MAKE YOUR OWN CLEANERS

THE air quality inside many homes can be two to five times more polluted than the air just outside. Traditional shop- bought household products play a huge part in this, so instead make your own all-natural versions with these recipes:

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER

MIX 120ml/½ cup of white wine vinegar and 50g/¼ cup bicarbonate of soda into 2 litres/8 cups water. Mix until completely dissolved. Decant into a labelled spray bottle. Use this solution for the removal of water marks on shower panels and bathroom chrome fixtures, and to clean windows and mirrors.

WOODEN FURNITURE POLISH

SOME of the products on the market are far too abrasive and can take the colour out of the wood or damage fine polished surfaces.

Instead, fill an empty spray bottle with 4tsp olive oil, 4tsp white wine vinegar and 10 drops of lemon essential oil and shake really well.

NOTE: this polish is single use only. Do all your woodwork on the same day to get full use of the solution.

CARPET REFRESHER

FOR the freshest carpets ever, add 15 drops of your favourite essential oil to 200g/ 1 cup bicarbonate of soda. Using a sieve, liberally sprinkle the mixture all over your carpet or rug, leave for a few hours, and then vacuum it up. This is one of my favourite tips; I do it myself once a week!