Homemade How To : Cleaning Spray

One of the first things I tried making myself was this cleaning spray. We've been using it for about a month now and it's doing it's thing well. We've also gotten used to the unique aroma. I was a bit dubious about using vinegar to clean with, as my other craft is candle making and so the scent of my home is important to me. Although the scent of the spray is different from the chemical clean smell I was used to, it certainly doesn't make my house smell like a chip shop! No one has yet visited the house and commented on the pong, except to pick out the lavender in it.

To make this cleaning spray you will need:

• tap water
• white vinegar
• lavender essential oil 
• empty spray bottle

Get yourself an old spray bottle and wash out all residue of whatever was in there previously. Fill half the bottle with water. Fill the rest of the bottle with vinegar and add a teaspoon of lavender oil. That's pretty much it!

The oil will separate, so remember to upturn the bottle to mix it again before you spray.  

Make it your own! You don't have to use lavender oil, you could consider something fresher such as pine or lemon. I find these remind me too much of public loo cleaners, so I prefer to avoid them, but that's just personal preference. (If you're using any essential oil I would advise you to research it a little first. Some people have allergies toward different ones and some are to be avoided while expecting etc.) 

I'm sharing this info as it's part of my journey to have an eco-sensitive home. I'm still learning, so there is no wrong or right way to go. I've found this works for me, but if it doesn't work for you, do some research online. There are hundreds of variations out there, with different cleaners for different things. I am trying to keep things as simple as possible, so I'm using this for pretty much everything. I use a diluted version as a floor cleaner which had pleasing results. We have tiled floors and giving them a rinse with this and a rub down with a damp cloth did a good job. Try to avoid disposable kitchen towels and cloths. Like most things that are labeled as biodegradable, they only biodegrade efficiently when exposed to light and oxygen, which doesn't happen in landfill. I cut up old bath robes and towels to use for cleaning. They can be used and laundered many times, whilst withstanding the odd boil wash for good measure. 

The first time I made this I reused an old plastic spray bottle as I didn't want to invest in a glass one until I knew I wanted to keep making this stuff. Once I found that it was suitable for my needs I purchased a reusable glass one in amber. As with anything containing essential oil, amber or darkened  glass is advisable as they are light sensitive. A good quality spray nozzle is worthwhile too, as the one on the plastic bottle I tried to reuse had a tendency to block. I buy all of my amber bottles from Baldwins, a London herbalist, as well as many other ingredients used in my homemade products. You can buy a separate spray nozzle to fit their syrup bottles. You should be able to find similar products online with a little internetting. 

I use this spray in my kitchen and bathroom on work surfaces and ceramics. Don't use on wood as essential oils can be damaging. While on the subject of wooden surfaces, I no longer use furniture polish. Since spending some time volunteering in the conservation team at a country house I realized that they never used furniture spray. Most of my furniture is vintage or antique, so now I just give them a wipe over with a soft cloth to remove the dust. Occasionally as a treat I use a traditional solid polish, but day to day a simple wipe over works fine. With an open fire, this needs to be a daily job anyway, though I confess it rarely gets done that frequently!

As with any cleaning products, engage some common sense when using and don't get in your eyes or ingest. Seek medical assistance if this happens. Also be careful of the surfaces you're using them on. Although this is a far more natural alternative to the chemical laden cleaners you buy in the shops, it does require some care when using. 

We used to spend several pounds (£) a week on our various cleaners and sprays. The most expensive element of this mix is the lavender oil, but now I'm using this all the time it's worth buying it in bulk and it works out much cheaper. Although this exercise was more to do with being less reliant on branded products in disposable containers (both the vinegar and lavender oil come in glass bottles, so can be easily recycled) the savings when it comes to money are indeed,  a happy accident.