Have kids, they said. Then expect EVERY SINGLE SURFACE in your house to be gooey, sticky or dirty in some way, shape or form. From your couches to your hardwood floors, you’re bound to come across caked-on playdoh, chocolatey handprints and “dare-I-even-ask-what-that-was” stains.
Navigating which formulas can be used on which surfaces is a minefield and can lead to more damage than good in some instances.
But you can’t go wrong with homemade DIY cleaners that are eco-friendly and made with ingredients that are probably already in your pantry!
That’s why we teamed up with our mates at Koala to showcase four homemade cleaning products that are gentle, eco-friendly and work a treat on all surfaces!
DIY upholstery refresher
This spray is perfect for situations where things aren’t “dirty, dirty”, but could use a refresh (we’re looking at you, sofas of the world).
Vinegar is both a cleaning agent and deodoriser, so works well for lighter stains. As an added bonus for those who do not own pets, you can choose to add essential oils, which will leave your sofa and chairs smelling lovely.
Ingredients and method
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- A few drops of your favourite essential oil, such as sweet orange or eucalyptus
- Glass spray bottle
Pour all the ingredients into your bottle, screw on the lid and give it a good shake. Lightly spritz down your furniture fabric, giving areas with stains an extra spray. Let the couch air dry. Use the mix within two weeks.
DIY carpet and mattress deodoriser
While the best line of defence against stains and smells on your mattress is a mattress protector, this cleaning method helps remove odours and dust mites with ease.
Super simple and effective, this recipe only requires two ingredients: bicarb soda and essential oil. You’ll need to adjust the amounts depending on the size of the area you’d like to cover, and please note that you should not use essential oils if you own animals.
Ingredients and method
- Fill a jar with bicarb soda
- Add 10 drops of your favourite essential oil (lavender is a nice calming choice for the bedroom).
Sprinkle across your mattress liberally, and allow it to work its absorbent magic for a full day – roughly 8 hours for best results, but anything over 2 hours is suitable.
Once ready, grab the vacuum cleaner and suck up the bicarb soda, taking with it funky smells and dust mites that have no place in your sanctuary.
For carpets, use the same method but you can leave the bicarb soda to rest for 30 minutes to one hour before vacuuming.
Read more: Koala Calm As mattress review
DIY all-purpose cleaner safe for surfaces and furniture
If you don’t want to mess around with multiple recipes and prefer a one-hit-wonder, you’ll love this DIY all-purpose cleaner.
One of the safest and most efficient natural all-around cleaners is also one of the simplest: a humble mix of natural dishwashing detergent (the kind you use for hand washing dishes) and water.
Yep, that’s it. It’s great for pretty much everything, including granite, marble and other stone countertops, wood, cabinetry, stainless steel, laminate, sinks, floors, walls…
Ingredients and method
- ½ litre water
- 1 teaspoon clear, natural dishwashing detergent
- Microfibre cloth
- Glass spray bottle
Mix one teaspoon of liquid detergent in half a litre of water, swirl to combine and then spritz onto surfaces. Use a microfibre cloth and give things a solid rub down.
DIY wood cleaner and polish
This all-purpose cleaner is specifically for wooden furniture that can be damaged from too much water exposure.
Ingredients and method
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ¾ cup olive oil
- The juice of half a lemon
- Microfibre cloth
- Glass spray bottle
- Pour all your ingredients in the spray bottle and shake well. You can then spray the mixture directly over your wooden furniture like the coffee or dining room table. Use the soft cloth to wipe clean.
- Remember to give it a good shake before each use.
More cleaning hacks to try
- Blitz Your Bathroom With These Tried and Tested Cleaning Tricks!
- Mums Go Wild for Shower Cleaning Hack Using 3 Simple Kitchen Items
- The Busy Mums Mega List of A-Z of Cleaning Hacks, Tips and Tricks
- Dishwasher Cleaning Hacks: 13 Things You Can Clean That Aren’t Plates
- HOME HACKS: Top 10 DIY, Cleaning and Storage Hacks of the Year
