tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626978270850032082012-02-09T23:25:43.615ZMy Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.comBlogger621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-58102094812824181152012-02-06T11:48:00.000Z2012-02-06T11:48:07.252Z

funkymarcos Brr! We had thought that we had just about got away with it this winter. With all the bulbs coming up early it definitely felt as if Spring had sprung. But alas, Bristol got a dusting of snow this weekend and we have experienced some very low temperatures indeed. It's the perfect time to snuggle up in front of the fire and count down the days until Spring!

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0Bristol, UK51.454513 -2.587909999999965351.3785695 -2.7285234999999655 51.5304565 -2.447296499999965tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-81854929776054776912012-01-10T14:20:00.000Z2012-01-10T14:20:53.595Z

RealisePhotography Digging out old books can be a great way to bring back memories or simply rediscover old favourites. If your books have been in storage for a while and are smelling a tad musty, simply place them in a bag with some scrunched up newspaper, leave for 24 hours. When you take them out, the newspaper should have absorbed most of the dampness and odour.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-24624069749947263722011-12-27T10:00:00.001Z2011-12-27T10:00:07.116Z

Photo by gairid1791Our favourite wonder-fruit, the lemon is back! This time taking on grubby microwaves. Simply slice a lemon and put it in a microwavable bowl of water and cook on high for 2 minutes. The stream produced will make any tough grease easier to remove while also neutralising any lingering odours.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-22786054386114072522011-12-20T10:00:00.001Z2011-12-20T10:00:09.165Z

Photo by Paulo RodriguesThere are only 5 days left until Christmas. I hope you are enjoying all of the festivities. Christmas dinner can sometimes be a rawkus affair which can end with the odd red wine spill here and there! A great tip for removing recently spilled red wine is to gently blot away the excess with a clean cloth and then dab the stain with soda water. Have a thoroughly enjoyable day!

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-50705324192818803082011-12-13T10:00:00.000Z2011-12-13T10:00:05.039Z

Remember the iconic Shake 'n' Vac advert from the 80's? Well now you can get shaking with the fab eco solution to deodorising your carpets and upholstery.Simply shake bicarbonate of soda liberally onto carpets, leave for an hour and then hoover off.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-21577800332612556892011-12-06T10:49:00.003Z2011-12-06T11:04:42.570Z

Photo by Prettydreamer.WorkshopWooden furniture needs to be waxed once in a while in order to keep it in good condition. Beeswax polish is a natural way to feed your wood. Try adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil for an added fragrance.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-77919587807322307522011-11-29T13:13:00.000Z2011-11-29T13:13:00.100Z

When My Green Cleaner first started I was concerned not just with using ecologically sound products but also building an ethically sound company. We employ all of our staff which means they are entitled to holiday pay. We also pay above minimum wage and ensure that our cleaners do not work too many hours a day.We want our employees to feel valued and believe that happy employees produce the best

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-43188480371866970062011-11-15T12:41:00.000Z2011-11-15T12:41:00.533Z

As I am sure you are well aware of by now, Christmas is only round the corner! Now is the perfect time to book in your pre Christmas clean to ensure that you house is shiny and sparkling for the special day. To get that lovely Christmas aroma in your house try studding an orange with cloves and tying some cinnamon bark to the top. Hang around your house for that instant warming scent.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-18191624789070963902011-11-08T12:53:00.000Z2011-11-08T12:53:00.492Z

One thing that I am sure is of concern to many people when pondering the decision to move to eco cleaning products is 'Will they act as a disinfectant?'.A disinfectant that you can quickly make up at home could be the answer to your worries;Start with 3 cups of hot waterAdd 2 teaspoons of Borax4 tablespoons of vinegarAdd to a squirty bottle to useWhile this won't remove all bacteria, it should

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-73582609895112242982011-11-01T11:14:00.001Z2011-10-25T12:33:41.261+01:00

One problem that we often face when cleaning is a build up of lime-scale on taps and shower heads. A good way to combat this is to soak rags in distilled white vinegar and wrap them around the offending area. Leave for an hour and come back and give it a good scrub to see a marked difference.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-43079758682670655022011-10-25T11:36:00.002+01:002011-10-25T12:31:56.743+01:00

For me, one of the most important parts of an eco cleaner's kit has to be the trusty E-Cloth. They contain no nasty chemicals and can be used for anything from dusting to getting a nice shine on glass and stainless steel. They normally retail for around £5.00 each however, Wholistic Research currently have them on sale for only £2.49 so grab yourself a few before they sell out!

