Make | Homemade Cleaning Wonders

Kitchen table potions to make spring cleaning feel that little bit more lovely

A good spring clean always makes us feel better. And, while no one is pretending cleaning and chores are anyone’s favourite way to spend their time, having some gorgeous-smelling homemade cleaning products to hand definitely makes the job more enjoyable. These wipes and all-purpose surface cleaner can both be made in an afternoon, ready to help you scrub, polish and shine your way to a freshly scented, sparkling home.

All-Purpose Surface Cleaner

Choose a scent that you really like for kitchen worktops, sinks and other surfaces. Maybe not your bed, though…

You will need:

500ml bottle with a spray nozzle

25ml Castile soap (we used

Dr Bronner’s with a rose scent)

Fill your bottle with tap water and add the soap (be sure to add the soap after the water, otherwise the mixture will become foamy). Attach the nozzle, spray the surface and wipe with a damp cloth.

Reusable Cleaning Wipes

Upcycle old bathroom towels into microfibre cloths. Hey presto! Use-again eco-wipes.

You will need:

125g distilled white vinegar

1 tbsp washing-up liquid

10 drops of essential oil of your choice

6 textile squares (approx

20cm x 20cm)

Glass container or jar with lid

1 In a bowl, stir together 250ml water with the vinegar, washing-up liquid and essential oil, then set aside.

2 Fold your cloths and place in the jar – you can add more cloths if it’s not enough to fill it. Pour the cleaning solution into the container – making sure all the cloths get covered and are damp – then screw on the lid.

Note: The wipes will last for about one week in an airtight container. Once they’ve all been used, you can simply wash them and repeat the process again and again.

These makes are just two of the ideas from our weekend project, ‘A Fresh Start’ by Louise Gorrod. You can find the other natural cleaning makes, including Toilet Fizzes, Oven Cleaner and Bathroom Cleaner in the March issue, which is out now, or you can buy it from our online store.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More ways to clean naturally…

More from our blog…

Make | Homemade Cream Cleanser

A good spring clean always gives us a bit of a lift, and making your very own, natural products will add an extra level of satisfaction

This fresh-smelling DIY cream cleanser tackles stubborn shower scum and helps lift rust from stainless steel. It makes around 230g

180g bicarbonate of soda
20 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops tea tree essential oil
3 tbsp pure liquid castile soap, plus more if needed

Equipment: Medium bowl, mixing spoon and an airtight jar

1 In a mixing bowl, combine the bicarbonate of soda and essential oils. While stirring, slowly pour in the castile soap and mix until it becomes a smooth paste.
2 Transfer to a small airtight jar or similar container to store. It can dry out over long periods, if that happens, add a little more castile soap and mix.

To use: Add 1 tsp or more to a clean cloth. Run the cream over the surface to be cleaned, lightly scrubbing until any dirt and grime comes away. Rinse or wipe the surface clean.

This project is taken from Home By Natural Harry: DIY Recipes for a Tox-free, Zero-waste Life by Harriet Birrell (Hardie Grant). Photography: Nikole Ramsay and Ed Sloane. We’ve featured more of the recipes in our March issue, including a glass cleaner and a stain remover.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our March issue…

More spring cleaning inspiration…

Make: your own clean, green oven gel

Oven looking a little tired and emotional after a big Easter gathering of friends or family? This oven cleaning gel tackles your least favourite job without the caustic fumes of conventional cleaners

Makes 1-oven’s worth

1 tsp xanthan gum

2 tsp glycerine

2 tsp washing-up liquid

300ml just-boiled water

1 tsp salt

5 tbsp soda crystals

1 Put the xanthan gum and glycerine in a large bowl and stir well to combine. Add washing-up liquid and stir again. 2 Put the just-boiled water in a jug and add the salt and soda crystals. Stir until the crystals dissolve. 3 Pour the warm solution into the bowl with the gum mixture and use a hand-held blender to pulse for 1 min, until fully combined. Use immediately.

