Time for a
green spring clean?

As an asthmatic throughout my childhood, I was very pleased that in my early twenties my asthma disappeared. However after using a well advertised oven cleaner, I struggled to get to the doctors with a severe asthma attack. After around five years with no asthma symptoms, I was understandably very upset it had returned and with such vengeance. The doctor suggested the cleaner may have re-sensitised my lungs. Many cleaning products contain chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which when used, release chemicals that can cause breathing difficulties and trigger asthma. The strong smells and ingredients of many of these products have also been linked to people suffering from headaches and skin rashes, while other studies have suggested links between certain chemicals in cleaning products and infertility. If they have this effect on our health, then what sort of an effect do they have on our fragile environment?

Many of the chemicals used in cleaning products do not bio-degrade and therefore build up in the environment. Greenpeace have undertaken a number of studies looking into the effect of these chemicals on our environment, and have detected toxic chemicals in house dust, and rainwater. Another study found, man-made toxic chemicals present in the bodies of polar bears, thousands of miles away from the source. Links made between individual ingredients in some cleaning products, and damage to the environment, include a link made between phosphates and an overgrowth of algae in lakes that can kill aquatic life.

The good news is you don’t need to use these chemical laden products to have a fresh smelling, clean, sparkling house. While there are many companies producing environmentally friendly cleaning products, they can often be more expensive. However you do not need to spend a lot of money to clean naturally, and can clean just about anything with a few basic household ingredients:

White vinegar
Vinegar is already known and used for cleaning windows (using a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar); however it has many other uses. Vinegar is an extremely effective multi surface cleaner; it cuts through grease, and as it’s an acid it can be used to attack lime scale. For lime scale on taps soak some cotton wool in vinegar, secure round the tap with an elastic band, and in a couple of hours the lime scale should come off easily.

Bicarbonate of soda
Often shortened to ‘bicarb’; bicarbonate of soda has a multitude of uses around the home. It is extremely effective at neutralising smells; it can be sprinkled on smelly carpets and left for a while before vacuuming. Leaving an open box of bicarb in your fridge can keep it smelling fresh, and you can reduce the whiff of smelly shoes by sprinkling bicarb inside them, and shaking off the excess powder in the morning. Burnt on food on casserole dishes, can be removed by filling the dish with hot water and a tablespoon of bicarb, and leaving it to soak. Due to its fizz when mixed with water it can also be used to unblock drains.

Salt
Salt is mildly abrasive which makes it a good ingredient in a scouring solution. It is also a mild disinfectant. Salt mixed with lemon juice or vinegar makes a great scrub for wooden chopping boards.

Lemons
Like vinegar lemons are acidic, and can cut through grease and lime scale. It can also be used as a bleach in the laundry. Try mixing lemon juice with bicarb to clean brass, or with salt to clean copper. Lemon juice and salt is very also effective at removing rust.

Olive oil
For polishing wooden furniture, mix olive oil with a few drops of white vinegar, which will nourish it and give it a lovely shine.

Tea tree and Lavender oil
To make any cleaning solution smell nice, add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice. Tea tree and Lavender are good ones to pick as they are known for their antiseptic qualities. Instead of using air fresheners, which are one of the biggest culprits causing allergies such as breathlessness and headaches, try burning essential oils. They may cost a few pounds to buy in the first place but last for ages.


As illustrated above different combinations of ingredients are good for cleaning certain surfaces; i.e. salt and lemon for wooden chopping boards. However you could make up your own good all round cleaning solution by mixing:

1 ½ cups of bicarbonate of soda mixed with a cup of water
2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar
½ a drop of essential oil

A few extra natural cleaning tips:
Wooden floors can be cleaned using two brewed tea bags cooled to room temperature.

To remove chewing gum from carpets, rub with ice cubes in a plastic bag, till it goes brittle and then lift it off.

To remove fingerprints on walls, dab firmly with a chunk of white bread.

Remove dust from the leaves of plants and nourish them, by stroking them with the inside of a banana skin.

Run a cup of white vinegar through a dishwashing cycle when empty for a weekly clean.

To remove rust from knives, stick them in a raw onion and wriggle about a bit to activate the juice.

Boiling tartare sauce in water can remove the rainbow effect on aluminium pans.