a little show-and-tell," Katee recalled.
Her mother immediately tackled a series of scuff marks on Katee's suitcase – and she had to admit, the multisurface spray worked wonders.
Katee's mom was reluctant to give up the details of her magic cleaning solution.
When she finally did, the cleaning fan was surprised to learn the secret ingredient.
"What surprised me the most about this miracle spray was the hero ingredient: washing soda, not to be confused with baking soda," Katee wrote.
Because washing soda has a higher pH than baking soda, it packs a more powerful punch when you're cleaning.
It also acts as a water softener, which makes the miraculous spray work in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and even outdoors.
Most read in Fabulous
To concoct the spray at home, you’ll need 2/3 cup of vinegar, three cups of water, one and a half tablespoons of washing soda, two tablespoons of dish soap, and up to one tablespoon of pure essential oil if you'd like to add in a scent.
Boil a half-cup of water, and mix in the washing soda. Once it's dissolved, take the solution off of the heat, and mix it into the other ingredients.
Then decant the completed mixture into a 32-ounce spray bottle, or divide it between smaller bottles if you want to keep one in each room.
"You can use it in the bathroom to unclog drains and remove grout and scum, on an outdoor grill with blackened caked-on grease and food, and even to clean garden tools," Katee wrote.
She also revealed the cleaning spray's hilarious origin story.
Read More On The Sun
Though her mom was reluctant to reveal the secret recipe, she eventually let slip that she learned the formula from a store associate in the cleaning aisle.
Now, it's an official family recipe, Katee said – and once you try the mixture at home, it'll be a staple in your household too.