H G LIVING
122 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
of handy accessories so you can clean anything from floors and upholstery to the
inside of the car. To get windows, mirrors and glass shower doors spotlessly clean
without the hassle, consider Kärcher’s battery-powered Window Vac, which sucks
water away when the job is done for a streak-free finish. For a quick and thorough
clean of tile or laminate floors, consider upgrading to a spray mop, such as Bona
Premium Spray Mop at Howards Storage World, which allows you to release a fine
mist onto the floor as you clean.
If you don’t like the idea of filling your interior with chemical cleaners, try
harnessing the power of steam, which can effectively clean just about hard surface
in the home, including tiles, glass, baths, showers and the stovetop. “Steam kills
99.99 per cent of all common household bacteria, giving you a hygienic and healthy
living environment,” says Jo Clark, marketing manager at Kärcher. The brand’s
domestic range of steam cleaners are Sensitive Choice approved, which means
they’re safe for use in households with asthma and allergy sufferers.
Another way to get your home sparkling without the chemical nasties is to
choose all-natural cleaning products. “There are more pre-made green cleaning
solutions available than ever, making it easy to clean without the use of toxic
chemicals,” says Tracey Bailey, founder of Biome Eco Stores. And they’re not just
designed for the easy chores – you’ll find all-natural cleaning products to take on
tough jobs such as cleaning the toilet, oven and barbecue too, she says.
When it comes to your cleaning plan of attack, Keeley recommends working
roombyroom,startingatthefarrightandworkingleft,soyoudon’tdoubleup
onanyareas.Ifyouhavea bighomeandyou’retacklingthejobyourself,doit
intwodays.“Ina two-storeyhome,focusontheupstairsononedayanddownstairs
another.Recruitingthewholefamilytohelpandgivingthekidsjobsintheirown
roomscanspeedtheprocessup– hopefully,”shesays.“Anddon’tforgettoputon
yourfavouriteplaylist– havingmusicinthebackgroundwillmakethejobmore
bearable,”saysGirowal.“Whenyou’redone,burnsomeessentialoils,sitdown
andrelax– you’llhaveearnedit.”#THE RAW DEAL
Thinking of going green with
your cleaning products? Make
sure they’re as natural as they
claim to be before you buy,
advisesTraceyBailey,founder
BiomeEcoStores.
Many natural cleaning
products contain
ingredients derived from
palm oil, which is directly
linked to environmental
issues such as deforestation
and animal cruelty. Reduce
your environmental impact
bychoosingpalmoil-free,
naturalcleaningproducts.
‘Eco’, ‘green’ or ‘natural’
products aren’t necessarily
toxin-free. Check for
ingredients such as
fragrance, phthalates,
ammonia, chlorine,
sodium hydroxide,
perchloroethylene,
triclosan, quarternary
ammonium compounds
and 2-butoxyethanol.
‘ RECRUIT THE WHOLE FAMILY AND PUT YOUR FAVOURITE
PLAYLIST ON. HAVING MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND WILL
MAKE THE JOB MORE BEARABLE.’ Michael Girowal, Green Clean AustraliaABOVE From left Earth
Choice Multipurpose Spray
& Clean, $3.20, Nature’s
Organics. White Magic Eco
Clean floor cleaner, $7.95,
Howards Storage World.
Green Potions No 4 natural
cream cleanser, $16.95,
Biome Eco Stores. Glass and
window cleaner, $9.95,
Clean Mission. RIGHT From
left BBS1224 Unlimited
vacuum, $799, Bosch. Bissell
23V8F Select steam mop,
$160, Officeworks. IC160 Ion
Lift-Away vacuum, $650,
Shark. V-11 vacuum, $1199,
Dyson. Floor cleaner, $115
(fibre attachment $109 extra),
Enjo. WD5 Wet & Dry
Premium vacuum, $299,
Kärcher. For Where to Buy,
see page 198.