I am a huge advocate of using ecologically-friendly products in my home and garden. This encompasses washing clothes, cleaning the bathroom, polishing furniture - you name it, I try to clean it using natural products. I've found that not only is it kinder to the environment, it's also less expensive, I need less storage space and my house doesn't smell like a hospital after I've finished. So how can you clean using natural products? Easy - you will need just 3 ingredients, plus a cloth and some newspaper.

Top 3 Products to Use

1. Lemons
2. Bicarbonate of soda
3. Distilled white vinegar

Top 10 Tips for Cleaning with Natural Products

1. For general cleaning use an old spray bottle and fill with half vinegar, half water and a few strips of lemon rind.
2. Use this spray to clean your windows too. Spray onto the glass, rub with a cloth and then polish with scrunched up newspaper.
3. To clean your microwave, heat a small bowl of vinegar for a couple of minutes. Remove and wipe clean with a cloth. I swear this has reduced my cleaning time so much, and it gets rid of any smells too.
4. To reduce smells in your fridge, put a saucer of bicarbonate on one of the shelves. It will last for approximately 2 weeks before you need to replace it.
5. When you do go to replace it, don't throw it away! Pour it down the plughole of your sink and add a splash of vinegar. Leave for 20 minutes before running the cold tap for 2 minutes to wash it all away and you will have improved your sink's drainage.
6. Instead of forking out for expensive fabric conditioners, use a big splash of vinegar instead (don't worry, they won't smell).
7. While you're at it, chuck a cup full of vinegar into your washing drum and run a high temperature wash. Your washing machine will thank you.
8. Instead of buying expensive furniture cleaner, create your own instead. Mix two parts water with two parts vinegar and a splash of olive oil. Soak a cloth before squeezing out and leaving in an airtight glass jar with a few strips of lemon rind. The cloth will be good to use a few times before your will need to replace it.
9. To clean wooden chopping boards, use lemon juice or vinegar.
10. Finally, if you spill anything onto a carpet (and let's face it, we've all been there) sponge with vinegar. I've managed to get rid of red wine stains on a cream carpet with this; it really works!