Most of us have a vast range of cleaning products in our home, each supposedly formulated to clean one specific item: windows, carpets, cooker tops, sinks, suede, paving – you name it, there are a bunch of products available to clean it.

Borax is a naturally found mineral that has been used as a cleaner for many years, and is therefore considered safe. It is an antibacterial, fungicidal and bleaching agent. It can be used for a wide range of cleaning jobs including the kitchen, clothing and carpets, and in soaps. It can be bought from hardware shops and chemists, or you can get it on-line.

We use a lot of energy washing clothes. You can reduce this by:

• buying a washing machine that is the size you need

• buying an “A” rated washing machine or better (there are now “AA” rated machines as well