In the West, we are obsessed with cleanliness.  We wash and we scrub (or get someone else to do it for us), we disinfect and do our very best to get rid of all forms of bacteria in our homes.  In doing so, we inadvertently breed superbugs and damage our children’s natural immunities that would normally develop as a result of exposure to small amounts of bacteria and good old fashioned dirt.

Not only is our extreme cleanliness unnecessary and in some cases actually harmful, but the products that we use to achieve such perfection are damaging our health and that of our families, as well as aquatic and animal life in the environment that supports us when our cleaning chemicals go down the drain or leach into the soil from the packaging that we discard in landfill.

To reduce your exposure to chemicals and to move away from the “anti-bacterial”trend in cleaning products, try using more eco-friendly products like Ecover or Bio-D.  Or save money and reduce waste by employing the cleaning practices of our grandmothers.   Salt, borax, bicarb, lemon, distilled vinegar and soda crystals (all much cheaper to buy than shop-bought cleaners) can tackle any household cleaning job.

When you buy cleaners, buy the biggest sized container that you can store.  Larger sized containers mean less waste in the long run.  It usually works out more economical to buy in bulk too.

Natural cleaning tips:

Use salt and lemon to clean kitchen surfaces, bar counters and wooden chopping boards.

Bicarbonate of soda and a damp cloth with shine sinks and other stainless steel kitchen appliances.

An equal mix of distilled vinegar and water leaves windows and mirrors streak-free.

De-scale your kettle with vinegar.  Leave kettle for a few hours with vinegar in it.  Then empty and rinse.  Boil with water a couple of times before making your tea.

Remove nasty smells in the fridge by putting a little bicarb in a cup in the fridge.  Odours will be absorbed by the bicarb.