Most mops use microfibers that end up washed down sinks, and go into the sea to harm marine life creatures. So use with a Guppyfriend bucket filter (tighten the blue strap around your bucket, pour cleaning water through filter into the drain, then dispose of residue in bin (in a sealed container, to avoid contents washing away down drains at landfill).
This wall-mounted broom makes it easy to clear up spills. The slot has easy access rubber flats, and the bristles are covered when not in use. The bristles effectively sweep dust up, and there is a separate comb to remove trapped hair and dust, and a telescopic aluminium handle to easily reach places. Sold with a matching Dustpan & Brush that clips away, when not in use.
Advice from British Arachnological Society is to leave spiders alone (they eat flies and most have never been outside – fluffy white balls are spider babies – so they’ll return anyway).
Spiders don’t come up plugholes, so hang a towel over bath edge, to let them escape. Or place a cup/tumbler over it, then slide a postcard between surfaces to trap/release (nearby or a shed/outbuilding, to avoid big temperature change).
How to Clean Hard Floors, Naturally
Most carpet cleaners contain chemicals that cause asthma and hormonal imbalances, so bin or take to the landfill toxic waste department. Boasts to ‘kill 99.99% of bacteria’ are no use, as the single remaining cell can repopulate in just 20 minutes.
Avoid essential oils for allergies, pregnancy/nursing, babies and pets (citrus oils can be toxic if paws walk on floors cleaned with them).
To spot-clean stains or pet accidents, spray with white cleaning vinegar and dab dry (do not scrub). Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda, leave for 15 minutes or overnight and vacuum. Clean wooden floors with pure liquid soap. For pet-free homes, you can use soda crystal solution before painting/varnishing (mop with fresh water to remove suds).
Bio-D Concentrated Floor Cleaner (also in 5L version) is ideal for laminate, polished floors, ceramic tiles, stone, slate and vinyl. Sold in refillable bottles, it can remove dirt, grease and grime, and tackle stains.
Delphis Eco-Low Foam Floor Cleaner is a commercial-strength product for floor cleaning machines to remove grease and oil from tiled, concrete and painted floors (neat, it can remove heavy forklift truck tyre marks). Also a low-foam degreaser, it’s safe on paintwork, metal surfaces, glass and rubber. Virtually odourless and biodegradable. Sold in recycled plastic and not tested on animals. Their domestic floor cleaner is not pet-safe, as it contains citrus oils.
How to Clean Carpets, Naturally
Jute and sisal carpets are sensitive to water, so don’t soak them, just use a damp cloth. Also try to protect from strong sunlight, use curtains or blinds to protect from harsh rays.
Carpet cleaning machines are best avoided, due to chemicals used. Instead have a ‘shoes off’ policy for guests, and use Hug Rugs (made with recycled materials) to avoid dirt/mud tracking inside. Frequent vacuuming reduces need for cleaning carpets. Use professional steam-cleaning if needed.
Dri-Pak has a recipe for a homemade carpet cleaning machine solution: mix 4 litres of hot water with half cup of white vinegar in the water tank (this also removes soapy residue from past cleanings). Always test an area first.
For steam mops, run a solution of one-third white vinegar with two-thirds water through the chamber/mop, refill and run through with tap water.
Numatic Eco claims to be the greenest vacuum cleaner. Built to last, many components are made from recycled post-industrial material that are diverted from landfill or incineration. It has 30% less energy consumption and is good enough for professional use.
Miele vacuum cleaners last 20 years, and are quiet and comfortable. The HEPA filters up to 99.9999 percent of dust and allergens. The allergy and dog/cat hair and cordless are expensive but the Classic C1 in autumn red is under £200 and just as good. It features a telescopic tube to get into nooks and crannies, and is lightweight and adjusts to your height.
If you’re on a small budget, live on a high floor or have a small area, a manual carpet sweeper is the obvious choice. Bissell and Ewbank both offer basic and deluxe versions (even these are way cheaper than a vacuum cleaner – around £30). Lint rollers (the ones to get pet hair off clothes) can also be used on small areas. For rugs, hang over a fence and beat with a tennis racket (or soak and wash the dirt out, and dry in the sun).
