Over the years I have tried my fair share of cleaning product.  And dare I admit, I squeal with delight when a new product is advertised.

I prefer to use products that don't make my skin itch, or my lungs feel on fire. And with this in mind I have gradually progressed into products that are eco friendly or that I can make myself. I was pleasantly surprised that eco friendly products I did use really do work, smell beautiful and are excellent value for money!

And who needs to spend so much money on cleaning products anyway?  It always amazes me the plethora of product I find in my client's cupboards that they don't use.

Another reason for choosing natural products over chemical based ones is that it really does help to eliminate skin allergies, rashes and respiratory problems which may be caused through the cleaning products we unwittingly use in our home.

I now have a close knit group of my favourite products which I would like to share with you and the good news is - they are all good for our environment and us!

ECO Store - This company has a plethora of products available from baby skincare, petcare, cleaning product through to gardening products.  However my all time favourites are the Plant Based Laundry liquid.  This truly does leave your washing smelling absolutely fresh and quite divine.  I stand and sniff the washing just to inhale that fresh, yet not at all overpowering, smell of eucalyptus.

The toilet cleaner is also rather yummy - well as far as a toilet cleaner can be anyway. Its combination of natural citrus oils, sassafras and pine leave a lovely smell.

ENJO - It was actually a client who introduced me to this little gem of a product. Enjo produces mits and cleaning cloths made out of microscopically small fibres that reach into the smallest pores and tiniest crevices. The fibres on the mit trap and hold the dirt and bacteria without the use of chemicals.

As a girl who loves to use actual cleaning product I was reluctant to believe that a mit could clean this well. But I tried it and loved it! I love to use my Enjo in the kitchen. They have different coloured mits for different areas of the house.

B.E.E. - Beauty Engineered for Ever

I absolutely adore all these products.  I especially love and support this company for their ethical business ethics and their real efforts in preserving our environment. I would have to say though that my favourite is 'I'm Great All Over the House'  this product is like spray n wipe but it smells divine, its kind to our blessed Mother Earth and it brings up my stainless steel accessories to a brilliant shine.

B.E.E. products are EC accredited, which means they are the only product in the cleaning category which has independent environmental choice (EC) accreditation.  Which means... every single ingredient they use is rigorously examined and independently approved according to public criteria to ensure safety for both the environment and human health.

Another product which I recommend is their laundry detergent 'I'll do your dirty washing'.  I like to alternate between this one and ECO store just for a bit of variety in life.

Essential oils in the home

Essential oils are natural and smell delicious.  I use a good few drops of lemongrass, tea-tree or lavender in the rinse water of my washing as an added boost to make the washing smell fresher.

When cleaning the floors I always add in lemongrass and tea-tree.  Lemongrass has a distinct and sharp smell.  So don't overdose on this.  A few drops should be all you need in a bucket of hot water.

Both Lemongrass and Tea-tree are antiviral, anti bacterial and anti-fungal.

Furniture polish - wood

It's so much nicer to make your own furniture polish.

My favourite recipe is;

50ml of cold pressed vegetable oil such as almond, olive or sesame oil

1 teaspoon of squeezed lemon juice (without pips)

10 drops of your favourite essential oil

Beautiful essential oil combinations to try are;

Orange (associated with Jupiter the planet of optimism) & Frankincense (excellent for healing and an anti-depressant)

Lemon (rejuvenates) & tea tree (very strong bactericidal)

Cedarwood (gives strength) & Orange

Keep your polish in a dark glass bottle and out of the sunlight.  Use sparingly on your furniture and work into the wood.

Carpet freshener *

1 cup crushed dried herbs (such as rosemary or lavender)
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda

Combine all the ingredients in a large jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to blend. Sprinkle some of the mixture on your carpet, let it sit for an hour or so, and then vacuum it up. It will give the room a pleasant smell and neutralize carpet odours.

* Excerpted from Clean & Simple by Christine Halvorson and Kenneth M. Sheldon

And it's FREE!

Fresh air in the home and sunlight streaming through the windows is a sure fire way to freshen up the energy in your home - and it's free!

Lemon juice squeezed onto a damp cloth is fantastic for wiping out the fridge and getting rid of any nasty smells and cleaning the glass shelves.

Happy eco friendly cleaning!

Article by Michelle Denholm
Director, Harmonious Living
Ph: 021 421 900 or (09) 834 0447
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www.harmoniousliving.co.nz

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