Green Alternatives

Ditch the toxic chemicals and create cheaper natural cleaning products yourself.

Commercial cleaners are effective, but they contain harsh chemicals and produce irritating fumes. Green cleaners use ingredients from the larder and make cleaning products that are kinder to hands and surfaces - and the environment.

Diluted White Vinegar
Mildly acidic vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum and hard water deposits, yet is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odours instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won't smell like a salad. Any acid aroma disappears when dry.) With no colouring agents, white vinegar won't stain grout on tiled surfaces. Because it cuts through detergent residue, white vinegar also makes a great fabric softeener substitute for families with sensitive skin.

In the kitchen use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled oven surfaces and splash backs. In the bathroom, spray countertops, floors and exterior surfaces of the toilet. For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot, Spray shower walls generously with the warmed solution, leave to stand for 10-15 minutes, then scrub and rinse.

Undiluted White Vinegar
Used straight from the bottle, undiluted white vinegar makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum. Use it to clean the inside of the toilet bowl. Before you begin, pour a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides. Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove any stains and odour. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard-water rings.

Clean showerheads that have been clogged with mineral deposits in undiluted white vinegar. Place 60-120mls (4-8 tbsp) vinegar in a plastic food storage bag and secure the bag over the showerhead with an elastic band. Leave to stand for two hours or overnight, then rinse and buff.

White vinegar soften clothes and cuts detergent residue. For family members with sensitive skin, add 240mls (1.2 pint) to the rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener.

For general all purpose cleaning, you can substitute leemon juice for white vinegar.

Baking Soda
Baking soda's mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy rings in the bath, scour vanity units or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink.

For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the bath or sink, leave to stand for 10-20 minutes until the deposits have softened and can be removed.

Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol provides the base for an evaporating cleaner to rival commercial window and glass cleaning solutions. Use it on windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures and for a shiny finish on hard-surface ceramic tiles.

Ammonia
An alkaline solution, clear ammonia creates a stronger window and all-purpose cleaning recipes then acidic vinegar. Choose a non-foaming type: foam may look as it's working, but it's difficult to rinse and remove.

This extract is from Cut The Clutter, by Cynthia Townley Ewer. Cut The Clutter is available from all good bookshops priced £12.99. Alternatively you can purchase it from Amazon for £8.57