14 Jan Spotlight on YOUR Top Green Cleaning Tips!

Our Faithful to Nature blog is all about providing you with the best information and inspiration on eco-friendly living and natural wellbeing. However, it must also be said that our faithful fans inspire us in turn!

During our annual Christmas countdown this past December, we asked our Facebook friends to share their top green cleaning tips in order to win an eco-cleaning hamper – and we just loved every tip we received. Hearing just how much our shoppers care about natural alternatives really is music to our ears. And we wanted to share this wealth of greenie knowledge with the rest of our fans! So here are some of our favourites – try them out for yourself and tell us what you think.

In the Kitchen:

Smart tips for tackling all those problem areas.

“Lemon juice cuts grease on dirty pots and pans and cleans work surfaces. Salt water disinfects and can be used to wash out fridges, surfaces and even used on small cuts.”  – Marina

“Bicarbonate of soda and water in a spray bottle to clean ovens!” – Pieter

“Use natural products to clean a microwave. All you need is a jug or bowl of water, lemons or concentrated lemon juice and a cloth to refresh and clean a really grubby microwave. This tried and tested method has been around for ages and works like a dream.” – Gloria

“To clean your dishwasher effortlessly, fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with 2 cups of vinegar and set on the top rack of the dishwasher. I used a small glass Pyrex container. Run through on a hot cycle with no other dishes in the dishwasher to clean and remove the musty odour.”  – Marlaine

In the Bathroom:

Some inspiring, earth-friendly ways to keep things clean and hygienic.

“I make my own kitchen and bathroom spray with water, vinegar, 20 drops of lavender and tea tree oil, it cleans, disinfects, keeps insects away and smells amazing.” – Jennifer

“If you have a slight blockage in a sink drain, pour bicarb in to cover the hole of the plug, then pour boiling hot water and vinegar down the plug hole, this should shift the blockage. Keep adding vinegar and water until the foaming of the bicarb stops.” – Lauren

“Natural mould removal and prevention: Add ten drops essential clove oil to 1L of water. Wipe mouldy areas with a cloth dipped in this solution… this also scares ants off.” – Sudika

In the Living Room:

Some of you sent in your own fab natural cleaning recipes for keeping floors, windows, tiles and furniture spic-n-span.

“Natural wooden furniture polish: 1 cup olive oil, half a cup lemon juice. Mix in a sprayer bottle. Shake well and apply to flannel cleaning rag or cloth, spread evenly, then use dry side of the cloth to polish dry.” – Anno

“Citrus Infused Vinegar: Fill a jar with (organic) citrus peels and pour undiluted white vinegar over them. Leave for a few days (up to 2 weeks) and strain out the vinegar to use as a natural cleaner. It works as a window cleaner (dilute with water), for mopping floors, or for disinfecting surfaces.” – Yolande

“Green Spring Cleaning Recipe for Grout: 7 cups water, half a cup baking soda, one third cup of lemon juice and one quarter cup vinegar – throw in a spray bottle and spray your floor, let it sit for a minute or two… then scrub.” – Audrey

For Pet-Lovers:

Some safe natural advice for those with furry family members:

“For smelly pet bedding (rodents, dogs, whatever) use vinegar instead of softener, and use a natural laundry soap (from FTN of course!). For super stubborn smells, soak in vinegar before washing. It removes all odours excellently. I also clean rodent cages with a vinegar and water mixture – effective and safe for my pets too.” – Mary

For Fashionistas:

Some great tips to keep your favourite clothes and accessories looking good as new.

“To brighten whites in your laundry, add half a cup lemon juice to the rinse cycle for a normal-size load.”  – Tharishia

“Best way to clean jewellery! Make a paste of bicarbonate soda and toothpaste, rub it through and rinse well. Will sparkle like new!” – Lydia

“To clean copper bangles, soak in a solution of vinegar + water (half cup water + 2Tbsp vinegar); soak for a few minutes and rub dry with a soft cloth.” – Sharon

To find out why green cleaning is the way forward, read our blog post about the benefits of eco-cleaning goodies – and the dangers of ordinary cleaning chemicals.

We always like making new friends – and spoiling them! Like us on Facebook to hear about more fab competitions, giveaways and tips.