Why Make Your Own Cleaning Products?

There is a quiet satisfaction in knowing exactly what is in the bottle under your sink. A homemade cleaner usually costs pennies, takes five minutes to mix, and leaves the kitchen smelling of lemon and lavender rather than a chemical fog. For most everyday jobs, a simple combination of bicarbonate of soda, castile soap and a few drops of essential oil will do everything a shop-bought spray can, and it will be far kinder to your worktops, your skin and your lungs. This is not about scrubbing the whole house with a lemon and a prayer. It is about building a small, reliable kit you can reach for daily.

The Ingredients Worth Keeping in Your Cupboard

Four things cover almost every recipe below, and all of them keep for months.

• Bicarbonate of soda (also sold as baking soda): a gentle abrasive that lifts grease and neutralises smells. Buy it in large bags rather than small tubs, as you will get through it.
• Castile soap: a plant-based liquid soap, usually olive oil based. It is a proper surfactant, so it lifts dirt rather than simply wetting it. Dilute it generously, as neat castile soap can leave streaks.
• White vinegar: brilliant for limescale, glass and freshening plugholes. Cheap, and worth buying by the five-litre bottle.
• Essential oils: tea tree and eucalyptus for their antibacterial properties, lemon for cutting through grease, lavender or sweet orange simply because they smell lovely.

You will also want a few glass spray bottles, some soft cloths and an old toothbrush for grout and taps. Label everything, especially if you share a home with small children.

An All-Purpose Spray for Worktops and Tables

Pour 250ml of warm water into a spray bottle, add one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and one teaspoon of castile soap, then drop in ten to fifteen drops of essential oil. Screw the lid on and shake gently. Warm water helps the bicarbonate dissolve, so it will not clog the nozzle.

Spray onto a cloth rather than directly onto finished wood, then wipe. Give the bottle a shake each time you use it, and mix a fresh batch every fortnight or so, since the soap can separate over time. This spray is ideal for kitchen worktops, tiles, painted doors, the outside of the fridge and general dusting.

A Soft Scrub for Sinks, Hobs and Baths

For anything that needs a little grit, mix 120g of bicarbonate of soda with two tablespoons of castile soap and enough water, roughly a tablespoon, to bring it to a thick paste. Add ten drops of tea tree oil. It should look like slightly wet sand.

• Stainless steel sinks: work the paste in with a cloth, following the grain, then rinse and buff dry.
• Baths and shower trays: apply on a damp cloth, rub gently, and rinse well to avoid a chalky film.
• Hobs and oven doors: leave the paste on stubborn patches for ten minutes before wiping away.
• Grout and taps: use an old toothbrush, then finish with a splash of vinegar for shine.

Keep the scrub in a small jar with a lid. It will dry out over time, so add a few drops of water the next time you use it.

Glass, Shower Screens and Wooden Furniture

For windows and mirrors, mix 250ml of water with one tablespoon of white vinegar and a few drops of lemon oil. Buff with a dry cloth or crumpled newspaper and the streaks will vanish. Never use vinegar on natural stone such as marble or limestone, or on aluminium, as the acid will dull or pit the surface.

Shower screens respond beautifully to a weekly spray of the all-purpose mix, wiped down while the bathroom is still warm and steamy. For wooden furniture, skip the water entirely. Mix two tablespoons of olive oil with one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice, apply a few drops to a soft cloth and work it into the grain. Test on a hidden patch first, as some modern finishes prefer nothing but a dry duster.

Staying Safe and Making It Last

A few house rules will keep your homemade kit effective.

• Do not mix vinegar and castile soap in the same bottle. The acid breaks the soap down and leaves a curdled film on your surfaces. Use them separately, one after the other.
• Never combine vinegar with bleach, and never mix bleach with anything citrus-based, as the fumes are genuinely harmful.
• Keep essential oils away from pets. Tea tree, eucalyptus and citrus oils are toxic to cats and dogs. Use them sparingly, ventilate the room, and keep animals off wet surfaces.
• Spot test an inconspicuous area of any sealed stone, lacquer or antique finish before you commit.
• Store in glass rather than thin plastic, and keep bottles out of direct sunlight. Most mixes are best used within a month.

Start with one spray and one scrub. Once you see how well they cope with a Sunday morning of kitchen trouble, the rest of your cupboard will follow.