The Sharma family had always been conscious about environment. Living in a big Indian city, they often felt overwhelmed by the number of cleaning products filling their home. Glass cleaners, floor disinfectants, toilet bowl solutions… the list seemed endless. What troubled them even more was when their youngest, 8-year-old Riya, started coughing every time they used the floor cleaner.

“It’s too much,” said Ananya, the mother, one evening. “These products are toxic, and I don’t trust what they’re doing to Riya’s health or the planet.”

“They’re expensive too,” added her husband, Rajesh, showing a bill from the supermarket. “We could save so much if we found alternatives.”

That’s when the idea came up. “What if we make our own cleaning products?” Ananya suggested.

The family decided to start small. Ananya found a simple recipe online for an all-purpose cleaner: just vinegar, water, and a few drops of lemon essential oil. Riya and her older brother Aarav got to work cleaning out an old spray bottle. They poured in the mixture, gave it a shake, and set out to test it on the dining table. Riya sprayed while Aarav wiped.

“Mom! It’s not drying fast enough,” Riya complained.

“That’s okay,” Ananya reassured her. “Give it time. It’s not like the commercial stuff. It won’t have harsh chemicals to evaporate instantly.”

After a few minutes, the table sparkled. “It works!” Aarav cheered.

Encouraged by their success, the Sharmas decided to make a glass cleaner next. Ananya reused an old spray bottle, carefully labeling it "DIY Glass Cleaner." This time, they tested it on the bathroom mirror.

“It’s streaky,” Rajesh frowned, trying to wipe the mirror clean.

“Too much vinegar!” Aarav suggested. They adjusted the recipe, reducing the vinegar and trying again. By the third attempt, the mirror gleamed without streaks.

Not everything went smoothly, though. When they tried to replace their toilet bowl cleaner with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, the results were… explosive.

“Whoa!” Aarav yelled as the fizzy reaction bubbled over the rim of the toilet.

“Okay, maybe less baking soda next time,” Ananya laughed, trying to contain the mess.

The family learned an important lesson that day; DIY cleaners are great, but you need to know where and how  to use them.

Over the next few weeks, the Sharmas replaced one commercial cleaner after another with their own DIY versions. They swapped their floor cleaner for a mix of water, vinegar, and a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Rajesh even created a homemade laundry detergent using soap flakes and baking soda.

By the end of the month, their home was free of harsh chemical cleaners. Riya’s coughing stopped, and the family felt proud of their efforts to reduce waste and cut costs.

“We’re not just cleaning our house,” Rajesh said one evening as they admired their sparkling living room. “We’re cleaning up our lives and the planet.”

The family got the hang of DIY cleaning, and though it took more effort than buying from the store, it was worth it. The Sharmas had taken control of their home and their health, one cleaner at a time.

• How many different types of cleaning products do you have at home right now?
• Do you know what ingredients are in your cleaning products?
• Have you ever tried making your own cleaning solutions? If yes, how did it go?
• Which cleaning task do you find the hardest to tackle at home?
• How do you usually clean your mirrors or glass surfaces?
• Do you reuse old bottles or containers for anything? Why or why not?
• Are there any cleaning products you’d like to replace with eco-friendlier options?
• What do you do with empty cleaning product bottles? Reuse, recycle, or throw them away?
• Have you ever noticed any health issues (like coughing or skin irritation) when using certain cleaners?
• What’s one area in your home you think could benefit from switching to DIY cleaning products?