Cleaning is not the same as disinfecting. Know which task you need

All-Purpose Cleaners

Routine cleaners for selected compatible surfaces, with explicit exclusions rather than one-formula-fits-all promises.

5 recipes

“All-purpose” describes convenience, not compatibility. Every mixture on this site has a list of surfaces it should not touch, and a cleaner that suits sealed worktops and glazed tile can still etch stone, dull a finish, or lift a coating. Treating one bottle as universal is how the majority of accidental damage happens.

Before you start in this category

Read the exclusions before the instructions

The list of surfaces to avoid is more useful than the method. If your surface is not clearly covered, the honest answer is to use something labelled for it rather than to assume permission from a missing warning.

Spot test somewhere concealed, then let it dry

A hidden area reveals immediate changes in colour or gloss, and some changes only appear once dry. A test does not prove long-term compatibility, but it catches the obvious failures.

Label whatever you mix, and mix small

An unlabelled spray bottle is a hazard to whoever picks it up next. Making only what you need for the job also avoids storing a mixture that separates or degrades.

Easy Recipes

Quick and simple recipes perfect for beginners