Back to Basics. Miracle Cleaner.

I have to thank Jane so much for her instructions on how to make miracle cleaner.   She is extremely good at steps anyone can follow for a successful result.   I am very thankful as I seem to be able to manage the Friday post (which I keep in mind all week) but I would never have managed to continue this series after Andy's death without  Jane, Chloe and Bridget.  It was just beyond me. 

Miracle Cleaner is an absolute basic in my home.  I've been making it for at least ten years.  Nothing leaves you whole house smelling as clean and fresh.  You can tackle things like the kitchen bin, the bathroom, the kitchen sink and surfaces...  some in the water for the floor mopping...  most things really.  A little on a rag for damp dusting is another.   Back on my old blog I shared the basic recipe and how I make up my own damp cleaning cloths which you can see here-   Clean and Fresh.   This is so cheap but so good.  It eliminates the need for many purchased products most of which are very expensive these days and may of them have hazardous chemicals that we probably should be avoiding.  

So over to Jane!  

(Note please ignore the numbers I cannot for the life of me get them to be where they should be.)

How to make Miracle Cleaner

Hello Lovelies. I first came across Miracle Cleaner 15-20 years ago, when I saw Cath Armstrong demonstrating making it up, on TV. At the time I was looking at ways to simplify my home. One cleaner to do most jobs, rather than specialty cleaners for everything, really appealed to me. I went out and bought the ingredients needed the following day.

From that first batch that I made, I have been a convert to this cleaner. Both my adult children have used this cleaner. My daughter’s husband couldnt see how Miracle Cleaner could clean properly because it is home made and not the special purpose brands that he wanted in their home. That went on until Katie had to go back to work between Spencer and Toby. Spencer went with Jared to work (a family owned business) and I offered my help in the form of cleaning once a week. I used Miracle Cleaner for everything. Jared became a convert. 

Ingredients

Washing Soda. Aussie ladies you will find this in the laundry powder isle of the supermarket. I have only ever found Lectric Washing Soda. Ladies from elsewhere in the world, washing soda is Sodium Carbonate. On the back of the Lectric Washing Soda package is the recipe and other tips for use.

Vinegar- I just use cheap home brand. 

Dishwashing liquid- This will determine the colour of your spray. (I purchase mine in bulk)

Fragrance oils. The Lectra recipe calls for Eucalyptus Oil. I prefer using water soluble lavender oil. I just prefer this fragrance. Aussie ladies this is found near the Pandol in the supermarket.

You will also need a measuring jug, dessert spoon, smaller measuring cup- I use a medicine cup, kettle and something to keep your mix in. I have two bottles I got from Kmart years ago, (both 1L), a large spray bottle for the laundry/bathroom(1L) and a smaller spray bottle for under the sink. 

1. Put your kettle on to boil.
2. Measure three dessert spoons of washing soda and place in a measuring jug. Pour over boiling water. I pour over 500ml. Stir until the soda is dissolved.      
3. 
   
   
   
4. Add 60ml of dishwashing liquid and stir through 

1. Add 30ml of eucalyptus or your favourite scented oil. This is a cleaner so choose something with good cleaning properties. I use water soluble lavender oil. Stir through 
2. 
   
   
   
   
3. Add in 300ml of vinegar and stir through 

1. The recipe calls for 1.5L of water in total in the mix. I need to add another 1L to this mix. I did this in a larger jug but did not take a photo. I used the larger jug to pour the mix into the storage bottles and spray bottles. 
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3. Edited to add. I made two batches of this mix. If it was one batch I would have filled one storage bottle and one spray bottle. I am telling you this just to give you a guide on how much of the cleaner you will end up with. 

I use this cleaner in the bathroom for cleaning the bath and shower and bathroom sink.  I use it to clean all around the loo plus I use it instead of toilet cleaner. I have a 40 yr old falling apart kitchen that needs constant cleaning to look semi reasonable. I use this cleaner. I spray my vintage dining table with this cleaner when needed. I spray this cleaner on my outside tables. I use the cleaner in my mop bucket for my tiled floors.  I clean the consoles and interior of my car with this cleaner. I love it for cleaning the blades of my ceiling fans. I use it to clean all the grubby little hand marks off my hallway walls, after the Grandies have been visiting. 

Just a few points, and I know others (Cath) will add more. Be careful of the surfaces you use this on. Do a test clean first. If you use too much it will leave a cloudy streaky finish. It will do this on your floors as well. My house is white tiles all the way through. When I mop I use a glug of cleaner in a full bucket of hot water. I have never had issues with either the level of clean or the leaving behind of streaks. I tend to use this cleaner at full strength. I know others like to dilute it down. 

I use the same method for washing down walls. I add a glug of cleaner to a mop bucket of hot water, a clean mop head, and then I mop down walls. 

The ingredients for this cleaner last for a long time. The initial cost is minimal for the cleaners. If you reuse containers and spray bottles, there is no cost involved. I see Miracle Cleaner as a Cheap and effective cleaning product.

Thank you Jane!   💗  If you keep on hand the basic ingredients you have the ability to make up Miracle Cleaner that will keep your home clean and fresh for many years to come.  It goes so far!   

If you are wondering why Jane's Miracle cleaner is a different colour to mine...   (I also use Eucalyptus oil)  the colour of your dish washing liquid pretty much determines the final colour so you can easily have green, yellow, pink etc as you wish.   I always save bottles...   right now I have a heap of great shaped screw top bottles and I am thinking to make up some cleaning kits.   

Have a good week, see you on Friday! xxx