Household cleaning with natural alternatives is a way to clean your home safely – producing less waste and reducing the need for harmful chemicals.

All these ingredients can be bought inexpensively from your local supermarket…

SURFACE & CERAMIC CLEANER

Use bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth to clean benchtops, sinks and your refrigerator or freezer surfaces. Store in a flour shaker to keep it dry. Make a paste from borax & water or lemon juice with a few drops of tea tree oil for cleaning non-septic toilet bowls, tiles & baths.

WINDOW CLEANER

Add half a cup of vinegar to a litre of warm water. Wash the window first with warm soapy water if especially dirty. Use crumpled newspaper moistened with vinegar to get a beautiful sheen. For mirrors, apply eucalyptus oil with a wad of newspaper to prevent fogging.

CARPET CLEANER

Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on carpet before vacuuming to deodorise. It’s also a great stain remover. Just brush up and vacuum when dry.

WOODEN FLOORS

Add some Methylated Spirits and a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a bucket of warm water for mopping. This mixture helps prevent fleas.

AIR FRESHENER

Add a few drops ofyour favourite essential oils to a spray water bottle. Antibacterial Essential Oils such as Eucalytus, Lavender and Tea Tree Oil add freshness to toilet bowls.

LAUNDRY

A mixture of pure soap, lemon juice & washing soda removes stains and softens water so you need less detergent.

PEST CONTROL

Borax can be used to control pests such as ants and cockroaches. Diluted Eucalytus Oil wiped on surfaces prevents spiders making webs. Hydrated lime sprinkled on the garden changes the pH so fleas can’t breed!