How to use

1 Switch off your oven at the socket and remove the racks from the inside. Wearing rubber gloves, use a sponge or scrubbing brush to apply the gel liberally to the surfaces of your oven, including the door.

2 Leave the gel on overnight. In the morning, again wearing rubber gloves, use a scrubbing brush to give your oven a thorough clean. If burnt-on spots remain, sprinkle over some bicarbonate of soda to give you extra scouring power.

3 When you’re satisfied, wipe the oven down with a clean, damp cloth, rinsing the cloth in fresh water as necessary. You can use this solution on the oven racks and trays, too, but avoid use on aluminium surfaces.

Recipes taken from Fresh Clean Home by Wendy Graham (Pavilion). Photography: Rachel Whiting.

 Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our April issue…

More kind cleaning ideas…

Guide to eco cleaning

Green alternatives to environmental and health damaging chemical-based cleaners

For doing the dishes: 
Method’s Pomegranate washing-up liquid is free from chlorine and phospates and smells delicious; £2.25 for 523ml, biggreensmile.com

For floor mopping: 
Dr Bronner’s Organic Liquid Castile soap is free from synthetic dyes, fragrances and preservatives and is as good for floors as it is for bodies; £10.50 for 473ml, ethicalsuperstore.com

For kitchen cleaning: 
Kinn Living’s Eco Friendly Kitchen Cleaner’s essential oils disinfect naturally; £4.25 for 500ml, kinn-living.com

For scrubbing dirty plates: 
LoofCo washing-up pad is made from natural loofah and coconut fibres and is biodegradable; £2.75, greenbrands.co.uk

For cleaning glass: 
Good for Glass, harnesses the cleaning power of lemon oil to bring the sparkle back to glass and mirrors; £5.60 for 500ml, mangleandwringer.co.uk

For cleaning the toilet: 
US company Seventh Generation’s Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner smells sweetly of cypress and fir;
£3.83 for 946ml, evitamins.com

Turn to page 115 of the March issue to read more on our love for a clean and pleasant house.

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here.

More from the March issue:

More homemade remedies:

Spring cleansing

Use the seasonal urge to clean as an opportunity to try living with a little less. Here’s why...

• Empty space draws natural light into a room and makes the objects you do have come to life. 
• Big isn’t always better. For example, a more compact fridge means less food waste and a more spacious kitchen. 
• You’ll save time tidying, cleaning and looking for things simply by having less stuff. 
• It’s more wasteful to hold onto things that you don’t use than it is to get rid of them. 
• Throwing things overboard is the best way to stay afloat. 
• If it's your wardrobe that needs simplifying, see our feature on page 114 of March’s The Simple Things.  

More from the March issue:

More spring posts:

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

Spring clean

Finally we are beginning to see signs that spring is on its way. Daffodils, blossom, Easter eggs and, dare we say it, the odd sunny day. 

While it might not be time to put away our winter coats just yet, it is time to think about welcoming the new season into our homes. What better way to do so than with a spring clean. Whether you plan to set aside an entire weekend to clean from skirting board to ceiling or you’re just going to resolve to give those curtains a spin in the washing machine, our Shopkeeper, Louise Gorrod, has the selected the perfect cleaning kit from The Stuff of Life to make those chores a little more enjoyable.

Images from top, left to right: Organic cotton ironing board cover by Orche and Ocre, £18.00 | Linen laundry bag by The Linen Works, £28.00 | Vintage style enamel wash bowl by The Glam Camping Company, £9.99 | Linen kitchen towels by LinenMe, £10.99 | Birch wood round brush by Cachette, £20.00 | Handcrafted scrubbing brush by Cachette, £12.00 | Set of 3 Kaleidoscope storage boxes by Cambridge Imprint, £18.00 | Organic cotton peg bag by Orche and Ocre, £12.00 | Natural belly basket by Olli Ella, £25.00.