A non-polymer thickening medium, and the inclusion of such a non-polymer thickening medium in a cleaning composition. In some embodiments, the non-polymer thickening medium includes a sparingly water soluble surfactant, and an organic solvent including an OH group, an ether group, or both an OH group and an ether group. At lease some of the two components of the thickening medium interact with each other thicken a composition to which they are added. In some embodiments, the thickening medium components are included within a cleaning composition which further includes a source of alkalinity, and a polar carrier. Some other embodiments relate to methods of making, and methods of using such thickening medium and cleaning compositions.