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-4466644658438079682011-10-25T10:30:00.004+01:002011-10-25T12:24:49.672+01:00

If you have a party or event coming up that you are hosting at home, you might want to have a bit of help with the cleaning so that you can focus on the more important things!We recently did a clean for a client who was hosting a wedding reception at their house.Here's the feedback that we received;'Thank you again for all your and Zofia's help. The day was amazing - blue skies, happy faces all

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-44921729945199711402011-07-11T11:38:00.002+01:002011-07-11T11:52:47.919+01:00

Hooray for lemons! They are great for anti-bacterial cleaning and are a must-have for natural home cleaning. Here are a 3 quick and simple cleaning tasks that make use of this natural ingredient. to freshen up a microwave put some sliced lemons in a bowl of water and mircrowave for 3 minutes. It will make it much easier to clean afterwards. lemon juice is great for lifting stains - add the

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-75537234340245458822010-09-27T12:16:00.002+01:002010-09-27T12:29:48.517+01:00

"Just got back from a knackering weekend but my spirits were uplifted by my lovely clean house - what an amazing job, thank you so much. I could get used to this very quickly, you've made me very happy!"Kirsty, Clifton (one-off spring-clean on 26th September 2010)

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-69611220246322179852010-09-06T20:32:00.005+01:002010-09-06T22:09:20.957+01:00

Organic Fortnight started on the 3rd September and runs unil 17th September. If you're looking for an organic treat of the non-food variety you could do a lot worse than a bar of Organic Lavender and Rose Geranium soap from Cornwall Soap Box (£450 for 100g). Hand-made in Cornwall using organic olive oil this soap smells devine and is available to order on-line.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-60093260365722055272010-08-31T18:00:00.002+01:002010-08-31T18:08:53.414+01:00

My Green Cleaner got a name check in the August copy of Health and Fitness, along with The Green Housekeeper, who make fab eco cleaning products. It's always great to get a mention in the press and I'm now thinking of organising a photoshoot so I can get some more interesteing pictures together to send to journalists when they get in contact.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-69353606822698354032010-07-09T20:24:00.007+01:002010-07-09T21:07:43.699+01:00

Photo by Jesso18When I set up My Green Cleaner my aim was to provide a great cleaning service using natural eco friendly products. As I've mentioned before, one of the great things has been receiving feedback from our clients. One of my clients wrote to me saying I ought to have client feedback on my site and wrote a review for me. I'm so grateful - thank you Nicola! Here is what she wrote:

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-62315420840953945062010-05-19T12:06:00.005+01:002010-05-19T12:30:21.581+01:00

Jamie is from Cornwall and one of the places we visit regularly when we're there is the Trevarno Estate & Gardens. It has beautiful gardens with a Victorian boating lake, Yew tunnel and a vintage soap museum! They make their own organic soaps and skincare and at the moment they are offering free P&P on their website. I love their Organic Lavender and Geranium Soap (£3.50 for 75g).

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-48763068975451229402010-05-07T22:58:00.003+01:002010-05-07T22:58:00.139+01:00

I've been searching for a practical solution to our Green Cleaners carrying around our eco-products as easily as possible on their bicycles. I spotted the Cycle Chic stand when I did Bristol's Biggest Bike ride last year and have been waiting since then for some green panniers to come in stock.Finally they're here and I'm spoilt for choice! I've narrowed them down to these two. What do you think?

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-72763450704777944582010-05-05T22:45:00.003+01:002010-05-05T22:48:57.906+01:00

I've neglected my blog recently as My Green Cleaner has been so busy with spring cleans and end of tenancy cleans booking up the diary. But I thought I'd re-start my regular posts with these lovely hand knitted dishcloths from Magpie and a Dove on Folksy (£5.00). Enjoy!

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-35435209419617046032010-03-11T21:22:00.005Z2010-03-11T21:38:16.857Z

It's been great for My Green Cleaner to be involved with Sustrans as I'm a big fan of cycling. They've produced a leaflet aimed at getting more girls cycling and I was delighted to be a part of it in their feature on cycling whilst pregnant. Can you spot me?

