Posted by It’s a beautiful early spring day – the sun is out, the blossoms are pretty and it’s the first time in ages that I haven’t needed to turn on the heater. And I’m celebrating it by going into spring clean fever. Luckily, I have my favourite miracle surface spray on hand.
It happens every year: I swear that during winter I will keep our home neat and tidy. But then we have those super cold and dark days, and all I want to do is climb into bed beneath a doona and relax. Come spring, however, and I’m keen to clean and organise.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many aisles in supermarkets dedicated to cleaning? Cleaning products are big business, and it’s easy to spend a fortune on being house proud. The problem is that many of these products are expensive and filled with chemicals that are harmful to the environment (and not great for people or pets, either).
Most of the time, I like to wipe down surfaces with damp cloth. Yep, that’s all. A cloth and a bit of water. I often use wipes that I bought in bulk from Costco and that I rewash (did I mention I am frugal?) I also use leftover clothing cut up into rags.
But sometimes I come across a greasy or especially dirty surface that needs a bit of rough love. Today, for instance, I’m cleaning BBQ grease that has leaked onto the outside table, and also cleaning around the stove area. For these types of tasks, this heavy-duty (yet cheap and environmentally friendly spray) works a treat.
The miracle ingredient here is lectric soda. Never heard of this? You have now. It is an essential ingredient in this and also my homemade washing powder recipe. You might not have seen it before because it is often on the bottom row of the cleaning aisle, hidden somewhere where you really need to hunt to find it. It’s not a fancy, big brand product; its effectiveness speaks for itself.
Ingredients
1.5 litres water (one cup of which is boiling)
3 dessertspoons lectric soda
300ml white vinegar
60ml dishwashing liquid
1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil
Method
- Dissolve the lectric soda with one cup of boiling water.
- Combine all the remaining ingredients in a 2 litre bottle (I like to use a leftover vinegar bottle), and shake until combined. Pour into a spray bottle and use.
- Note: make sure you label this spray and store out of reach of young children.
Cost
| Lectric soda ($3.99 kilo) | $0.50 |
| 300ml white vinegar | $0.21 |
| 1 tab dishwashing liquid | $0.05 |
| 1 tab eucalyptus oil | $2.00 |
| Total for just under 2 litres | $2.76 |
In comparison, an eco-friendly equivalent surface spray costs around $4 for 600ml, or 67c per 100ml (compare with just over 13c per 100ml, assuming it is close to 2 litres). Beyond the cost, this DIY method reduces packaging and uses eco-friendly ingredients.