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Maybe, it’s just me who is a complete sucker for cleaning stuff, but I suspect I’m not alone … go on, I challenge you, count all the products you’ve got … hmmm, I thought so 😉
I guess we fall for these products because most of us suck at cleaning.
But, something had to change and I have SLASHED the 25 right down.
AND what a result!!!
With the help of 7 low cost natural cleaning products I cut out 20 other products!!
That’s a whole load of money AND space saved.
So here’s my take on what you do and don’t need and how to combine the 7 super essentials easily to tackle just about EVERY cleaning job in the house.
7 Essential Natural Cleaning Products
These seven are my war horses that let me declutter AND save money!
- White Vinegar (UK)
- Baking Soda / Bicarbonate of Soda
- Cream of Tartar
- Salt
- Citric Acid (UK)
- Hydrogen Peroxide (UK)
- Micro Fibre Cloths (UK)
If you can’t find them locally in bulk, you can get them on Amazon.
If you haven’t used micro fibre cloths before I totally recommend e-Cloths – they clean … AND kill bacteria … super quickly with just water.
Which means you’ll save even MORE money in the long run!
What You Need for Each Cleaning Job
| Cleaning Product | Keep? | Replace With |
| Anti-Bacterial Spray | N | Micro-fibre cloths, vinegar, hot soapy water |
| Cream Cleaner | N | Paste of baking soda & water |
| Lime Scale Remover | N | Vinegar, lemon juice |
| Oven Cleaner | N | Baking soda or cream of tartar & water, mix to paste + leave overnight Scrape off with spatula. Then wipe with microfibre |
| Stove Cleaner | N | Micro fibre stove scrubber Or paste of cream of tartar & water |
| Wood Polish Spray | N | Equal parts olive oil & water with squeeze of lemon |
| Dusting Spray | N | 1/2 tspoon olive oil, 1 cup vinegar, 3 cups of water |
| Floor Soap | N | Equal parts white vinegar & warm water |
| Quick Floor Cleaner | N | Micro-fibre mop |
| Glass & Mirror Cleaner | N | Vinegar & micro fibre cloth |
| Clothes Detergent | Y | You can make your own from grated soap, washing soda, baking soda, salt & citric acid … the fab Jessi from Practically Functional has a recipe. I am just not there yet … |
| Fabric Conditioner | Y | Vinegar in the rinse cycle. Or half a cup of a solution 6 parts vinegar to 1 part baking soda. I am still using fabric conditioner but very, very little per wash & everything is much less crusty!! |
| Stain Removers | N | A stain removal kit of dish washing liquid, baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and surgical spirit (or vodka!) will tackle almost all stains |
| Toilet Cleaner | N | 1/4 of a cup of citric acid & same of baking soda |
| Dish Washing Liquid | Y | Hot soapy water is brilliant for getting rid of all sorts of germs. And dish washing liquid is great on stains. But check the chemicals in your brand … Google them … and you might want to go greener. Eco Me gets the highest A rating from the Environmental Working Group |
| Dish Washer Tablets | Y | You can replace with a mixture of 1 cup of washing soda and 1/4 cups of citric acid & coarse salt as per this recipe from My Healthy Green Family Make your own washing soda by baking a baking tray of baking soda at 400f / 200c |
| Rinse Aid | N | Put vinegar in the rinse compartment |
| Anti-bacterial soap | Y | Yes you need to buy soap but it doesn’t need to be anti-bacterial. Ordinary soap just as effective. Unnecessary use of anti-bacterial soap may contribute to rise of super bugs. |
| Anti-bacterial gel | Y | As a mum, I think you need this when you’re out + a long way from soap + water. Accidents happen!! |
| Hand stain remover | N | Get dried paint off your hands by rubbing them with oil, lots of hand lotion or butter (!) + wash well. |
| Drain Unblocker | N | 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by cups of vinegar & hot water. Leave then rinse with boiling water |
| De-scaler | N | Boil 3/4 full kettle. Add 1/5 cup of citric acid. When stops bubbling rinse thoroughly with cold water. |
| Ant powder | N | Boiling water on nest. Vinegar. Baking soda. |
| Fly & wasp spray | N | Spray with hot water and dish soap |
| Moth sachets | N | Sachets of dried mint, rosemary, lavender & cloves will repel moths |
| Grout Cleaner | N | Solution of 2 parts water to 1 part hydrogen peroxide sprayed on & scrubbed with tooth brush |
I do hope this helps you cut down on your cleaning clutter.