I am a huge advocate of using ecologically-friendly products in my home and garden. This encompasses washing clothes, cleaning the bathroom, polishing furniture - you name it, I try to clean it using natural products. I've found that not only is it kinder to the environment, it's also less expensive, I need less storage space and my house doesn't smell like a hospital after I've finished. So how can you clean using natural products? Easy - you will need just 3 ingredients, plus a cloth and some newspaper.
Top 3 Products to Use
- Lemons
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Distilled white vinegar
Top 10 Tips for Cleaning with Natural Products
- For general cleaning use an old spray bottle and fill with half vinegar, half water and a few strips of lemon rind.
- Use this spray to clean your windows too. Spray onto the glass, rub with a cloth and then polish with scrunched up newspaper.
- To clean your microwave, heat a small bowl of vinegar for a couple of minutes. Remove and wipe clean with a cloth. I swear this has reduced my cleaning time so much, and it gets rid of any smells too.
- To reduce smells in your fridge, put a saucer of bicarbonate on one of the shelves. It will last for approximately 2 weeks before you need to replace it.
- When you do go to replace it, don't throw it away! Pour it down the plughole of your sink and add a splash of vinegar. Leave for 20 minutes before running the cold tap for 2 minutes to wash it all away and you will have improved your sink's drainage.
- Instead of forking out for expensive fabric conditioners, use a big splash of vinegar instead (don't worry, they won't smell).
- While you're at it, chuck a cup full of vinegar into your washing drum and run a high temperature wash. Your washing machine will thank you.
- Instead of buying expensive furniture cleaner, create your own instead. Mix two parts water with two parts vinegar and a splash of olive oil. Soak a cloth before squeezing out and leaving in an airtight glass jar with a few strips of lemon rind. The cloth will be good to use a few times before your will need to replace it.
- To clean wooden chopping boards, use lemon juice or vinegar.
- Finally, if you spill anything onto a carpet (and let's face it, we've all been there) sponge with vinegar. I've managed to get rid of red wine stains on a cream carpet with this; it really works!