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-43630927124537482432010-03-09T09:53:00.007Z2010-03-11T21:34:42.734Z

Photo by Hula SeventyOne of the lovely things about running My Green Cleaner is the feedback we get from our clients. We get lots of great comments and I'm currently putting together a testimonials page for the website. In the meantime I have to give Zofia a gold star for the work she did for a client last week who followed up with this e-mail. Nice." I wanted to get in touch sooner to say thank

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-9488784168173960572010-03-03T09:04:00.005Z2010-03-05T12:15:11.085Z

It's coming to the end of Fairtrade Fortnight and this year's theme has been the Big Swap with the idea being that you swap your normal product for a Fairtrade one. Easy swaps to make are bananas, coffee or tea.Here at My Green Cleaner we can do better than that. All the cleaning products we use are handmade in the UK and without the use of poorly paid or treated labour. If you're looking for

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-77216864058310417832010-02-18T21:47:00.004Z2010-02-18T21:59:16.876Z

Bike Belles is a cycling website designed to encourage all of us girls to get out and about on our bikes. It's a mine of information with tips on cycling safety, fashion and maintenance. My Green Cleaner was delighed to get a mention on the website after they discoved that all our staff use bikes to get around. Have a look at the full article on the Bike Belles website here.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-88139166165548076882010-02-02T23:55:00.002Z2010-02-03T19:51:23.953Z

Image by torbakhopperIf you're re-arranging furniture and are left with unsightly carpet marks from where heavy furniture has been standing try ice-cubes. Pop an ice-cube into each area that has been compressed and leave overnight. They don't have to be heart-shaped.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-7914888656971628832010-01-27T20:58:00.006Z2010-01-27T21:23:16.108Z

If you need an incentive to clean the dishes these might just be the thing. Maria Dahlgren is the Swedish designer behind these fab dishcloths (£3.50 from ScandiLiving) who hopes they “will make people smile as they clean!"Of course sustainability is as important as looks for us here at My Green Cleaner so the fact that these are printed with vegetable dyes and made from cellulose derived from

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-24940959556914072222010-01-21T22:40:00.000Z2010-01-22T00:05:10.804Z

Thank you to the Sunday Times for it's lovely write-up on Bristol. Did you spot My Green Cleaner getting it's first media exposure (alongside lovely eco florists Bella and Fifi?) It was so lovely to hear from all my clients and friends who saw the article - thank you to everyone who got in touch! Here's to more column inches celebrating Bristol's eco finest.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-54319021243601590342010-01-18T21:15:00.008Z2010-01-18T21:39:55.601Z

Well it's not strictly about cleaning but on the basis that it could lead to a tidier bedroom, I'm including this lovely vanity case (£65 from Cooey) which I'm seriously pining for. Cooey sell a small but lovely range of products inspired by owner Imogen's collection of vintage treasures. Also available in a more sedate blue and pink as well if you're not feeling the bling!

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-19241227564930148602010-01-14T22:28:00.004Z2010-01-14T22:39:10.665Z

There's nothing like the acquisition of new cleaning equipment to make chores that much more enjoyable and I've fallen in love with these lovely hand decorated brooms (£20.00) from Brush Strokes. Who could resist an bit of sweeping with a strawberry or chilli decorated broom!

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-83726451467934439752010-01-07T22:57:00.006Z2010-01-14T23:26:08.503Z

It's cold and dark and it feels like I haven't seen the sun in weeks. If you're feeling the same I'd recommend sprinkling a bit of cheer into your via one of the many fab tea towels available from To Dry For. What other way is there of getting a slice of Rob Ryan gorgeousness for under a tenner? Beautiful AND useful - what more could one ask for.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-72515293930766584412009-12-30T14:51:00.000Z2009-12-30T22:09:10.522Z

Photo by Torie Jayne They're not cheap compared to dusters but E-cloths General Purpose Cloths (£4.99) are an indispensable part of our cleaning kits here at My Green Cleaner. They're fantastic for giving a high shine to taps, kettles, toasters and really absorbent for dryingdown shower screens and mirrors. They have a towelling texture so are particularly good for wet areas.E-cloth also do a

