White vinegar is a fantastic kitchen
cleaner. It’s cheap, cuts through
grease like nothing else, and
deodorises. This concentrate will
disguise the smell; it takes 2 weeks to
infuse but lasts ages undiluted.Makes 500ml
Approx 500ml white vinegar
Peel of approx 8–10 lemons*
Generous handful of thyme sprigs
Generous handful of lavender sprigs
1 litre lidded glass jar* Maker’s notes: Rather than peeling
fruit especially, after cooking with
lemons, freeze peelings until you have
enough to make the concentrate. This
cleaner will last indefinitely when
concentrated; or about eight weeks
once diluted. In place of lemon, thyme
and lavender, you could try orange,
grapefruit or lime skins, and herbs
such as rosemary or oregano.
1 Add the vinegar, lemon peel and
herbs to your jar (no need to defrost
frozen peel first). Then, add the
vinegar, covering the lemon peel and
herbs. Give the contents a stir, then
put on the lid and seal tight.
2 Leave the jar in a cool, dark place for
about 14 days, or longer if you want a
stronger scent. Then, strain through a
sieve, pressing down on the peel and
herbs to squeeze as much liquid out
of them as possible. Pour the strained
liquid back into the jar, and pop the
peel and herbs in your compost bin.How to use
Employ this concentrate whenever
any cleaning recipe calls for vinegar.
Or turn it into an all-purpose spray:
half fill a spray bottle with concentrate
and top up with cooled boiled water
(for a 50/50 dilution). Diluting is
important because the concentrated
citrus oils may otherwise stain. Do not
use on marble, granite or other natural
stone surfaces.PROUDLY
HOMEMADELemon, lavender &
thyme concentrateGOOD INGREDIENTS
Keep these under your sink to make
DIY natural cleaners
Castile soap A plant-based multi-purpose
liquid soap, traditionally made with olive
oil (and named after Castile in Spain), but
now often containing other plant oils.
Available from health food shops or online.
Witch hazel Derived from the leaves
and bark of the hamamelis plant,
witch hazel is a natural astringent and
good at cutting through grease. Find
it in pharmacies or online.
Borax substitute Otherwise known as
sodium sesquicarbonate, this is a
replacement for borax (sodium borate) –
a mineral once favoured for cleaning but
now banned in the UK as it is mildly toxic
and can burn skin. Borax substitute is
thought to be safer – though should still
be used with care. Available in hardware
stores or online.
Xanthan gum A thickening and binding
agent, often used in gluten-free cooking,
widely available in supermarkets and
health food shops.
Glycerine A gloopy liquid, made from
plant oils, used in cake icing. Found in
sugarcraft shops, some supermarkets, or
online. Not to be confused with nitroglycerin.
Soda crystals Also known as washing
soda, these soluble crystals of hydrated
sodium carbonate are alkaline and can
soften water and help remove grease. The
crystals can be irritant so protect your skin
when using. Buy in hardware stores, some
supermarkets or online. »The prettiest cleaner
you can find: multi-
purpose and all natural41