How To Clean Your House Without Harming The Environment

Step 1: You Will Need

Step 2: Freshen Rooms

Ditch the air freshener and open a window instead. It's free, far more effective and doesn't fill your room with a toxic soup.

Step 3: Carpets

To freshen carpets, sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda before you vacuum. This will remove odours and may help lift stains.

Step 4: Surfaces

Lemons have natural bleaching, deodorizing and antibacterial properties. Make an effective multipurpose cleaner by mixing one part lemon juice with three parts water and store in a spray bottle. Don't forget to label it correctly. Simply spray it on and wipe off with a cloth.

Step 5: The Kitchen

Bicarbonate of soda is a great abrasive cleaner. Use it neat to clean fridge interiors, ovens and sinks.

For baked on food mix 2 parts bicarbonate of soda, 1 part salt and enough lemon juice to create a paste, spread it over the stain, leave for a few minutes then scrub off.

To dispel bad smells from the fridge, cut a lemon in half and leave to absorb the odour.

Step 6: The Bathroom

Vinegar, with its antibacterial and deodorizing properties, is a great bathroom cleaner. Mix equal parts water and vinegar to make an effective solution for the bath tub, sink, tiles, floor and toilet seat and cistern. For tougher stains and lime scale scrub with a mix of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar - a tour de force cleaning combination.

To clean the toilet bowl add a cup of vinegar and leave overnight, then scrub with the toilet brush.

Step 7: Copper and Brass

Rub lemon juice and a little salt into copper and brass to really make it shine

Step 8: Window and glass

For a streak free finish use a solution of equal amounts vinegar and water. Apply to the glass with old newspaper.

Step 9: Alternative Products

If you don't have time to make homemade cleaners then stick to Eco brands. These are specifically made to cause as little damage to the environment as possible. Check the packaging for good, plant based ingredients instead of chemicals. Avoid phosphates, chlorine and aerosols at all costs. From now on cleaning your house needn't cost the earth