The sunny days are back, and with them that irresistible urge for a fresh start. Throwing the windows wide open, letting the light in, freshening up every room in the house… Spring cleaning is a ritual many people look forward to every year.
But have you ever looked closely at what’s in your household products? Synthetic surfactants, artificial fragrances, endocrine disruptors… What we use to clean our homes very often pollutes them. Fortunately, there is a simple, effective and fragrant alternative: organic lavandin.
In this article, we guide you step by step to make your own lavandin multi-surface cleaner, using the dried flowers we have grown on the Valensole plateau for four generations.
To learn all about using lavandin at home, read our complete guide: How to use lavandin at home.
Why lavandin is the ideal ally for natural cleaning
While fine lavender is known for its soothing virtues and its uses in cosmetics, lavandin is its cousin built for looking after the home. Its higher camphor and eucalyptol content gives it properties that industrial cleaning products struggle to match naturally:
- Antibacterial: it effectively removes bacteria from worktops, sinks and bathroom surfaces.
- Antifungal: it fights the mould that grows in damp areas.
- Antiseptic: it purifies the air while leaving a fresh, Provençal scent.
- Natural repellent: it keeps moths, mosquitoes and other unwanted insects away.
Unlike shop-bought disinfectant sprays, lavandin contains no harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is a 100% natural, biodegradable ingredient grown without pesticides.
To find out more about its disinfecting properties, read: Lavandin, a natural disinfectant.
Recipe: your organic lavandin multi-surface cleaner
This recipe is simple, quick and only needs natural ingredients you probably already have at home – except the lavandin, of course!
Ingredients
- 500 ml lavandin hydrosol
- 200 ml white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
- 2 tablespoons dried organic lavandin flowers
- 1 clean spray bottle (ideally glass)
Find our organic lavandin flowers, grown and harvested in Valensole: Loose lavandin flowers or Lavandin flowers 400 g bag.
How to make it
- Make the lavandin infusion: gently heat 500 ml of lavandin hydrosol (without boiling it). Pour it over the 2 tablespoons of dried lavandin flowers. Cover and leave to infuse for 30 minutes, then strain carefully through a coffee filter or a fine cloth.
- Add the white vinegar: once the infusion has cooled, pour it into your spray bottle and add the 200 ml of white vinegar. Vinegar naturally degreases, descales and disinfects.
- Stir in the bicarbonate: add the tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda. The mixture will fizz slightly – that’s normal! Shake gently.
- It’s ready! Spray onto your surfaces (worktops, sinks, hobs, tiles, taps) and wipe with a clean cloth or sponge. No rinsing needed on most surfaces.
Storage and usage tips
- Storage: this homemade cleaner keeps for 2 to 3 weeks at room temperature, away from light. Shake before each use.
- Caution: avoid marble and natural stone surfaces, which are sensitive to the acidity of vinegar.
- Tip: for an even stronger scent, add 10 to 15 drops of organic lavandin essential oil to the mixture.
Prefer a ready-to-use product? Discover our Organic lavender multi-purpose cleaner, certified Nature & Progrès.
3 more ways to use lavandin flowers for a healthy home
Lavandin flowers aren’t just for making a cleaner. Here are three more ways to bring them into your daily life, especially during spring cleaning.
Anti-moth sachets in your cupboards
Fill small fabric pouches with dried lavandin flowers and slip them into your wardrobes, chests of drawers and drawers. The strong scent of lavandin naturally keeps moths away and gently perfumes your linen. Squeeze them regularly to release their fragrance, and replace them every 2 to 3 years.
A natural, decorative potpourri
Mix lavandin flowers with dried citrus peel and sprigs of rosemary or thyme. Arrange it all in a small dish or a pretty open jar: you get a natural potpourri that scents and decorates your home, with no artificial fragrance.
A homemade air freshener for every room
Make a strong infusion of lavandin flowers (3 tablespoons in 300 ml of hot water), strain it and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray it around the room to neutralise bad odours and create a fresh, soothing atmosphere.
Discover our whole range: Organic lavender and lavandin flowers.
Cleaning naturally: good for the planet and for your health
Switching to a homemade lavandin cleaner is much more than a simple recipe: it’s a lifestyle choice. Every spray replaced by a natural alternative means less plastic waste, fewer chemicals released into waste water, and healthier indoor air for the whole family.
At Lavande Bio Berenger, this way of life has driven us for four generations. Our lavandin is grown organically on the Valensole plateau, without pesticides or artificial irrigation. Our products are made in France, certified Nature & Progrès, and made with as few ingredients as possible, all of natural origin and biodegradable.
Ready to start your spring clean?
You now have everything you need to clean your home from top to bottom, without polluting and while enjoying the authentic scent of Provençal lavandin. Try the recipe, share it with your loved ones, and tell us in the comments how you use your lavandin flowers!
And if you prefer the simplicity of a ready-to-use product, our Multi-purpose cleaner, certified Nature & Progrès, is made for you.
