I am always interested in new websites and this one was given to me on my comments. It is  lovley website called eco mum and baby. There are lots of brands that i have used like bio-D  cleaners, earth friendly kids (my boys like the smell of these).  take a look i think you will like it.

I have just been given a link to this website on cleaning without chemicals, you can even become a consultant and make some money. take a look and see what you think.

You can write your comments here

As a housewife i should probably really enjoy cleaning but i can’t say that i am that fond of it. Building this site has changed the way i look at housework.

I used to be a little bit of a product obsessive, i used to love going around the supermarket looking at the cleaning products but now it is totally avoided. My cleaning cupboard is getting very empty which is a really exiting thought.

This is great as a parent because my cleaning cupboard is no a longer toxic dangerous place. I am enjoying the cleaning now, i’m now proud of my home were i was not at all last year.

My cupboard now consists of

Soap nuts

white vinegar

tea tree oil

Orange oil

Lavender oil

Bicarbonate of soda

borax

spray bottles

I have found a very easy recipe for a soap nut soak which can be used as a laundry liquid.

• In a heavy saucepan with a lid add 4 cups of water and 7-8 soap nuts.
• Bring to the boil and then gently simmer, covered for about 15 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered at leaset until cool. (leaving the liquid over night will result in a stronger solution).
• Strain the liquid with a cheese cloth (or you can use your wash bag) to remove any pieces of shell.
• Add your favorite essential oil if you would like a sent to your soap nuts.

This batch will last for about 8 loads of laundry. (use 1/4 to 1/2 a cup for each load). Your soap nut liquid will keep for about 4 weeks. If it is kept covered, and away from direct sunlight.

I have found a really nice website called the laundry tree were i found the recipe and there are different things you can use this recipe for with alterations to the recipe to suit the type of cleaning you want to do

I have just bought a carpet sweeper and for the first time tried it out on my hall carpet. It is really good i was so impressed with the amount of dust it picked up. It takes up hardly any room but so easy to use and empty.

I think this is such a great idea because it goes straight back to baciks, no electricity needed and it costs me £230 less than my vacuum cleaner. it is a great workout but does not take that much effort. I am now looking for a mettle and wooden household dustpan and brush for the edges were there seems to be little pickup.

My son really enjoys this sweeper because its really light weight and fun to use i hope from now on that he will be hovering his own room.

I have found a website called Treehuggaz and it sells one litre bottles of soarnut cleaner which can be used on anything. Even the washing up.

You can use it for washing the dishes, cleaning surfaces including floors, glass, bathroom, kitchen and even in your car as a windscreen wash! Rather than use preservatives.

Once all my ecover squirtico has been used up i am going to give this a go. I like the idea of not needing a trigger spray because i have not found anywhere to recycle them. It is a really great space saver one product for everything which means my cupboard can be used for something else.

My kitchen cleaning cupboard is looking so much better at the moment it has a few ecover products which i think are great. Could do better and i will keep surching for things until i find the best to suit me. looking to minimise waste.

Update

Treehuggaz no longer sell the one litre bottle of cleaner but they do sell a biodegradable bottle, soap nuts and oils they even have a recipe to make your own which is really easy to do. So why not give it a go. I am going to start making it because then i do not have to pay for the transport and this will take my carbon footprint down.

It should cost you no more then £15 a year for all the ingredients how great is that.

At the moment i am getting bulk 5ltrs of ecover washing up liquid and storing it. I have had a good think about it and i am going to start making my own. This will save on the packaging and on my carbon footprint as the heavier the item the more fuel it will take to transport it.

I am a great lover of Anthea Turners Perfect Housewife and this recipe was on one of her programs.

Anthea Turner’s (perfect housewife) recipe for washing-up liquid:

2 ltrs boiling water
2/3 drops tea tree oil
8 gm soap flakes
8 gm of soda crystals
tsp vinegar

Mix and put in soap dispenser

My tea tree oil, soda crystals and vinegar are bulk bought from summer naturals. Organic soap fakes are from so organic.

As i still have things to use up before i can trial these i am really looking forward to seeing if they work. These are just cleaning cloths. There are no chemicals needed at all which is high on my list for a new eco life. The clothes are washable and they have different clothes for the kitchen, bathroom and even the floor. even the car.

My first to try will be

the washing up set which consists of

1 x Washing Up Pad (11 x 16cm)
1 x General Purpose Cloth (green)(32 x 32cm)
1 x Tea Towel (40 x 70cm)

Washing-up Pad – To be used for general washing-up. It cuts through grease and grime, with a slightly more abrasive side for those harder, stuck-on stains.

General Purpose Cloth – The General Purpose Cloth cleans and shines the sink area for the perfect finish. Great on stainless steel.

Tea Towel – The absorbent tea towel leaves glass and crockery smear free and dry in seconds.

A full E cloth range

I found these in Robert Dayas a few months ago and thought they were great. You just put one capsule into the bottle add water and watch it dissolve. Then its ready to use.

They do one for the kitchen, glass and bathroom.

When it runs out you just buy new capsules there is no need to buy any more bottles, it does say up to 20 usages but i will try and get as much out of the bottle as possible.

My only issue is that there is no were to recycle the plastic surrounding the refills. However this is smaller than bottles and lids on refills.