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-59860076596613179462009-11-14T23:15:00.003Z2010-01-14T23:21:10.474Z

Winter's well and truly arrived and it seems a long way away until Spring. Cheer yourself up with a bit of household loveliness from To Dry For. Even if you never do any actual drying up it should at least brighten up the dark days ahead.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-79751225345288658692009-10-22T00:02:00.000+01:002009-11-02T14:45:53.907Z

Photo Credit: La Bestia GalleryAlthough it's easier than it's ever been to buy natural cleaning products on the high street it's still worth checking out on-line retailers for great bargains. Summer Naturals is a great place to visit for all sorts of eco houshold items including bulk buying vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and other eco delights.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-752763940925593262009-09-25T20:14:00.008+01:002009-09-25T21:18:07.893+01:00

Kim Woodburn was on Mumsnet for a Webchat last Tuesday. I'm often asked for the best way clean below the water line of a loo and here's the Queen of Cleans definitive (and eco - yay!) answer. "Brown marks are because you are from a hard water area. Take zero, zero, zero sandpaper and bicarbonate of soda and give it a jolly good rub. Please don't let it build up - don't be lazy!". By the way the

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-36777307060241769912009-09-07T19:15:00.010+01:002009-09-09T16:50:29.562+01:00

It's not officially autumn until the 21st of September so I'm clinging onto summer with the help of my new organic Garden Mint and Bergamot Hand Wash (£10.50 from Neals Yard). I keep it by the kitchen sink instead of soap which is not only tidier but prettier too - I love their trademark blue bottles.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-75683107003461886602009-08-31T22:10:00.001+01:002009-08-31T18:00:17.234+01:00

A natural way to shift a dirt ring in a bath is to rub with ordinary sea salt (use it dry). Rinse with warm water and the dirt should rinse off easily.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-19334154766605830952009-08-19T20:56:00.005+01:002009-08-19T21:46:52.648+01:00

Bella and Fifi are Bristol-based florists creating bouquets using local, organic and ethically grown flowers - and their arrangements are gorgeous. Flowers are sourced from green-fingered friends and Bristol allotments, creating an earth-to-vase pesticide-free supply chain. There is something so lovely about this idea, especially for celebrating a wedding or christening event. Exotic,

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-28142748470362599712009-08-18T14:46:00.000+01:002009-08-18T20:50:23.597+01:00

I'm not a big fan of the How Clean is your House series - there's seems something intrusive and voyeristic about it. But I do like Kim and Aggie and they seem to have an encylopeadic knowledge about all things cleaning. Knowing how informed they are is partly why this book (How Clean is your House - hundreds of handy tips to make your home sparkle by Kim Woodburn & Aggie MacKenzie) is such a

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-45233133886195169332009-08-14T17:46:00.001+01:002009-08-16T16:03:50.840+01:00

OK, I'm not sure if this is actually an eco-thing judging from the ingredients list but I heard somewhere that denture tablets were great t0 clean toilet bowls and I couldn't resist giving it a go. I dropped a couple of denture tablets into the toilet bowl and left them overnight. The next morning I used a toilet brush to clean the pan. The tablets seemed to lift some of the stains but the

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-89943388860570604702009-08-06T19:50:00.002+01:002009-08-06T19:52:41.452+01:00

My Green Cleaner was almost called Eco Cinderella but it got the thumbs-down in an informal poll amongst my male friends (most of them couldn't remember that she'd done cleaning before being discovered by her Prince Charming). Whatever, she's still my cleaning hero! I'm pretty sure she was an eco cleaner, what with that natural-bristle broom she was always carrying around with her and her birdy

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-75875802162135069802009-08-04T20:34:00.000+01:002009-08-04T20:35:04.552+01:00

I've already mentioned how much I love the smell of lavender and here's another way to keep your home naturally scented. Put 5 drops of lavender essential oil onto a cotton wool ball and place inside the vacuum bag. When vacuuming the lavender scent will be spread around your home leaving it smelling lovely. If lavender isn't your thing, other good oils to use are Ylang Ylang and Orange.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-46883945014803793952009-08-02T13:05:00.010+01:002009-08-02T13:09:48.204+01:00

The humble toothbrush is an essential tool for any domestic cleaning kit. They're great for getting into awkward nooks and crannys that you can't reach with a sponge or cloth. They're particularly useful for keeping the base of taps sparkly, and are especially useful for bathrooms that always seem to have inaccesible grooves and corners. I colour code my cleaning toothbrushes, - blues for

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-54830729332174218752009-07-28T21:26:00.004+01:002009-07-28T21:39:02.364+01:00

Boil a few slices of lemon in a saucepan of water to hide the smell of burnt cooking (and then get a takeway...)

