🪴 Creating a clean, cosy home doesn’t have to mean harsh chemicals or plastic bottles. In this post, Mae shares how we keep our space sparkling with simple, sensory-friendly swaps — from conker laundry soap to herbal vinegar sprays and simmer pot scents. Eco cleaning, witchy style: gentle, sustainable, and made with love. 🌿✨
How we keep our home clean, cosy, and kind to our bodies.
Hi, I’m Mae — the resident eco-conscious bumpkin of Sapphic Self.
After a chat at our first workshop, I realised I should probably write down some of the little things we do in our business and around the house to keep things clean and gentle — for the planet, our skin, our senses, and our peace of mind.
We’re not perfect (no one is), but over time we’ve found a few easy swaps and witchy-little recipes that make our home smell lovely without choking on synthetic scents or scrubbing with harsh chemicals.
If you’re someone who’s sensitive to chemical smells, textures, loud sprays, or plastic packaging — or just want a more natural, low-waste routine — this one’s for you.
🧺 1. Laundry: Nature’s Soap Nuts (Conkers!)
Every autumn, we gather fallen conkers (horse chestnuts), chop or blitz them into little bits, and soak them in water overnight. The next day, you’ve got natural laundry liquid!
Strain it, add a few drops of lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus essential oil for scent, and store it in a jar in the fridge.
It only lasts about a week once chopped and soaked.
BUT, you can collect and store conkers all year to remake the detergent whenever you need — the nuts themselves last for months, even though the blitzed solution doesn’t.
Bonus tip: Add a splash of white vinegar to your rinse drawer — it softens fabric naturally and helps remove residue.
And whenever possible, line-dry clothes outdoors. Sunlight acts as a natural disinfectant, brightens whites, and makes everything smell like fresh air and sunshine.
🌿 2. Fabric Softener (Herbal Vinegar Infusion)
White vinegar + herbs or essential oils = magic in a jar.
We like to steep lemon peel and rosemary sprigs in vinegar for a week or two, then strain it and pour it into an old bottle.
Use around half a cup per load — it leaves clothes fresh, soft, and gently scented without artificial fragrance.
You can also add orange or lemon peels from your kitchen scraps to make a citrus-vinegar cleaner or fabric softener. It’s a great way to reuse what would otherwise go in the bin.
🪄 3. All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
Mix together:
1 part white vinegar
1 part water
A few drops of your favourite essential oil (we like earthy or floral blends — lavender, cedarwood, rose, and patchouli are lovely together)
Shake it in a spray bottle and use on counters, mirrors, tiles, and windows.
You can also add rosemary or thyme sprigs and let it infuse for a week for extra cleansing power.
(Avoid vinegar on marble or natural stone.)
For stubborn spots, a sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda adds a gentle abrasive fizz when mixed with vinegar — great for sinks, tiles, and burnt pans.
Old cotton T-shirts also make brilliant reusable cleaning rags — softer, quieter, and fully compostable when they wear out.
💨 4. Room Scents, Diffusers & Simmer Pots
For a gentle, natural scent around the house, we use vapour diffusers with essential oils — usually earthy or floral blends like lavender, geranium, or sandalwood for calm grounding energy.
We also love simmer pots — small pans or bowls filled with water, herbs, and fruit peels left to gently steam.
In colder months, we pop mini simmer-pot mixes into wax melt burners with tea lights for the same effect.
And of course, candles are still unbeatable for a cosy home smell. They’re perfect for grounding, relaxing, or setting the mood for a quiet evening spell.
(If you want to skip aerosols entirely, this is a dreamy alternative.)
🕯️ 5. Cleaning with Fizz (a.k.a. Toilet Magic)
A fun one — our bath bombs double as natural cleaners!
They’re made with bicarbonate of soda, citric acid, and essential oils, which fizz away stains and deodorise beautifully.
They’re not just for toilets — you can:
Drop one in the bath or sink and let it fizz before scrubbing.
Crush one to use as a gentle scrub powder for soap scum.
Pop one down the drain with a splash of vinegar to clear odours.
It’s one of the easiest zero-waste cleaning tricks — and it smells divine while you work.
🌸 6. Carpet & Fabric Freshener
For a natural carpet or mattress freshener, mix:
1 cup of bicarbonate of soda
10–15 drops of essential oil (earthy or floral blends like lavender, geranium, or patchouli)
Sprinkle it over your carpets, rugs, or mattress, leave for 15–30 minutes, then vacuum.
It lifts odours, absorbs moisture, and leaves everything smelling clean without harsh perfumes.
🪶 7. Simple Eco Swaps That Make a Difference
Little switches that have made a big impact in our home:
- Soap, shampoo, and conditioner bars instead of bottled liquids
- Reusable cloths and face pads instead of single-use wipes
- Old T-shirt rags for cleaning and dusting
- Reusing bottles, tubs, and takeaway containers instead of buying new
- Wooden and bamboo brushes (dish brushes, coconut scrubbers, or wooden-handled cleaning tools — they last ages and don’t add microplastics)
- Compostable sponges or natural loofahs instead of plastic ones
- Refill bags for soap, shampoo, and shower gel
- Refill shops for dry goods like flour, coffee, and pasta
- Wild or Fussy deodorants with refill cartridges
- Glass jars or reused containers for bulk ingredients
- Biodegradable cleaning wipes for quick cleanups
- Houseplants like peace lilies or spider plants to help purify indoor air
Every small change adds up — and for us, these swaps make cleaning calmer, quieter, and friendlier to our senses.
🌼 Gentle Living for Sensitive Souls
Living low-waste isn’t just about helping the planet — for us, it’s about comfort and wellbeing.
Our whole household prefers natural materials and scents. Harsh cleaners, plastic sprays, and strong synthetic smells can be overstimulating or trigger headaches, so we’ve built a routine that works with our senses, not against them.
There’s something grounding about cleaning with herbs you grew yourself, or vinegar that smells like lemon and rosemary sunlight.
It’s slow living, witchy style — simple, sensory, and sustainable.
And the best part? These eco swaps often last longer, cost less over time, and make you less reliant on consumer products.
You spend less, waste less, and build a home that feels truly yours. 🌿
⚗️ Safety & Storage
A few gentle reminders:
Keep homemade cleaners sealed and clearly labelled — especially if pets or kids are around.
Avoid mixing vinegar and bleach (toxic gas!).
Store vinegar-based sprays for up to 6 months and conker detergent for about a week (refrigerated).
Most essential oils should be used sparingly and avoided around cats, small pets, and babies — always research what’s safe for your household.
Test all mixes on a small surface first to make sure they don’t damage delicate finishes.
