5 Cleaning Products You Can Make Yourself

Most people with an overflowing cleaning cupboard know that using a different product for each household chore can get very expensive. And all of those chemicals can't be good for your health!

What if we told you that a few items commonly found in your kitchen will quickly and effectively take care of most of your cleaning jobs? Here are 5 amazing household cleaning concoctions you can make yourself.

1. DIY Grout Cleaner

You don't need to be on your hands and knees scrubbing for hours or be using harmful products that can erode your grout or potentially bleach the colour.

What you need:

• Baking Soda
• Water

Steps:

1. A simple mix of water and a couple of tablespoons per 500mls can create some magic on your tiled surfaces.
2. Apply the paste to the grout and let it sit for 30 minutes or so.
3. Give it a good scrub and wipe down – you'll be thrilled by the results.

2. DIY Oven Cleaner

According to ALDI's 2015 Clever Cleaning Study, oven cleaning is the most disliked household chore for Australians. Oven cleaning can be messy, and time-consuming and oven-cleaning products are usually laden with heavy chemicals.

Skip the overwhelming chemicals, exorbitant cleaning product prices, and cleaning difficulty with these easy steps.

What you need:

• Baking Soda
• Water
• Gloves
• Spatula

Steps:

1. Mix half a cup of baking soda with enough water to make a spreadable paste.
2. Using gloves, spread this paste over the inside of the oven, making sure you put a thick coating in particularly greasy areas. Let it sit overnight, for at least 12 hours.
3. Put on your gloves and use a spatula to remove the paste or a clean wet sponge. There you have it! A budget oven cleaner that won't fill your home with fumes.

3. DIY Drain Cleaner

Dissolve the gunk and get rid of any smells with this simple method.

What you need:

• Baking Soda
• White Vinegar
• Boiling Water
• Cloth to cover the drain with

Steps:

1. Pour half a cup of white vinegar down the drain and then half a cup of baking soda, ensuring that you leave some of the powder covering the drain hole and around the rim of the drain.
2. Cover the drain with a plug or cloth. Leave for at least 20 minutes, and then flush with boiling water.
3. This mixture should break up whatever is clogging the sink and get everything moving again.

4. DIY Toilet Cleaner

Marketing and the cleaning product aisle at your local supermarket will tell you that you need a different cleaner for every part of your home, but the reality is that's just not true!

There is a trend in these tips, as vinegar and/or baking soda are effective cleaners for many different occasions! And toilets are no different.

What you need:

1. Baking Soda
2. White Vinegar
3. Borax

Steps:

1. Add half a cup of vinegar to the toilet bowl to neutralise germs. Leave it for a few minutes, brush the bowl with the toilet brush, and then flush.
2. If you have a problem with stains in the toilet, you might need to bring in the borax. Add half a cup to the toilet, and let it stand overnight before scrubbing and flushing in the morning.

5. DIY Window Cleaner

Vinegar makes a great streak-free window cleaner!

What you need:

• White Vinegar
• Hot Water
• Microfiber Cloth

Steps:

1. Use white vinegar to cut through the dirt and grease without leaving a streak behind. You may need to use cool water if cleaning on a warm day.
2. Keep in mind that if you've been using commercial window cleaners on your windows for a long time, there may be a subtle waxy film. Use a dish detergent mixed with some warm water to remove this residue before using your vinegar mix.
3. Another game-changer? Use a microfibre cloth on your windows – the fine fibres on these cloths mean minimal streaking and more shine.