Basic H2 is the product I hand almost everyone first, and it’s also the one people ask the most questions about — mostly because a single small bottle replaces a whole shelf of sprays, and that takes a minute to wrap your head around.
Here’s how I explain it, and how I actually use it day to day.
Why it’s a concentrate, not a spray
Basic H2 is an ultra-concentrated cleaning base. You don’t spray it straight from the bottle — you add a small amount to water in a reusable spray bottle, and that’s what you clean with. One 473 mL bottle makes up to 181 litres of cleaning solution. That’s the whole point: less plastic under your sink, fewer trips to the store, and a lower cost per spray bottle than buying ready-made cleaners over and over.
A few things that make it easy to live with:
- Plant-based, biodegradable surfactants (from corn and coconut)
- Fragrance-free and pH balanced
- No chlorine, no phosphates, no dyes
- Safe for septic and grey-water systems
Getting the dilution right
The trick with any concentrate is matching the strength to the job. The pattern is simple:
- Everyday surfaces and glass — a very light dilution. A few drops in a full spray bottle of water is plenty for counters, glass, and mirrors.
- General cleaning — a bit stronger for sealed floors, appliances, and the bathroom.
- Grease and baked-on grime — stronger still for stovetops and range hoods.
I’m deliberately not going to invent exact teaspoon measurements here, because the bottle prints a proper dilution chart and that’s the number you should trust. Mix to the chart, label your bottles, and you’ll dial in your favourites quickly.
A little goes a long way. If your cleaner is leaving streaks, you’ve almost certainly used too much, not too little — back the concentrate off and the streaks usually disappear.
Setting up reusable bottles
What makes this stick as a habit is having the bottles ready to grab:
- Start with clean, empty spray bottles (label them so you remember which is which).
- Fill with water first, then add the concentrate — it foams less that way.
- Make one light “everyday” bottle and one stronger “kitchen” bottle to start.
- Top up with water as you go; refill from the concentrate only every so often.
What it doesn’t replace
Basic H2 is a cleaner, not a disinfectant — it lifts dirt and grease, but it isn’t meant to kill germs. For surfaces where you want to disinfect (think kitchen after raw meat, or a bathroom during cold season), you’d reach for a dedicated disinfectant product instead.
If you want to start simple, this is the one to begin with. When you’re ready, message me and I’ll help you build out the rest of your set to fit your home.
