Spring Clean: do a Gwyneth and go chemical-free

Pure and simple: green cleaning

© Maison Belle at John Lewis

Organic cleaning products – over-rated or overlooked? Reports suggest Britain is a nation of eco–cynics, with 75% of us still using chemical detergents. We say bah! With spring just around the corner, it's time to freshen up your house the non–toxic way.

1. Pretty house

Maison Belle launched its eco–cleaning product range in the UK last year from the Isabella Smith Apothecary in Denmark. The ‘Martha Stewart of Scandinavia’, Smith created the range after a doctor friend of hers treated a child in the emergency room who nearly died from drinking a traditional cleaner. Her range contains 'a non–toxic booster which makes natural soaps surprisingly efficient.' From laundry detergent to kitchen cleaner, all are naturally scented with delicious essential oils. You will be pleasantly surprised.

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2. Don’t balls it up
Gwyneth Paltrow protects hubbie Chris and her brood by being green. 'Today in my home we only use organic soap and cleaners. I want to protect my children from anything harmful.' Let’s hope she uses these eco balls ,(£40) from Biome Lifestyle, voted one of the ten best green cleaning products for your home by The Independent. Use instead of detergent for washing clothes and let the ionized oxygen do the dirty work. Great for the environment and your pocket – one set of Ecoballs will last you for up to 1000 washes.
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3. Heap of skins

'I converted the whole family to organic – starting with Ronnie's cigarettes,' says Jo Wood, wife of the Rolling Stones legend. She should invest in the Natural Collection’s kitchen caddy (£7.95) to put all her food waste and fruit and vegetable peels in. We've no sympathy for wasteful devils.
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4. Like Monica from Friends?
Squeaky clean Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen says,'You can actually eat off the floor of my house, that's how clean my floors are. In the past I used to go to people's houses and start cleaning their dishes and they're like, "What's wrong with you?"'. If you too have a penchant for soap suds, check out Cath Kidson's Washing Line Eco Range. Because cleaning products are so often abrasive, we love their Cotton fresh hand wash,to leave your hands clean and delicately fragranced with a cotton fresh scent of Jasmine and Vanilla (£5).
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5. Retro eco
Desperate house–wife Nicolette Sheridan, who plays Edie in the show, loves a good green scrubdown. 'I actually am trying to be more eco-friendly about spring-cleaning this year. So I’m sticking with supplies that are nontoxic.' She would love Maison Belle Eco range from Ethical Superstore. The Orange and Rosemary washing up liquid from Amazon (£8.25) will leave your dishes squeaky clean and smelling delicious
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6. French maid
Being an eco-martyr means paying attention to detail. Yes, synthetic dusters are largely seen an antiquated and ineffective because they just brush dust up into the air but an ostrich feather duster from The Conran Shop (£35) contains natural static charge in the feathers that attract dust and collect it. And their flexible shape means they can get in all those awkward nooks. To clean off, just shake them out outside. Not just for show.
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7. Take the green view

See the world in a fresh light by giving your windows the once over with this mint window cleaning spray, (£2.65) from John Lewis. Its natural oils give a streak–free finish and the bottle can be recycled when empty.
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8. Spring resolution
If you haven’t yet joined the recycling train, make spring the time you give those New Year’s resolutions a second thought. The Holding Company stocks these Kitchen Recycle Bags (£59) in which you can separate glass, paper and plastic and do your bit for the environment. Make Oliver Heath proud.
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9. Go Green for beginners
This Healthy Homes Booklet from the Ethical Superstore (£3.95) is filled with handy tips and advice on greener living. It shows shows you easy ways to save energy as well as money. For all those who are just starting out on the green eco path, this easy-reading, little book is a must!
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10. All lathered up
'There’s no reason why organic and fairtrade can’t be sexy,' says Sienna Miller, and we couldn’t agree more. After all that scrubbing, sorting and washing you’ll need a good clean up yourself. Spoil yourself (not the environment) with this Organic Bath and Shower Gel (£19) from Not on the High Street made of Manuka honey and natural oils. You’ve earned it.

Oliver Heath has some more great ideas for how you can make your home a sacred environmental shrine. Once your place is pristine, sex it up with cutting-edge eco gadgets.

Tried and tested any green cleaning products? Post a comment and let us know what you thought.

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owood

Posted | 23rd March 2009

dried lavender works well - you can get little linen pouches, or make your own

Anniej

Posted | 23rd March 2009

Thanks for all the advice. Does anyone have any hidden secrets as to how to get rid of moths-bar moth balls as by the look of all my clothes they are definitely not working.

owood

Posted | 17th March 2009

the best and cheapest way to clean kitchen surfaces is apple cider vinegar, diluted in water. It cuts grease just as well as cleaners and doesn't actually smell bad if it's diluted enough

Vicky123

Posted | 17th March 2009

Thanks for all the advice...Another tip to keep a fridge smelling fresh and odour-free is to get a piece of cotton wool and put a few drops of vanilla essence onto it and place it in the middle shelf. It works!

Design Spy

Posted | 17th March 2009

And... wipe down the inside of your fridge with lemon juice to keep it clean and fresh.

Design Spy

Posted | 17th March 2009

Did you know... cheeky tip for cleaning a microwave - use a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar. Cheap as chips!

cool cat

Posted | 18th April 2008

FANTASTIC
loving all these tips, i'm making a concerted effort to only purchase eco-friendly cleaning products to do my bit in protecting the world. in my profile i have a tip on how to remove limescale that's ultra green (and smells good too)

mydeco Insider

Posted | 11th April 2008

Great to hear such positive feedback about eco-cleaning products. It seems the proof is certainly in the pudding. I was certainly sceptical as to whether they would measure up to conventional cleaners, but given a chance, they're not half bad! Clean on, dear friends.

ecoamy

Posted | 28th March 2008

I hate having the smell of bleach in my house - so I'm very keen on these non-toxic products for home cleaning. I use Method cleaning products which smell divine (especially the mint window wash, yum!) And work wonderfully - no need for extra chemicals...I love not having all those chemical smells around - it feels healthier and good for the world too!

Carol Ann

Posted | 27th March 2008

Try the Ecoballs - I have been using for 4 months now and they really do work. Still can't quite believe it but they do.

LizDevon

Posted | 20th March 2008

I tried the Anthony Worrell Thomson Fresh and Green range after reading in 'Which?' magazine that his Bathroom and Limescale cleaner was more effective than Cilit Bang. Also use Ecover products, but their laundry liquid isn't so effective at getting food stains off my two sons' clothes. Any recs for a good green laundry liquid at 30/40 degree washes?

Annia

Posted | 20th March 2008

I'm one of the cynical ones, but don't confuse that with not being interested in green cleaning.
I've been round long enough to remember the ethical pressure put on cleaning product manufacturers in the 1980s, say the launch of new 'green' products by major brands and have seen them and the companies claims disappear. I've bought things thinking they were 'green' that have been effective, but were not and bought green products which have not been effective.
I can't help thinking the current consistent pressure put on companies to be environmentally friendly means that most high street/supermarket brands are now basically green, compared to 20 years ago. But I would like the lowdown on Cillit Bang though...

mjmather

Posted | 19th March 2008

Organic cleaning products are the way to go. They have helped reduce the asthma suffered by a number of friends chlidren and also the headaches suffered by our cleaner.
Personally I have found Melaleuca's products to work well.

Spring Clean: do a Gwyneth and go chemical-free

1. Pretty house

2. Don’t balls it up

3. Heap of skins

4. Like Monica from Friends?

5. Retro eco

6. French maid

7. Take the green view

8. Spring resolution

9. Go Green for beginners

10. All lathered up

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