Homemade kitchen cleaner – an easy eco step-by-step

If you don't like the idea of using chemicals, you'll love the prospect of creating your own homemade kitchen cleaner. Made with simple, natural ingredients, this lavender cream cleaner is an eco-friendly alternative to shop-bought products, plus you can scent it to suit your taste.

Use it for cleaning a kitchen and for cleaning the bathroom, too.

'This cream cleaner is great for using in the kitchen and the bathroom on sinks, draining boards and the bathtub. It’s highly effective at cutting through soap scum and is safe to use on plastic, ceramic and stainless steel,' says author Jen Chillingsworth, who created this recipe.

Jen Chillingsworth

Jen Chillingsworth is the author of Green Living: A Sustainable Guide to a More Intentional Life. Green Living is follow up to her best-selling book Live Green. Her second book is a practical guide to living life more thoughtfully, and includes a collection of changes you can make to your home and lifestyle over the course of a year, from making your own cleaning products to giving up plastic.

Homemade kitchen cleaner – step-by-step

This homemade kitchen cleaner can be fragranced or not. Jen has suggested lavender as the scent, but you may like to choose your own.

'Apply a little of the cream cleaner to a reusable sponge or cotton cloth. Using a circular motion, rub the cleaner into the sink or bathtub until the area is completely covered. Rinse away with a little warm water. This is a fresh cleaning product, so should be used straight away,' advises Jen.

• Glass mixing bowl
• Spoon
• 500g glass container with lid
• 200g baking soda (Ed: Amazon sells a 4lb bulk box of baking soda)
• Organic liquid castile soap (Ed: Dr. Bronners Pure-Castile Liquid Soap is made with organic oils; larger bottles are available at Amazon)
• Small handful of dried lavender flowers
• 6-10 drops of lavender essential oil (optional) (Ed: This is Amazon's top selling lavender oil)

1. Combine the ingredients

Add the bicarbonate of soda to the mixing bowl. Start adding the liquid castile soap and stir to combine. 

There is no precise measurement for the castile soap. The ratio is approximately one third to one half the measurement of the baking of soda, but you need to add enough for the mixture to achieve a paste-like consistency.

Add the lavender flowers or essential oil, if using.

2. Stir and store

Stir the mixture until it is well combined. Pour the mixture into a clean, glass storage jar.

What is homemade cream cleaner?

Homemade cream cleaner is a gentle combination of natural materials that can tackle grease with ease. Safe to apply on to plastic, ceramic and stainless steel, it can be used to clean kitchens and bathrooms.