Household cleaning products contribute in a huge way to environmental pollution, global warming and climate change. It has become common to use a number of different products for household cleaning and the average household has eight different cleaning products in their kitchen.

There are three main ways in which these products affect our environment.

First of all, their manufacture emits large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and uses up the earth's natural resources.

Secondly the plastic containers that these products are packaged in are not bio-degradable so they hang around in landfill sites for many years.

Thirdly, the residue after we have used these products, goes into our waterways and pollutes the rivers and seas.

These cleaning products are not a necessity as there are perfectly good, natural alternatives. Vinegar, lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda and salt will cope with most jobs.

Vinegar is a good hard surface cleaner. Lemon cleans glass, metal, baths ans sinks. Use bicarbonate of soda for deodorising your fridge, cleaning stainless steel and salt to unblock drains.

There are more ideas for using natural products as household cleaning agents here:

http://www.xomba.com/spring_cleaning_the_easy_way

A further selection of ways to save on cleaning products can be found here:

http://www.xomba.com/save_money_in_the_supermarket

Putting some of these ideas together and using them could make a big difference to our environment and help you to 'go green'.