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-45337984492962101402009-07-22T21:10:00.007+01:002009-07-24T13:40:50.864+01:00

Use solid beeswax to fix stiff furniture drawers. Apply a thin coat of beeswax to the runners and reapply as needed. Beeswax can also be used along the side of sash windows to help them open and close smoothly if they are getting stuck.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-62593608257725747792009-07-17T22:11:00.007+01:002009-07-19T19:20:53.440+01:00

All that scrubbing, polishing and shining means that housework hands take a bit of a bashing . I've tried and tested tons of hand-creams and top of my list is Weleda's Seabuckthorne Hand Cream £4.95 (http://www.weleda.co.uk/). It's smells lovely and is great at the end of a hard days work in the house or garden.

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-39765302302630384362009-07-14T14:01:00.006+01:002009-07-14T22:03:18.098+01:00

Towels have a habit of discolouring and becoming hard with use and this is particularly so if, like here in Bristol, you live in a hard water area.Borax is great for freshening up tired towels and keeping them nice and fluffy. For a one-off treatment, add the towels to a bucket containing warm water and a couple of scoops of Borax and soak for 2 hours. This treatment will also help to get rid of

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-20956072731519981512009-07-07T20:22:00.001+01:002009-07-16T20:54:08.612+01:00

I've just discovered Saint Sitha the patron saint of housework.Sitha was born in Italy and worked for 48 years as a maid for a wealthy Italian family. Sitha is also the patron saint for people who have lost their keys :-)

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-46654505330190035312009-07-01T22:08:00.007+01:002009-07-19T19:21:15.437+01:00

Natural Stain Remover by Angela Martin is a slip of a book but really useful to have to hand if you're accident prone or have children. In the first section the author lists 12 products that form the basis of most of the tips/recipes contained further in the book. There is also a brief section containing cleaning advice for each room, such as how to make furniture polish using olive oil, white

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-61178334323816771962009-06-29T13:50:00.002+01:002009-06-29T18:05:08.050+01:00

Hooray for new business cards! My Green Cleaner no longer has to scrabble for pen and paper when people ask for our details as we now have these lovely cards designed by Comedia Design. My Green Cleaner tries to be as sustainable as possible and we thought long and hard about whether business cards were necessary. After trialling working without them it became clear that they do make life a lot

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-20046152050067479652009-06-20T16:27:00.000+01:002009-06-20T21:34:48.742+01:00

Washing machines can start to emit bad odours which often has people reaching for the bleach. The natural solution to this is vinegar and baking soda:Start with an empty machine and programme it for the hottest cycleWhen the machine has filled with water add 3/4 pint of vinegar and 1/4 pint of baking sodaWhen the water starts to drain skip forward to the spin cycleOnce the spin cycle has

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-51955197510523259532009-06-17T17:26:00.001+01:002009-06-24T08:43:20.037+01:00

Synthetic plug-in air freshners are on the increase and despite their natural names, evocative of woodlands and meadows they usually contain manufactured chemicals as well as being a health risk to asthma and allergy sufferers. When I was expecting my son, Ziggy, I got seriously into lavender. I had lavender bath salts, lavender bags in my drawers and lavender growing in my garden. Ever since I

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-21963197282802839552009-06-14T11:55:00.002+01:002009-06-14T13:00:43.926+01:00

I love having sunshine streaming through my windows. At least I do now that my windows are nice and shiny - I'm almost too embarassed to post the 'before' picture above but that really is how dirty they were! I used to spend ages using shop-bought window cleaners but they always left smears and smudges. This year I'm using vinegar and newspaper and the results have been amazing. Fill a spray

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-64546927643299982602009-06-10T16:09:00.001+01:002009-06-10T20:23:32.637+01:00

