Fresh and Clean
DIY Lemon Thyme Cleaning Spray
Your garden is giving you more than just dinner right now. Those thriving herbs can also help you create a bright, effective cleaning spray that smells wonderful and uses what you already have growing right outside.
This recipe comes together in about ten minutes, costs almost nothing, and leaves your kitchen counters (and the air) feeling fresh and light. It’s a simple way to bring a bit more of the garden indoors.
Why You’ll Love Making This
Turning a handful of fresh herbs into a cleaner you actually enjoy using feels wonderfully satisfying. The scent is herbal and citrusy, not overpowering, and it makes everyday wiping feel a little more creative and connected to your garden.
This spray relies on three straightforward ingredients: vodka, white vinegar, and fresh lemon thyme (or whatever fragrant herb you have growing). No mysterious ingredients, just things you can see and understand. It’s a gentle, effective option that many people reach for when they want something simple and natural for daily cleaning.
How It Works
Vodka helps cut through grease and grime without leaving a sticky film. White vinegar naturally tackles odors and bacteria. Together they make a solid everyday cleaner for kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
Lemon thyme brings a lovely bright aroma and contributes natural compounds (like thymol) that support the cleaning power. The result is a fresh-smelling spray that feels good to use while you’re prepping meals from the garden.
Lemon Thyme Cleaning Spray
Ingredients
1 sprig of fresh lemon thyme
2 oz vodka
4 oz white vinegar
4 oz distilled water
Instructions
Place the lemon thyme sprig in a clean glass spray bottle or jar.
Pour in 2 oz of vodka.
Add 4 oz of white vinegar.
Add 4 oz of distilled water.
Seal the container and gently shake to combine.
Let the mixture sit for 1 hour to allow the lemon thyme to infuse.
Use as a spray cleaner for countertops, glass, or other surfaces. Shake before each use.
A Few Tips
Glass bottles work best—vinegar can affect plastic over time, and glass keeps the infusion nicer.
Distilled water helps avoid mineral spots on glass and shiny surfaces.
This is wonderful for everyday cleaning. For heavy-duty needs, it’s still smart to have stronger options on hand.
No lemon thyme? Regular thyme or rosemary work beautifully too—both are likely growing strong in the garden right now.
Cari Ann Carter is the best-selling author of Are Your Roots Right? Rightsize Your Space. Reclaim Your Life. and a multi-faceted entrepreneur with a passion for intentional living, design, and home.
She leads the Cari Ann Carter Group, bringing over 28 years of experience in real estate, design, build, and renovation, and is the creative voice behind DIY Designer Homestead.
Through Fresh Roots Living, she shares practical ideas for cooking, gardening, entertaining, and creating a home that supports your next chapter.