10. Go green when you clean

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Whoever said you need chemicals to make your house spic and span? Everyday household items like bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar and lemon juice can be very effective cleaning agents, and are far less harmful to our environment.

For example:

• white vinegar is a natural acid that works well on greasy surfaces, like tiles.
• a little bicarb-soda, a touch of water and a scourer or damp cloth are very effective for cleaning stainless steel sinks or laminex bench tops.
• pure soap flakes are a far less damaging laundry detergent than many commercial products.

If buying commercial cleaning agents, look for those that are phosphate free, and where possible, low in sodium. For your own guide to green cleaning download a copy of Lemony's grime fighting recipes.