For years, I've relied on supermarket scouring creams, but I switched to making my own after realizing how simple, affordable, and non-toxic it is. Unlike commercial products loaded with harsh chemicals, this homemade version uses natural ingredients for powerful cleaning.
Here's my reliable recipe for a CIF-style scouring cream—trust me, it's straightforward and effective.
- 375 g baking soda
- 250 g salt
- 1 tablespoon liquid soap
1. Fill a large empty bottle halfway with baking soda. I reuse an old 750ml CIF bottle for this.
2. Add the salt and liquid soap.
3. Top up the bottle with water to the neck.
4. Seal and shake vigorously to dissolve the baking soda and salt completely.
Your homemade organic scouring cream is ready! I use it on all surfaces, like sinks and washbasins, for scouring and polishing—just like CIF, but natural.
It also tackles gas cookers effectively, though avoid glass ceramic hobs as baking soda can scratch them.
Apply like any commercial cream: Pour a small amount on the surface, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub with a damp sponge.
Bonus: Its superior cleaning power means you use 2 times less product.
For a fresh scent, add a few drops of essential oil. My go-to is lemon, but mint, pine, or lavender work wonderfully too.
A typical store-bought bottle costs €2.50, and you might need 4-5 yearly (€12.50 total).
My recipe: €1.49 baking soda, €2.65 salt, €0.16 organic liquid soap = €4.30 total. With double the efficiency, that's 2 bottles/year or €8.60 annually.
Net savings: €3.90 per year. I buy baking soda in bulk for other uses, stacking small wins into big yearly savings!
