Preserving our planet is a pressing issue, so having an eco-friendly lifestyle has become very popular in recent years. Reducing the use of plastic and paper, recycling, cutting down energy usage at home – these are only a few of the ways to lead an environmentally friendly life. If you want to add something else to your eco-lifestyle, we suggest using homemade cleaning products.

Make Your Own Cleaning Solutions to Shine Down Your House

Preparing your own products is cost-effective. The ingredients needed for the homemade cleaning detergents are basic, cheap and can be found in every London store. And probably you already have them in your home.

Another great thing about them is they are incredibly versatile. Mixed in different proportions, they can be used for cleaning different items around the house. After you’re done, it will look like as if you used the best cleaning services in London.

So, without further ado, here are the 6 ingredients for your homemade products.

Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda)

This is probably the first thing you need to get your hands on when you go to the supermarket. It can be used solely as well as with other ingredients. Baking soda is an amazing product for cleaning almost everything including (and the list does go on):

  • Any surfaces in the kitchen – countertops, cabinets, etc.;
  • Dishes, cutlery, extra greasy pans;
  • Oven, fridge, microwave;
  • Deodorising carpets;
  • Clogged drains;
  • Removing tarnish off silver;
  • Bathroom – the bathtub, the tiles, the shower curtains;

White Vinegar

Vinegar has also numerous ways of use when it comes to cleaning, and the best thing is it’s really cheap. The mixture of it with water could make wonders when cleaning the entire house. Don’t be afraid of the smell – just add a few drops of essential oil of your choice to the solution. So, vinegar alone or in a mixture is perfect for:

  • All kitchen surfaces (just like the baking soda);
  • Window blinds;
  • Watermarks left on furniture;
  • PC, keyboard, mouse;
  • Carpets;
  • Grease stains;
  • Cleaning of the microwave;
  • Lime and mineral deposits ;
  • Also good for sanitising and disinfecting;

Lemon and lemon juice

We all know lemons are good for you, but besides all health benefits, this fruit could be easily used as a cleaning tool alone or in a mixture. So next time when you buy some for a delicious lemonade, just take a few more so you can wash up here and there. Lemons clean perfectly the following and more:

  • Microwave;
  • Wooden cutting board;
  • Dishes;
  • Windows and mirrors;
  • Grouts, tiles;

Salt

One of the main condiments we put at our table daily is perfect for cleaning activities around the house. Mainly, in combination with other ingredients, here is what the salt is good for when it comes tо keeping your home clean and shiny:

  • The kitchen/bathroom sink
  • Greasy pans
  • Wooden cutting board
  • Spills – wine and greasy food
  • Glass coffee pots
  • Stained cups and more

Essential Oils

Essential oils are the best addition to the homemade cleaning solutions not only because they smell amazing, but they are also natural antibacterials. So, while you are making sure your house is clean and sanitised, the oils will leave a nice and fresh aroma.

Olive oil

Adding here again something from your kitchen cabinet. Surprisingly, olive oil could be used to clean items when most of the time you’re trying to take it off the dishes, for example. This product is perfect for polishing furniture, it could also loosen up stains so they can be easily washed afterwards.

Useful Recipes for Safe Cleaning Products For Your London Home

As we mentioned, these ingredients could be found in any local store. Make a quick run and buy everything from the list above. Get also a few spray bottles, preferably glass ones and some labels. You can use two for each bottle – one for the cleaning purpose and one for the recipe. Write down the proportions on the back, and when the time for the next batch comes, you will be even quicker in the preparation.
Using these recipes to wash down your home will not only freshen it up, but it will also postpone the need to call up a cleaning company in London.

  • All-purpose cleaner

Mix up water with white vinegar (equal parts) and add around 8-10 drops of essential oil to make it smell a little bit better. Stir well, and you’re ready to go. You can spray this solution on surfaces, on the sink, on the oven and just wipe it down. It’s perfect for keeping your home fresh on daily basis as well as for top to bottom house cleaning.
Tip: If the vinegar smell is still strong, just add more essential oil.

  • Window and Mirror Cleaner

For the windows, you will need one part water and four parts of vinegar and essential oils of course for a better-smelling result.

  • Toilet Cleaner

For a bright and shiny toilet bowl just spill some white vinegar (1-2 cups), toss 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda, and again some essential oil drops. Leave it for a few minutes and let it fizz a little bit and then use the toilet brush to finish it up.

  • Furniture Polish

This solution has ¼ of a cup of white vinegar, ¾ of a cup of olive oil and the juice of half of a lemon. Mix it up good and store it in a bottle. Essential oils are also applicable here but don’t overdo it.

  • Oven Cleaner

The end result of this recipe should be something like a paste and not a liquid solution. Mix up ½ of a cup of baking soda with three tablespoons of water and a teaspoon of salt. Stir well and spread over the inside parts of your oven. Let it sit overnight, at least 12 hours and after that wipe down with a wet cloth. If there is a residue, you can spray vinegar and wash it till you get it off. This detergent will do its work perfectly in most of the cases. An exception might be if the oven is older and/or has sticky buildups left even after washing. Then you may consider calling up professional London cleaners, so you won’t damage it.

Extra tip: Clean your microwave in under 5 minutes! Leave a bowl with vinegar and some lemon juice. Set it up for 2 minutes and then keep it inside for another two. Take the bowl out and wipe down the microwave – everything should come off easily.

These are our suggestions to clean up your London home the eco-friendly way. You can keep up this lifestyle even when you need to use professional house services. Just ask the cleaning company if they’re using natural products before booking an appointment.

Stephanie Cooper

Stephanie is a content marketing specialist for Top Cleaners for the past several years. She has extensive experience working with cleaning companies and knows her audience. Stephanie creates engaging and useful content helping the customers of Top Cleaners with their struggles and providing them with the most accurate insight.