Three key ingredients for cleaning the home in a ‘green way’

We are all concerned about the planet. Of course, we are! All trying to do our own ‘little bit’.

Since reading A Life Less Throwaway, by Tara Button, I have become much more aware of how our life is surrounded by plastic. We have all done our part by using ‘keep cups’ and ‘bags for life’ but the area of the home I am concentrating on at the moment is the kitchen and bathroom, and the extraordinary number of plastic bottles which are sitting around in those two rooms!

How did we ever get to the point that we were persuaded that not only did we need shampoo, conditioner, body and hand soap, along with shower gel but also scrubs, creams, lotions and masks for every part of our body, independently, and goodness knows what else, and that’s before we even get started on the facial products. The products for cleaning our home are equally numerous and specific in their required usage. Can there really be such a difference between the product you use for cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom, the mirrors and the shower?

I remember reading somewhere that soap is soap and all the rest is marketing. I am interested to test out this theory. For the past three years I have tried to use up all the ‘products’ which I already had in my cupboard, with the intention of then switching to natural, plastic- free alternatives but I have now realised that the day will never come when they are all finished (it seems to be an endless supply!) So, I’ve decided I need to just get down to it and make a start ‘now’.

My initial investigations are very positive. It seems that all you need is white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, castile soap, occasional use of lemon juice or salt and something very exciting, for the laundry, called soap nut shells!

I easily found these products online and got momentarily tempted by lots of beautiful refillable glass bottles, but decided to stick to the old ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra and use existing cleaning product bottles, and their handy spray features, before getting too carried away. 

I did get drawn in to the microfibre cloth web and bought products for kitchen and bathroom before reading that they contribute to the microplastics problem when washed (which, I suppose should have been obvious, the clue is in the name!), however I hope that by using them according to the instructions their longevity and efficiency, without the need for damaging products, will swing the positive balance in the end. In future I will be cutting up old T-shirts and vests and creating ‘rags’ for cleaning as the best way to avoid use of throwaway cloths and wipes. It seems that to make this ‘do-able’ is by having a proper system to store and laundry items (i.e., keeping them hung in a ventilated spot until laundry comes around!).

It seems that the essential products for green cleaning can easily be identified for their purpose. Bicarbonate of soda deodorises, scours and cleans. White vinegar removes stains, grease, dirt and odours. Castile soap is the soap part of soaps for dishes and floors and, indeed, hand soap. Lemon juice and salt are there to do a little extra heavy lifting when necessary. The more unusual product, for me at least, is the soap nut shell which will be used for laundry washing. Looking forward to experimenting with that one! Essential oils can be added to any of the products for pleasant aromas around the house and Tea Tree Oil has added antiseptic benefits.

So, I that’s the theory part sorted! 

I have created a little list of my various home- made cleaning products;

1. a. All Purpose Cleaner

Half water, half vinegar, 10 drops of essential oil. Put in spray bottle.

b. All-purpose Cleaner (vinegar free for porous surfaces; stone, marble, granite)

Half tsp bicarb, 1 tsp Castile soap, 2 cups water, 10 drops essential oil. Put in spray bottle.

1. Window/ Mirror/Shower Cleaner

Quarter vinegar, three quarters water, 10 drops essential oil. Put in spray bottle.

(As an alternative, alcohol, also good for glass)

1. Washing Up Liquid

4-part Castile Soap, 1 part water. Put in washing up liquid bottle.

1. Floor Cleaning liquid

Quarter vinegar, three quarters water.

1. Toilet Cleaner

Spay in White vinegar, then shake in bicarbonate of soda, leave for 10 mins and rinse

1. Drain Cleaner

Bicarbonate of soda, then vinegar. Will froth up. After 10 mins, flush with boiling water (as long as pipes are not plastic!)

1. Laundry Detergent

Soap nut shells in pouch. 4/5 enough for 2/3 washes, then compost and renew in pouch.

1. Oven Cleaner

Quarter cup bicarb, 1 tsp salt, water to create paste. Apply to surface and leave overnight. Rinse.

1. Room freshener

Take old jam jar and create holes in the lid (or use coloured paper and make holes). Half cup bicarb, 8-12 drops essential oils (lavender, honeysuckle etc!). Shake and place in room. 

1. Dusting Spray

a.1 tbsp. Castile soap, 15 drops lemon essential oil, 2 cups water (general cleaning)

b.Half cup olive oil, 2tbsp lemon juice (wooden furniture)

N.B. Castile soap and acid (vinegar, lemon juice) should not be mixed! 

So, we are all set. Different concoctions prepared and standing ready with their brightly coloured, and colour coded, microfibre cloths in each area of the house. Let the experiment begin!