CLEAN WITHOUT CHEMICALS
There are loads of websites, such as www.greencleanbook.com, with good advice on making your own natural cleaning products. According to Grist.org, “homebrew cleaning recipes involve four simple ingredients: white vinegar, castile soap, baking soda, and water.”

Check out their website for more natural cleaning solutions.

In the meantime, here are a few sample recipes:

1. Instead of bleach to clean drains, put 1 cup baking soda down drain, followed by 1 cup vinegar. Cover and leave for 15 minutes. Follow with boiling water.
2. For glass, countertops, tiles, sinks and mirrors, use a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar poured in to a spray bottle. Vinegar is also a natural deodorizer.
3. Polish furniture with a mixture of one teaspoon olive oil and one-half cup white vinegar.
4. Clean ovens with a cup of baking soda and enough water to make a thick paste. Spread inside oven and leave overnight. Wipe mixture off next morning and grime should come off.
5. Mix lemon juice and salt to clean copper and remove rust stains. Toothpaste can be used to polish silver.

ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
Shop the following HK retailers for natural cleaning products:

• Green Earth Society
  G/F 5 Sha Tsui Path, Sai Kung
  2792-0106
  www.greenearthsociety.com
  Offers a huge range of eco-friendly products from paint to toiletries to solar panels
• Martina Shaw
  2813-8414
  Martina imports Eco Store (New Zealand) and Sonett (Germany) brand products. Call her directly to order or look for the Eco Store line in Three-Sixty (Landmark Building, Central).
• Rixon
  Unit 6, 13/F, Hung Tat Industrial Bldg, 43 Hung To Rd, Kwun Tong
  www.rixon.com.hk
  Shop online for organic skincare and cleaning products