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Make your own natural household cleaners

By Guest Poster •

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By Cybele Masterman

Nothing sweeps away the cobwebs quite like a good old spring clean. It marks the emergence out of hibernation and prepares for the frivolity of summer. I like to think of it as a deep cleanse that injects life back into the home by clearing away all the gunk that has accumulated while I’ve been tucked up next to the heater with the windows and doors closed.

Cleaning-Spray

The task is a lot more pleasant with nice smelling, non-toxic cleaning goodies. Fortunately, it’s really easy to make your own and they’re a lot cheaper too! The trick is to label all the containers with the contents and write the recipe on there too, so they’re easier to make next time.

You will need:

  • Vinegar
  • Bicarbonate soda
  • Dishwashing liquid or liquid castile soap
  • Orange, lemon or tea tree essential oil
  • Spray bottles
  • Wide mouth jar
  • Gloves
  • Bucket
  • Cleaning cloths (cotton rags are great as they can be composted at the end)
  • Scrubbing brush
  • Broom
  • Dust pan and brush
  • Mop
  • A checklist of rooms and tasks you’d like to tackle
  • Playlist of the best cleaning music (usually the cheesiest dance tracks!)
  • Helpers (bribe them if you have to).

The cleaning spray:

Add 3-4 cups of vinegar, 1 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of essential oil and a couple of squirts of dishwashing liquid to a spray bottle and shake gently to combine the ingredients. This can be used to wipe most hard surfaces with a cloth, however vinegar is not recommended on marble.

Creme cleanser

In a wide mouth jar, mix 1 cup bicarbonate soda with half a cup of dishwashing liquid or liquid Castile soap and a teaspoon of essential oil and mix into a paste. Use this mild abrasive on hard surfaces by wiping on with a cloth or appropriate scourer, squirting with the cleaning spray (see above) or water, and scrubbing to your heart’s content.

Floor cleaner

Pour 1 cup of the cleaning spray mix (above) into 4 litres of water, this is usually half a bucket. For the kitchen floors, I add an extra squirt of dish washing liquid and an extra couple of drops of essential oil for the bathroom floor.

Bucket

The most important part

Kick back and enjoy your home!

Cybele Masterman is a former journalist who can usually be found at Blah Blah Magazine, testing concoctions, tinkering in her shed or on adventures to uncover a beautiful life in the simple and the unexpected without costing the earth.

Jen Bishop is currently on honeymoon in Tokyo, Venice and the UK, and has opened up the blog to a series of fabulous guest posters to share their interiors-related expertise in her absence. She hopes you’ll enjoy them and look out for the odd honeymoon post from overseas! The new Mrs Francis (who will still be known as Bishop for work purposes) will be back at her desk on 11 November.

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October 23, 2013

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It's a remodel of a previously dark and pokey extension to a Victorian Gothic home. It's now an open plan dream, and the transition from old to new is beautifully done with impressive black steel doors.

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Tag a pregnant friend who'd love these!

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Comment 'Positano' for the link to read all about it, including the antique terracotta Italian roof tiles around the curved pool, firepit, olive and lemon trees and lavender!🪻 Chef's kiss👌🏼

Size is NOT everything!

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Project by @tobiaspartners 📸 @justinalexanderphoto

#housesawards #housesawards2025 #woollahravillage #woollahra #woollahrahomes #australianarchitecture #australianarchitect
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I'm getting that floor lamp at a minimum.

Karin Gustavsson, creative leader for STOCKHOLM, IKEA Sweden, said: “The purpose of the STOCKHOLM collections has always been to prove that high quality doesn’t need to come at an intimidating cost. We have worked to create a no-compromise kind of collection where every piece tells a story."

Check it out on the blog now via link in bio and stories.

Don't hang around as these pieces always sell out fast.

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We're having this discussion on the blog today and sharing examples of two older homes given new, more sustainable, leases on life.

Head over via link in bio and stories.

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@reneworgau

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