The one cleaning product I miss most is Jiff - oh how I miss Jiff. Jiff in the bath, Jiff on the shower walls, Jiff for removing makeup from the basin - Jiff was THE business! You may however recall that the removal of all toxic chemicals and the complete detoxification of my home was an integral element in my recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (and in my opinion is a must-do if on a quest for wonderful health).
To all of the Thermomix users out there, finally a post just for you (I know, it's well and truly about time). Inspired by a Thermomix consultant (who we've unfortunately been unable to locate) you too can make your very own environmentally friendly version of the chemical laden (yet remarkably effective) store bought product, Jiff. I love the simplicity of the ingredients and the fresh, summery smell of lemons and limes.
So here we have the amazing cleaning power... of nature!
You will need:
3 lemons (quartered)
3 limes (halved)
300 grams fine sea salt
300 grams water
100g raw apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar as an alternative)
Place the lemons and limes (skin and pips included) into your Thermomix bowl and chop for 30 seconds on a speed of 10. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the salt and water. Cook for 5 minutes at 100 degrees C on speed 4. Add the vinegar and cook for another 5 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 4. Again, Scrape down your bowl and blend for 1 minute on speed 10. You will now have a smooth mixture that resembles lemon curd.
Immediately pour the cream cleanser into glass jars or a heatproof container (do not leave the mixture in the Thermomix bowl) and allow the cream cleanser to cool before covering with a lid.
Mark your container clearly. Please note this recipe is NOT for human consumption!
What about store bought cleaners?
While we're on the topic of toxin free cleaning we should address our recommendations for store bought varieties. Very few cleaning products are genuinely 100% natural, despite their eco friendly marketing. Resparkle is an online certified organic cleaning product store that has a fabulously environmentally friendly philosophy. Read: no artificial colours, fragrances, preservatives or toxic ingredients and reusable and biodegradable packaging too. The Resparkle online store is a great place to source cleaning products for all areas of your home.
Love to hear if you have any other nifty tips and tricks for homemade cleaning products in the comments below. Do you feel like you need to detox your cleaning products?
