The wonder of E-cloths

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 glass and shining cloth but I prefer Deeply Clean's Ultra Gleam cloth (£2.49 from Sainsburys) which are excellent for mirrors and windows.

Tea Towel Love - Part I

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.

Where to buy eco cleaning basics

Photo Credit: La Bestia Gallery

Although 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.

How to shine a loo..by Kim Woodburn

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 sandpaper refers to the mildest you can buy.

Photo credit: Earth Kitsch

Hanging on to summer...

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.

Cleaning dirt rings around a bath

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.

The fairest flowers of them all

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, air-freighted flowers from foreign climes are so readily available these days that there is something undeniable lovely about recieving a hand-picked, locally grown bouquet of peonies, sweet-peas and roses. That's to say nothing of the eco-benefits of buying local and avoiding dipping your toe into the less than rosy issues surrounding the foreign flower trade.