A lot of our clients have babies so here's an idea for re-using those cute little jars that baby food comes in. All you need is a baby jar and lid, a small circle of fabric and some rafia. If you're in Bristol, Evangelina's in St Nicholas' market is great for rafia and ribbon and there's also's a brilliant old-fashioned sweet shop called Treasure Island for stocking up on sweets.Firstly, make

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-91447026558663645162009-06-07T11:24:00.001+01:002009-06-07T22:55:24.681+01:00

Many people switch to natural cleaning due to the health risks associated with having toxic chemicals in their home. But the products we use have a much longer life span than just within our home, working their way through the water cycle and ending up in the environment. The attached article from Junior magazine references a study undertaken by Birmingham and Warwick university in which soil

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-12492084671447082492009-06-02T14:30:00.000+01:002009-06-02T22:48:54.131+01:00

I love a good splash of malt vinegar on my fish and chips, but the uses of vinegar extends to more than flavouring this British seaside favourite. It's a well-known fact that vinegar is great for cleaning windows, and Vinegar - 1001 Practical Uses, by Margaret Briggs, cover this and lots of not so well-known uses too. With a useful intro on different types of vinegar and the various methods of

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-12440815530352658252009-05-27T20:45:00.006+01:002009-06-01T16:05:57.724+01:00

...this drawing by the talented Shannon Lamden, creator of the Aunty Cookie brand http://www.auntycookie.com. Shannon creates ink drawings featuring a range of characters posing with their hobby paraphenalia (others include quilting, shopping and emboidery) alongside her lovely handprinted fabrics.I think this little lady would be very at home here, overseeing all the Green Cleaners in the My

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-65952510845077616032009-05-25T19:36:00.010+01:002009-06-02T22:51:28.405+01:00

I prefer to use the carrot rather than stick when it comes to flying the flag for ecological cleaning, but sometimes highlighting the nasties in non-eco products has more impact than extolling the virtues of lemon, lavender and vinegar! And so to this extract from Easy Living magazine. The three health and fertility experts all agree that household chemicals can have a harmful impact on

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-46762763027789475312009-05-18T20:28:00.009+01:002009-05-21T21:46:10.009+01:00

After months of having washing draped over radiators during the winter, I love being able to hang out the washing now that Spring has arrived. This is especially good if you use real nappies as the sun helps bleach out any stains. My nappies are being used on baby No 2 and here are my tips on keeping them soft and smelling fresh. Every now and then add 1/2 cup of distilled vinegar to the final

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-24791685332011500202009-05-17T22:08:00.017+01:002009-05-21T14:32:42.579+01:00

I admit to being a fan of both the publisher and the author of this book. CICO Books create titles with fab photography and if the photos in this book don't tempt you to try cleaning without chemicals then nothing will. Author Christina Strutt, (founder of clothing/interiors shop Cabbages and Roses) provides traditional hints and tips on how to keep your house clean, as well as advice on wider

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-55781374327265819262009-05-11T22:46:00.011+01:002009-05-17T23:04:36.651+01:00

Bicarbonate of Soda (AKA Sodium Bicardonate or Baking Soda) is an essential ingredient in any eco cleaner's kit bag. I decant mine into a Kilner jar to prevent it getting damp (and to make it look prettier). Here are my top 5 uses: Carpet Cleaning - sprinkle onto your carpet and leave for 40 minutes before vacuuming to refresh your carpetsTile Cleaner - mix with water and use on kitchen or

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-68919502270905580012009-05-08T10:36:00.015+01:002009-05-18T20:32:00.516+01:00

We've always known natural cleaning products were healthy, cleaned brilliantly and smelt delicious but we never really thought we were fashionable as well. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiBut here's eco cleaning getting a mention in the Style magazine of the Sunday Times no less! Number Two on their 'barometer of style' just under Michelle Obama.oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooParis, Milan, New York, here we come...

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862697827085003208.post-50931361830972312562009-04-30T16:27:00.014+01:002009-05-17T23:04:58.459+01:00

I've just finished making some lemon dusters using some old pillowcases cut to duster size. It's the first time I've made them so I'll report back as to whether they are great to use. In the meantime if you'd like to make some here is the recipe.Mix equal parts distilled vinegar and water (I used 200ml of each to make the 5 jars above). Add 2 drops of olive oilSoak some old (clean!) dusters,

My Green Cleanernoreply@blogger.com0