We live in a world where white and foam depicts “clean”. Surfaces are sterilised and air fresheners deodorise the air we breath. Our clothes, our furniture, surfaces and dishes are washed with chemicals to rid them of germs quickly and easily; but what we don’t realise is that the chemicals that we are ridding ourselves of germs with, can actually be more harmful to us than the germs they destroy.
For those of us that don’t have the time or water to water our gardens, often resort to an efficient way of re-using water. If you have a small home or granny flat and are limited with the use of water, this is an excellent water-saving technique that still allows you to have a beautiful garden and lawn. Grey water from our kitchen and laundries is fed through a hose, from the grey water tank, and onto our gardens providing them with nutrient-rich recycled water. Due to that fact that the water is derived from our kitchens and laundries, we must be careful of the products we use. Most cleaning products you buy off the shelf can contain harmful chemicals that are not only harmful to you but also to your plants. Therefore in response to this we need to look at cleaning products that are safe for you, your family and your plants, that you can also make yourself at home.
To start you will need:
To start you will need:
Dishes: Dishwashing liquid is a little to complex to make yourself, therefore a good idea would be to go to your nearest organic grocer or search the dishwashing section of your local grocery store and search for “organic” or “grey water or septic friendly” dishwashing liquid. A great brand for this is Earth Choice.
For those hard to remove stains on pots and pans an excellent recipe for this is one by Apartment Therapy:
Instructions
Silverware can easily lose it’s shine and often requires harsh chemicals to restore them back to near new again; however Apartment Therapy have also found a great “make-it-yourself” recipe for a silverware cleaner. 
You will need:
Instructions:
Stove tops: Cleaning your stove top doesn’t have to be a struggle against the grime. Firstly take off some of the larger and easier sections with the easy Spray ‘n’ Wipe recipe below:
Ingredients
Method
These techniques should have your kitchen and dishes sparkling in no time. Not only will this save you money but also save your family and plants from the nasty chemicals found in harsh commercial cleaning products. |
The bathroom can be one of the hardest places to keep clean, with moisture constantly present, mould and soap scum can easily get into grout, leave marks and stains. These recipes however will naturally clean off those nasty stains and soap scum in no time.
Ingredients
Method
The Spray ‘n’ Wipe spray formula is not only handy for general surfaces, it is also great for window and mirrors. Spray and wipe with old newspaper to create streak-free mirrors and windows.For those nasty, stubborn mould and mildew stains and to easily clean your toilet, Apartment Therapy has another great recipe:
Now the bathroom’s clean, let’s move into the laundry.
Did you know that chalk can remove stains from your clothes? Well according to Apartment Therapy, if you rub chalk onto a stain before washing, will absorb the grease and easily remove the stain while it washes in the machine. (Apartment Therapy, 2016)
Doing laundry is a chore most people hate. Washing, sorting and ironing; it often seems endless. These simple adjustments however might just help you spend less time in the laundry and more time doing what you enjoy. 
| Now we know how to remove those pesky stains, let’s look at the next step, washing them. Firstly we are going to need to make washing soda; this is a natural de-greaser for your clothes. The recipe for this can be found from a cute little website called Mommypotamus.com, alternatively you can buy this online or ask your local organic grocery store. |
Ingredients
Method
Now we have our washing soda we can now make laundry powder. All you need for this recipe is:
Method
You can store pre-made fabric softener by using a 2 litre bottle of white vinegar, add 5-6 sprigs of lavender into the bottle, replace lid, and allow to stand overnight before using (pouring directly into the fabric softener compartment).Last but not least let’s move into the living room, the space where you want to look the best, as it is where visitors will see immediately after walking in the door. Firstly grab your duster and swish away removing any webs and dust. Next, for most surfaces including wood you can use the homemade Spray ‘n’ Wipe formula in your spray bottle; however you can make your own wood furniture polish by juicing a lemon and mixing it with a tablespoon of vegetable oil and a tablespoon of water, dab onto a cloth and there you have it.* 
To clean brass, add vinegar to a cloth and sprinkle salt on the surface, giving the combination a gentle rub over.****
For marble mix 2 drops of dishwashing liquid with a cup of water and your ready to go; however do not use anything citrus or acidic like vinegar on these marble surfaces as it can eat away at the marble.****
Give your windows a great shine with newspaper and the Spray ‘n’ Wipe mix before paying some serious attention to any carpet you may have. Before you vacuum your carpet you’ll want to remove any stains, to do this you will need:
Ingredients
Method
Now your carpet is stainless you, can finish off with a good vacuum and your home should be looking as beautiful as ever.***
Please note when handling and mixing ingredients, in their pure and combined form, wear protective gloves to prevent any possible skin irritations or reactions. Always spot test before using products.
References
• *25 DIY Green Cleaning Recipes for the Whole House
• **How To Make Washing Soda From Baking Soda
• **How To Make Natural Laundry Detergent (Borax-Free)
• ***Natural Carpet Cleaning Basics
• ****9 Cleaners You Can Make Yourself
