Swap proprietary cleaning products for natural alternatives

Proprietary, chemical-based cleaning products pose a number of problems for the householder:

• they're expensive
• they're resource-intensive
• they can irritate the skin, eyes, and so on
• they can cause or intensify allergies
• they often not biodegradable
  

Why not opt for natural alternatives?

What are the alternatives?

Natural alternatives are still chemicals, but they're biodegradable and not harmful to humans or animals in the quantities usually used around the home. They also smell better.

The main characters in my personal green cleaning lineup are:

• bicarbonate of soda
• white vinegar
• eucalyptus oil
• lemons
  

You can also use a range of low-impact products including:

• borax
• pure soap
• washing soda

Elbow grease, occasional scrubbing, sunlight, fresh air, and ironing are also handy items in the green home cleaner's toolbelt, as are formulae for making your own biodegradable cleaning solutions. You'll also need cloths, scourers, and perhaps a scrubbing brush. Yes, cleaning "naturally" really is that easy.

More information

I have a great book on this topic, called Australian Green Home & Garden, by Robin Stewart. it's full of great, easy ideas and I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who wants more information on green home management. But there are plenty of others on the market, and of course, a plethora of websites and resources.

Have you tried using natural cleaning products in your home?