DITCHING chemical-laden cleaning products for something more natural need not be a chore, writes Abi Jackson.

Although there are certain environments that really need to be super-sterile (like hospitals and labs), when it comes to our homes there's no need to bleach the life out of everything.

If you do a little homework, there are lots of ways to keep the house clean and hygienic with a more homespun approach.

Rebecca Sullivan, whose new book The Art Of Natural Cleaning is packed with simple recipes for cleaning products you can whip up yourself, recalls being unsettled when an attempt to clean her oven triggered a coughing fit.

Her nan, she says, had always used just five ingredients to clean her house - "bicarbonate of soda, lemon, vinegar, salt and elbow grease" - and Sullivan decided to follow suit.

"Not only do they work, her homemade cleaning products are also all completely natural and edible," writes Sullivan. "It makes me utterly comfortable having them in my home. Because remember, if it's being sprayed in your home, it's going to end up in your body one way or another."

You probably have some key ingredients already in the kitchen, and they are often cheaper than their shop-bought counterparts.

"Have a raid of your food cupboard and it may well be that you have some of the key ingredients required to make your own products," said Wendy Graham, author of Fresh Clean Home.

"Bicarbonate of soda, corn flour, glycerine and white vinegar, citrus fruits and herbs all have their key uses. I also buy a few key ingredients, from essential oils to a useful natural soap called Liquid Castile Soap, that has a myriad of applications.

"Tools-wise, you don't need any special equipment - nothing more than what you would find in an average kitchen," added Wendy Graham, who also shares tips and information on sustainable living on her blog, MoralFibres.co.uk.

"Storage-wise, a few glass bottles and jars are handy. I reuse old bottles and jars where possible, rather than buying new ones."

While it might sound like more of an effort to mix up DIY concoctions, it's probably not as bad as you're imagining. Rebecca Sullivan says most recipes in her book take "seconds and minutes" to make, although some need to be prepared in advance.

"As a working mum, time is tight, and what I have found is that making my own cleaning products isn't much effort at all," said Wendy Graham. "Most of the cleaning products I make can be whipped up in seconds. And when I say seconds, I mean seconds."

To get you started, here are two recipes from Rebecca Sullivan's The Art Of Natural Cleaning.

- Orange all-round kitchen spray

This will clean all kitchen and bathroom surfaces and leave everything smelling delicious.

To make 400ml, you'll need: the peel of 4 oranges, 200ml white vinegar, a 500ml glass jar and a recycled spray bottle.

Method: Tightly pack the orange peel into a glass jar and cover with the vinegar. Put the lid on and leave to stand for four weeks. Gently shake the jar occasionally during this time.

Strain the vinegar into a spray bottle and top up with an equal amount of water; shake briefly to combine. Spray directly onto surfaces and wipe with a damp cloth. This will keep indefinitely.

- Oven cleaner

With a tiny bit of elbow grease and patience, you can have a chemical-free, clean oven.

To make enough for one cleaning session, you'll need: 60g bicarbonate of soda, 60ml white vinegar, coarse salt and a spray bottle.

Method: Place the bicarb in a small bowl and add a little cold water at a time, mixing until it forms a paste. Wearing rubber gloves, take a cloth and rub the paste over the entire surface of your cold oven. Depending on the size of your oven, you may need to make a little more.

Leave for 12 hours to work its magic. After that time, wipe all the surfaces with kitchen paper and discard. Put the vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz all the surfaces of your oven. Use salt as a scourer for any stubborn stains by sprinkling it directly onto the cloth, scrubbing, then rinsing using a cloth and some warm water to remove all the residue. Give all the surfaces a final wipe down with clean, warm water and leave to dry.

Finally, when only shop-bought will do, here are three of the best eco-friendly cleaning products

- Bio-D 750ml Washing-Up Liquid with lavender, £2.30 (from Oxfam stores, independent health food stores and biodegradable.biz)

Bio-D's 20-plus product range uses eco-friendly, ethically-sourced ingredients, and they're now rolling out new packaging made from 100 per cent recycled materials. This lavender washing-up liquid smells luxurious and calming.

- Tincture London All Purpose Cleaning Tincture, £7.50 (curiousegg.com)

The new Tincture London range from Curious Egg promises products made from 100 per cent natural ingredients derived from ancient monastic botanical recipes alongside antimicrobial silver technology. This all-purpose tincture can be sprayed directly onto surfaces throughout the home for gentle but effective wipe-away cleaning.

- KINN LIVING Lavender Floor Wash, £5 for 500ml (kinn-living.com)

The mother and daughter duo behind KINN, Marie Lavabre and Sophie Lavabre-Barrow, apply the same 'clean living' ethos - ensuring products are as non-toxic and gentle as possible - to their home products as their beauty range. Add two capfuls of this plant-based cleaner to five litres of warm water, for floors that sparkle.