Cheap DIY cleaning products everyone should know about

Sun’s out, spray-guns out

Nothing says ‘it’s probably time to clean’ like bars of warm sunlight streaming through the windows and showing up all the dust in your home. But when big-brand cleaning products cost an arm and a leg, and often use lots of harsh chemicals, is there an alternative, more affordable way to blitz every surface for a fresher summer?

Turns out, there is! Because with just a little bit of planning, plus a few empty spray bottles, it’s surprisingly simple to make your own cleaning products using low-cost, easily accessible, and naturally non-toxic ingredients. Here are some DIY cleaning products to get you started…

Natural all-purpose cleaner

Perfect for hard floors, kitchen countertops and bathrooms, this all-natural mixture uses the cleaning power of white vinegar to cut through grime and disinfect your surfaces. To get started, simply mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. When you’ve sprayed, wipe things down with a clean cloth or sheet of kitchen roll.

Homemade window cleaner

With this recipe, it’s a doddle to enjoy some squeaky-clean, streak-free window glass. Again, mix up equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle, but this time add a few drops of your favourite-smelling essential oil (e.g., eucalyptus or tea tree) for extra freshness. This solution will work a treat on your mirrors, too.

Carpet freshener

Whether you’re tackling a stain, a spill, or giving the carpet an emergency clean-up before the landlord pops in, you can get to work in no time with this quick recipe. Mix together baking soda and a few drops of essential oil in a glass or jar, then sprinkle the mixture on your carpet. Let it sit and dry out for at least 30 minutes, then run your vacuum cleaner over what’s left. Just like new!

Your very own furniture polish

Shiny-as-new wooden furniture is the cherry on your cleaning cake – and you don’t have to choke on smelly chemicals to achieve a brilliant finish. Just mix up equal parts olive oil and lemon juice in a spray bottle, spray this mixture on a microfiber cloth, and go over your furniture. It’s fast and unbelievably effective.

DIY toilet bowl cleaner

Ditch the bleach and try a gentler, much less fume-y approach with this powerful household cleaner. To get going, mix some baking soda and white vinegar until you have a thick, disinfecting paste. Whack this all over the inside of your toilet bowl (not forgetting the rim!) and let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing it off with a toilet brush. Flush the loo and enjoy that glittering finish!

Natural grout cleaner

It’s always a good idea to keep grout and silicone clean: leave soapy water standing for too long, and you’re asking for mouldy trouble! But since a squeegee can’t solve everything, cleaning your grout down is a must. And that’s where this handy mix does the business. Grab some baking soda and add water until it’s a paste. Apply the paste and leave it to work for 10 minutes, before scrubbing with a toothbrush. Rinse off any excess, give everything a wipe-down, and your bathroom should look good as new.

Because these are all natural products, they should be fine to use safely around your home although, we’d always just recommend completing a small patch test before using any of these to avoid causing any damage. Better safe than sorry especially when your deposit is on the line.