Purdy Rubin and Charlotte Figg, the authors of the forthcoming book Clever Cleaning, say households can replace many branded cleaning products with formulas made from seven natural ingredients. The book, positioned as a guide to making affordable, eco-friendly cleaners at home, lays out ingredient lists, step-by-step preparations and storage advice for a range of routines from toilet care to glass cleaning.
The authors identify bicarbonate of soda, citric acid, rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, liquid Castile soap, soda crystals (sodium carbonate) and sodium percarbonate (commonly sold as "oxygen bleach") as the core materials for home-made solutions. They describe the combinations as inexpensive, biodegradable and versatile, and provide cautions on material compatibility and shelf life.
Sodium percarbonate, which the authors call their favourite ingredient, is highlighted as an odourless, biodegradable alternative to chlorine bleach. In the book it is described as an effective stain remover on most fabrics and a strong agent against mould and mildew, though Rubin and Figg advise against its use on silk, wool and cashmere. Other single-ingredient roles are noted: bicarbonate of soda as a mild abrasive and scourer; citric acid as a descaler for limescale; rubbing alcohol as a disinfectant; and soda crystals as a powerful grease-cutter and drain unblocker. Castile soap, made from plant-based oils rather than animal fats or synthetic detergents, is recommended for general surface and floor cleaning.
Clever Cleaning offers detailed formulations the authors say can replace common branded products. One recipe for a powder toilet cleaner calls for 300 grams of bicarbonate of soda and 200 grams of citric acid mixed together, with an optional 30 drops of essential oil. The book instructs readers to sprinkle roughly four tablespoons of the powder into a flushed bowl, add an extra spoonful to a toilet brush to reach rims, allow fizzing on contact with water, scrub and flush. The mixture is stored in an airtight, labelled container and has an advised shelf life of six months.
A window, mirror and glass cleaner in the book combines 140 millilitres of water, 140 millilitres of rubbing alcohol and 15 millilitres of white vinegar, with an optional 10 drops of lavender essential oil. The authors advise mixing and storing the solution in a glass spray bottle, shaking before use and buffing with a cloth. They note that the bottle should be clearly labelled because it contains alcohol and that the formula has a shelf life of about two years.
A multi-surface spray recommended for general cleaning uses 250 millilitres of just-boiled water, one teaspoon of soda crystals and about one and a half tablespoons of liquid Castile soap, with optional essential oils for scent. The soda crystals are dissolved in the hot water, the soap and oils are incorporated, and the mixture is cooled before transfer to a labelled glass trigger bottle. Rubin and Figg instruct users to shake before each use and to spray then immediately wipe off; for polished wood they advise spraying onto a cloth rather than directly onto the surface. The authors caution that this solution is safe for most surfaces except aluminium and has a suggested shelf life of six weeks.
For tougher jobs the book includes a gentle abrasive scrub paste made from about two tablespoons of liquid Castile soap mixed with 250 grams of bicarbonate of soda and one to two tablespoons of cooled boiled water to reach a toothpaste-like consistency. The paste is intended for sinks, taps and shower trays but is not recommended for soft natural stone or metals such as aluminium and brass. The book recommends storing the paste in a labelled, wide-mouthed jar with an airtight lid and gives a two-month shelf-life.
The authors also address practical issues such as product hardening and dilution: too much essential oil or exposure to moisture can cause powder formulas to clump, and small adjustments to water or bicarbonate can tune paste consistency. Safety notes stress labelling and, where appropriate, using rubber gloves when mixing alkaline or reactive ingredients.
Clever Cleaning is being offered for pre-order online. An exclusive promotion attached to the book lists a pre-order price of £7.49 against a recommended retail price of £14.99, using code CLEVER-25 at a specified retailer until Oct. 1, 2025; deliveries are scheduled after the release date of Sept. 25. The book presents itself as part of a broader DIY and eco-friendly household trend and is framed by the authors as a practical, lower-cost alternative to some commercial cleaning brands.
The recipes and guidance in the book are presented as consistent with common household chemistry, and the authors include usage limits and material warnings. Readers and consumers seeking to adopt the methods are advised to follow labels and safety guidance on individual ingredients and to test homemade solutions on inconspicuous areas before treating entire surfaces or fabrics.