Burnt pots and pans: Soak pans in a strong solution of soda crystals and warm water.
Not suitable for not aluminium pans.

Freezer defrosting: Wipe the inside of the freezer with glycerine after defrosting. It will make the ice slip off much quicker next time.

Kitchen tiles: A strong, hot solution of orange soda crystals will clean ceramic, vinyl and quarry tiles (and will also remove any wax polish).

Chewing gum: Apply hot vinegar to remove chewing gum from carpets and upholstery.
Smaller objects should be put into the freezer; the gum can then be pulled off easily.

Coffee and tea stains: Rub them with bicarbonate of soda and a damp cloth.

Limescale: Good old vinegar triumphs again. If the problem is severe, rub a mixture of borax and white vinegar over the deposit and leave for a couple of hours.

Pet hairs: To remove pet hairs from upholstery, simple put on a pair of damp rubber gloves and slide your hands over the fabric. Voila!

Pet smells: A bowl of bicarbonate of soda, tucked away on a bookcase, makes a natural and effective odour-eater.

Available in lavender, lime and vanilla, Air Scense natural air fresheners are natural, biodegradable, made from renewable resources and cruelty-free – which will leave your home smelling wonderfully fresh and clean.

Smelly chopping boards: Rub wooden chopping boards with a lemon dipped in salt to get rid of both smells and stains.

Tobacco smells: Soak some cotton pads in grapefruit oil (or any citrus oil) and put it in the hem of your curtains for a beautifully fresh room.

Moth balls: Here’s a novel use for conkers! Apparently moths hate the smell, so collect them up and put them in your wardrobe.

However, if you don’t have any conkers to hand, then Colibri Anti-Moth sachets enable you to protect your clothes without harming yourself.

Irritating insects: Citronella and lemon grass oils are excellent insect repellents. An apparently ants won’t cross a chalk line and will avoid areas that have been washed down with a vinegar solution.

Quantum Buzz Away is made from pure, natural essential oils including cedarwood, citronella, peppermint, eucalyptus and lemongrass. Independent tests show that one application of Buzz Away works for up to 2.5 hours, keeping away mosquitoes, ticks, flies, gnats and other biting insects.

Buzz Away is also available as Towelettes or as a Sunscreen.

If you do get nibbled, then use Itch Nix and Sting Soothe to ease the pain and itching.

Antiseptic kitchen cleaners: Add a few drops of nature’s own antiseptics – tea tree oil or bergamot– to water and then wipe down your surface for a hygienic kitchen that smells wonderful!

To remove stubborn stains first, use an organic multipurpose cleaner like Sal Suds or Citra-Solv

Copper cleaner: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and salt and apply to the surface with a rag. Rinse thoroughly with water afterwards to avoid corrosion.

Don't use this cleaner on lacquered finishes.

Drain cleaner: This recipe will free minor clogs and helps to prevent future clogs.

Pour 4oz (120ml) of baking soda down the drain first, then the same amount of white vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes, and then pour down a kettle full of boiling water.

Alternatively, Citra-Drain uses natural enzymes to remove build-ups and blockages and keeps drains flowing freely.

Lino floor cleaner: Add 4oz (120ml) white vinegar to your mop bucket to get a sparkling floor. The vinegar odour goes away after the floor dries. Or try one of the multipurpose organic cleaners, such as Citra Solv or Sal Suds.

Oven cleaner: Make a paste with baking soda and water and then apply the paste to the oven surfaces. Let it stand for a little while, then scour. This recipe requires a bit of elbow grease but is completely non toxic – and think of the calories you’ll burn! Soak the oven shelves in a hot solution of washing soda crystals to cut through the grease and grime quickly.

Do not use these recipes on self-cleaning ovens.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle baking soda and a couple of drops of liquid soap inside the toilet bowl. Scrub with a toilet bowl brush and finish outside surfaces with a rag sprinkled with baking soda.

Urtekram Vegan make a Green Clean Toilet Cleaner (add link) that gets your loo sparkling with a clean conscience.

Window and mirror cleaner: Spray a mixture of water and white vinegar onto the surface and rub with a lint-free rag or newspaper. Fly spots can be removed with cold tea.

Citra-Solv’s Citra Clear is a powerful, natural window and glass cleaning solution for streak-free and sparkling surfaces which is also biodegradable, made from renewable resources and cruelty-free.

Alternatively, use an >E-cloth – a multipurpose cloth that uses water only to provide a superb streak-free clean.