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Introduction

Welcome to the world of safer, greener household cleaning. Cleaning that will help you become more self-sufficient and benefit your health, the environment and your bank balance.

In the beginning…

I started making my own cleaning products when I was pregnant with my daughter. Being responsible for bringing new life into the world led to several lifestyle changes because I wanted to give my baby the best start in life. I was determined to have an organic baby! I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make these products! They actually worked and saved me money. If that wasn’t enough, I was saving packaging from the landfill and keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment. And my home looked and smelled great, too.

Benefits to health

But there was another benefit. I’d had a number of health conditions, such as headaches, frequent infections, stuffy nose, itchy eyes and sore throat for years. I’d learned to live with them, thinking that most people felt the same way. But within a few months of weaning myself off conventional cleaning products, my health improved dramatically. All those minor ailments I’d been living with had vanished, along with the air pollution in my home. That’s why I’m delighted to be able to share with you some of the secrets I’ve discovered about safer, greener and more selfsufficient household cleaning.

What you will learn from this book

This book will provide you with:

• Information about harmful ingredients used in some conventional household cleaning products.

• Details about using safer, readily available ingredients for cleaning.

• Simple, effective recipes for everyday cleaning jobs.

• Preventative cleaning methods so that you never have to do another spring clean!

• Ways to save money, space and resources.

• Tips to protect the environment.

• Information about ways to help improve your own and your family’s health.

Keep it simple

There are many books available that teach you how to make your own cleaning products. This book is different in that it keeps things very basic and simple, using natural products that are commonly available. You’ll find a product to suit every cleaning need, with the reassurance of knowing that it has been tried and tested for years!

Downsizing your product range

You probably think you need a huge range of products to clean your house: one to clean the floor, one to clean the bathtub, another for the kitchen sink, specialized ones for worktops (counters), formulas for glass, different ones for polishing wooden furniture, and yet more for drains and ovens. But you really don’t need all these different products. I use one simple household ingredient to clean worktops, sinks, the bathtub and hob (stove), and it’s so safe you can eat it!

Avoiding overwhelm

Do you remember the last time you bought a cleaning product and the store didn’t stock your usual brand? Did you stand in front of a bewildering array of products and find you were overwhelmed with choice? Did you get your product home, start using it and find it didn’t work in the way you expected? You just knew you should have bought the one with the citrus scent, or the blue label, or the trigger spray. This book will help take away the decision-making process with my tried and tested recipes. It will save you time and expensive mistakes.

Saving time, space and money

It’s a competitive world out there! Manufacturers tempt us to buy products with the promise of something new: a new fragrance, new formula, new cleaning power, new packaging, new label… All this choice can lead to confusion, and you may end up buying a product that is not suitable for the job.

Once you’ve honed down your cleaning supplies, you’ll discover that a few simple and effective ingredients are enough to keep your entire home clean, safe and smelling great. Most of the recipes featured here are far cheaper than shop-bought products because you are not paying for packaging and marketing. By the time you’ve finished reading this book, you’ll have learned how to decipher product labels and you’ll discover just what you’ve been paying for all these years. You’ll never look back!

A small price to pay for huge rewards!

Homemade formulas are not as processed as shop-bought ones, so they may separate. If this is the case, don’t worry; it doesn’t mean they’re no good. Just shake or mix them before use. Equally, you might need to scrub a little harder or leave things to work, but you’ll get enviable toned arms in the process and healthier air in your home! Make the most of the situation and make yourself a cup of tea or thumb through your favourite book whilst the products do the work.

Are you ready to discover ways to clean your home in a healthier, safer and more economical way? Then let’s learn all about green cleaning.