As we become more aware of the chemicals hiding in everyday items, many people are turning towards natural cleaning products.

Watch: How to make your own eco cleaning products

They're readily available and accessible to make yourself, but do they work?

Dr Vincent Candrawinata is a scientist and entrepreneur. He says natural homemade cleaning products cut through grease and kill germs. 

"Vinegar is an acid, powerful enough to cut grease, remove dirt, grime and mineral deposits, and because it kills bacteria and germs, it has disinfectant properties," says Dr Vincent. 

As for bi-carb soda, he says, "Bi-carb soda is a mild alkali; this means that it is a mild abrasive material and can be useful to dissolve impurities, dirt and grease."

The great thing about these two cleaning ingredients is they are food grade, which means "that in general, they are safe and non-toxic," he says.

They might be considered natural, but that doesn't mean ingredients like vinegar and bi-carb soda aren't chemicals. 

"Vinegar is acetic acid, CH3COOH," says Dr Vincent. "The same way that water is chemical, H2O." 

"These materials have surfactant properties that can dissolve dirt, remove grease, and their pH level can kill bacteria and germs."

"Alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and certain essential oils are strong natural disinfectants. Vinegar has considerable disinfectant power too."

While vinegar and bi-carb soda are most people’s go-to natural cleaners, Dr Vincent says cleaning your home with steam is "the most natural way to kill germs."

"Many people choose to use a steam mop rather than cleaning agents to kill germs on the floor," he says. 

"I love using steam. Many steam mops on the market now come with many attachments to clean different surfaces, even toilets and bathrooms."

If you're planning on dabbling in making your own natural homemade cleaners, don't make this common mistake. 

Many people think because vinegar and bicarb soda are excellent cleaners on their own, they can be used together - but Dr Vincent says, "you should not mix them.”

"They will become useless as a cleaning agent. The mixture will also produce gas and can cause the container to explode.

"The bubbles produced by the mix do not equal effectiveness. Essentially what's left are water and a bit of sodium acetate.

It's surprisingly easy to make chemical-free mould killer and cleaning products for your kitchen and bathroom. 

These natural cleaning products will not only have your home sparkling clean but also smelling wonderful, with no chemical nasty to be seen or smelt! Find the instructions for natural household cleaners here . 

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