Natural Cleaning Product Recommendations for Cleaner?

[Sleepy104888]

Mother's Day is reminding me how I desperately want a cleaner. Used to have one many years ago pre-kids and loved her! It was so lovely having a clean home and it prompted me to tidy which is always half the battle. I have had recommendations from friends but keep being held back because I try to use fewer chemicals now I have kids, particularly in the shower as I no longer want to bleach, etc. with young ones and littlest one has respiratory issues so I don't think the fumes/chemicals would be good for his health. I could really use a cleaner as otherwise things are just being left far too long, particularly with jobs like cleaning the bathroom, but figuring out what to provide for natural cleaning solutions that will really work has kept me from hiring anyone. Friend's cleaner said she's happy to use any products we provide, but at home I usually mix up a DIY solution and at present I'm too busy to fuss over this so hoping for something pre-made that will last and is still not full of chemicals but will actually clean.

Any cleaning product recommendations? I'm a real mess trying to juggle everything lately and always embarrassed about our home unless I manage a big cleaning blitz. Having things clean so I only have to tidy would be a massive help.

I’m a great believer in white vinegar.

Buy a steamer , nothing more natural than water
You could put vinegar into a spray bottle label ) and spray it round before she arrives to give it time to work. It does stink though

Method products

We have cats so I don't want anything toxic where they walk.

Cleaners tend to hate the eco stuff- I felt the same, but our cleaner struggled to do what she regarded as a proper sparkly clean without. We use Neat, and tried Purdy & Figg (insta purchase), as well as white vinegar, and I still use those between her cleans for daily use. I have got her some viakal/flash type products, and figured if she’s using them once a week, but I’m using the eco stuff in between them that’s a major reduction from us all using them. It’s not ideal..

good shout re steam cleaner, we use that on floor only, nil added. Floors look clean.

Nancy Birtwistle has an all purpose cleaning spray recipe involving vinegar and washing up liquid. Sure it's online.

We are slowly using up our harsh cleaning products as my baby was NICU with breathing issues and now has suspected asthma. We are switching to method and white vinegar - nothing with too strong a scent as that might set him off

Cleaner here. Home made cleaning products don’t work as quick as standard ones and things take more scrubbing so expect your cleaner to take longer to do tasks.

My cleaner uses washing up liquid for most things. Mould remover as occasionally needed in the shower (well ventilated). Bleach is only used for the loo

I find neat products pretty good, and as a bonus it reduces plastic waste.

Thanks, everyone! These are amazing suggestions. I desperately need the help with cleaning, just can't keep up as my son's health has been poor since he was born and it's left me with zero energy. @Tristansmother , very similar situation with respiratory support at birth and now on regular inhalers but still he's been in hospital needing oxygen support many a time, usually with just a regular cold/virus though have had two bouts of RSV mixed in. This is why it's so, so important to be careful about which products we use.

@crazycatladie , I would happily pay for the right amount of hours to get things clean with natural products. I probably need a proper deep clean which would take more time and then after that hoping to be able to afford 2-3 hours weekly just to keep on top of it. Anything will look better than what I'm managing as it's very haphazard in terms of when I get time to clean, particularly the bathrooms which I'm terrible about getting around to doing. I'd honestly be happy with just the bathrooms cleaned (1.5 bath to do) and sweep/mop kitchen and main entryway and then anything else done is a bonus.

Oh, if anyone has tried method, neat, and purdy & figg I'd love to know which is best. I like the lower plastic waste of Neat but do need something that will work well too, especially given the house hasn't had as much love as of late when it comes to cleaning.

I already use special microfibre cleaning clothes for windows and mirrors so need zero cleaners for those surfaces. Use a refillable mop with warm water and a drop of essential oil for hardwood flooring.

I think Nancy Birtwistle's new book Clean Magic is right up your street.

Eg cleaning spray = water + washing up liquid + white vinegar

Purdy and Figg have quite strong scents so we are staying away from them. Another tip is to vacuum your ceiling and walls, especially where your baby sleeps. That can get rid of dust that you didnt realise you had! It will take maybe half an hour but it does make a difference, even if pyschologically.

Also we open windows for half an hour each morning to change the air. I dont know if any of this works but I am holding out hope...

I've ordered some of the "Neat" cleaner , spray refill bottle , partly because my stock is diminishing (Method - I love the Ylang Ylang one )
And DH is painting the bathroom so a nice new spray will inspire me

Cleaners are not a homogeneous group. I hate using strong products in my clients homes and do 70% with a steamer, 10% with fairy liquid, 10% with white vinegar and the rest with chemicals (mainly loo cleaner, although I use the steamer on loos too).

Method is overpowering and I can't bear to use it any more.

I bought the Neat spray ,came with three concentrates. Liking it so far