by Mouse

Created on: September 01, 2010

The more and more aware we become of our environment, the more modern people look to the past for more ecologically sound cleaning methods and while this is a good thing, there is, perhaps inevitably, a whole industry of often overblown prices that has grown up to provide to the needs of the ever greener consumer.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for ecological and ethical consumerism, but green living needn't be costly.

In our household there are ten basic products that we keep in, which can be added to once in a while (when I have a surplus of a particular herb in the garden for example)

OUR TOP TEN HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS:

* LEMON

Citrus fruits are known for their antibacterial properties. I use lemon in one of two ways: either 1) chunks of lemon (or just the juice) into hot water as a mild anti-bacterial surface cleaner; 2) I wipe down the kitchen surfaces with hot water, then swipe across with a lemon, just cut in half, then buffed with a soft dry cloth.

For those who follow the FLYlady scheme for housework (an excellent resource that I have followed for over 8 years now. Visit www.FLYlady.net or search FLYlady at either www.Youtube.com or www.blogtalkradio for details) you will also get fabulous results on your "shiny sink" from swiping the cut side of a lemon over it.

Lemon can also be used to remove rust, but it is important to be sure to wash away all the lemon with hot water afterwards.

Chunks of lemon dropped into your mop water will give a mild antibacterial action to the water and smell lovely.

* VINEGAR

Vinegar is an acid and again a useful antibacterial agent. Slightly stronger than lemon, I use a vinegar in water solution on switch-plates, bannisters and door handles, especially during cold and flu season. (Obviously the cloth must be well wrung out if you're wiping down a switch-plate - you don't want a wet clean on anything electrical).

Used neat on a soft cloth, vinegar can be used to clean the keys of upright pianos.

Vinegar can also be used to good advantage in combination with bicarbonate of soda to clear clogged drains. Simply pile a little bicarb in the plug hole and then splash over some vinegar to get it to fizz. After ten minutes, flush through any remaining mixture with hot water.

* BICARBONATE OF SODA (also marketed as "Sodium Bicarbonate" and "Baking Soda")

Bicarbonate of soda is another extremely flexible household product. As well as the above mentioned drain cleaner, some other thigns that I use Bicarb for are cleaning and deodorizing the

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