As well as testing how well the all-purpose cleaner did on the kitchen worktops, we were interested to see if the Biological Odour and Spot Remover did in fact work on upholstery. We found it effective at removing a fresh orange juice stain off a rug. Using the Biological Drain Maintainer was rather satisfying too and it comes in a neat little recyclable sachet. We poured it down the sink at night and ran the tap in the morning to give it a little spruce. In today's world, we are all becoming more aware of the importance of environmental sustainability. We are looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. One area (that is sometimes overlooked) where we can make a big difference is in the way we clean our homes and businesses. Zemore SE, Lui C, Mericle A, Hemberg J, Kaskutas LA. A longitudinal study of the comparative efficacy of Women for Sobriety, LifeRing, SMART Recovery, and 12-step groups for those with AUD. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2018;88:18-26. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2018.02.004

Reusing furniture is the best thing to do, and so much more fun than buying new,” says Nicola Harding, founder of interior design studio Harding and Read. “Secondhand items come with interesting stories and force you to think creatively, and give you have something far more unique.” To keep mileage down, start at your local auction houses and charity shops (the British Heart Foundation has dedicated home stores and a free collection service), followed by a targeted trawl through Freecycle and Facebook Marketplace. There is a world of waste-free sanitary protection to explore, and Chillingsworth suggests buying a reusable tampon applicator. “The reusable version fits every size of tampon, is antimicrobial and easy to insert. After use, give it a wipe, rinse and return to the storage box that fits in your handbag. Sterilise in hot water between periods.”

The evening’s festivities kick off at 7pm:

Bathroom mould cleaner: To make your own solution try combining 1:1 water and white vinegar, 1:2 lemon essential oil and tea tree essential oil. Leave it on the surface for 20-30 minutes for it to work. Similar to the change above, plastic can leach harmful chemicals into your food (especially if you’re heating them up in the microwave). Even BPA-free plastic is not devoid of harmful chemicals. Baths have long been seen as more wasteful and less responsible than showering, but some research shows that modern, pumped power showers can use more, not less, water than bathing. It is possible to enjoy a luxurious, but environmentally considerate, bath. Use sulphate-free oils, salts or foams and relax (I’ve even been known to wash posh, delicate bras while I soak). You can save more water by washing hair over the bath before climbing in, allowing the water to fill the tub – the shampoo will create bubbles, too. Save to save the planet

Last little disclaimer – if you were 100% on every single one of these changes all the time, you’d probably burn yourself out. Give yourself grace and “rotate which balls you drop.” For example, some weeks I’m so diligent about stretching and foam rolling but drop the ball on my sweat sessions – that’s ok! That’s what my body needed that week. Clean living lifestyle change 1 drink more water EKS Living Clean are currently looking for a motivated cleaner to join our friendly team in Norwich. Ideally you will have cleaning experience although full training will be provided. This is kept very general for a reason. Not everybody likes a traditional “workout regime” and I’m a big believer in finding what works for you and doing that. If you love hiking until you work up a sweat, but can’t stand the gym – go for a few hikes a week. If you love doing Crossfit but hate Pilates, go to Crossfit! In any case, you want to make sure you’re sweating (meaning, getting your heart rate high enough to enjoy the cardiovascular benefits) several times per week. Clean living lifestyle change: Chose an activity that you love and commit to doing it at least one more time per week and gradually increase until you reach at least 3 times per week. Clean living lifestyle change 12 Swap to non-toxic products All purpose cleaner: To make your own solution try combining 1:1 water and white vinegar, 1 squeezed lemon and the rind, plus an essential oil of your choice

Lang M, Krátký J, Shaver JH, Jerotijević D, Xygalatas D. Effects of anxiety on spontaneous ritualized behavior. Curr Biol. 2015 Jul 20;25(14):1892-7. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.049. PMID: 26096971. Related: These Winter coffee recipes also use natural sweeteners Clean living lifestyle change 10 Stretch and foam roll The using life is not a clean one-no one knows this better than we do. Some of us lived in physical squalor, caring neither for our surroundings nor ourselves. Worse, though, than any external filth was the way most of us felt inside. The things we did to get our drugs, the way we treated other people, and the way we treated ourselves had us feeling dirty. Many of us recall waking too many mornings just wishing that, for once, we could feel clean about ourselves and our lives. Related: how to preserve wooden kitchen utensils Clean living lifestyle change 8 swap out plastic in your home

By making this small change you’re helping your body to absorb the nutrients you’re providing it, as well as flush out toxins.

Retail

Clothes swaps – known as swishing – are one of the greenest ways to refresh your wardrobe. They offer credits based on the value of the items you bring, which can be swapped for items brought by others. Avoid trends and hunt for quality pieces you’ll wear for years. Find one near you at swishing.com.

Hendershot CS, Witkiewitz K, George WH, Marlatt GA. Relapse prevention for addictive behaviors. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2011;6:17. doi:10.1186/1747-597X-6-17 There is no way around it, eating meat sustainably requires a little more effort on our part,” says Fergus Henderson, chef and godfather of nose-to-tail eating. His first rule is to “hug” your butcher: “Support them and ask questions – they are your way in to a positive supply chain. They will also give you access to the insides and extremities, such as kidneys, shanks, feet and glands, which offer so much more possibility and flavour than the fillet.” Whole-animal eating is not about blood and guts, but “respecting the animal enough to realise that, if it has died for you, the least you can do is make use of every part”.Presented in slim 300ml aluminium bottles, Clean Living has a wide range of cleaning products in its portfolio. The bottles are refillable and you can use the 30ml refill sachets that need to be diluted with tap water each time you want to top up. Designed to help you make a ‘conscious choice' about the chemicals you use in your home, the range was launched by two friends Helen and Gill, on a mission to ‘clean with conscience’. The range includes natural plant-based formulas that are free from harsh and toxic chemicals. There is a middle ground where ‘eco-cleaning’ solutions that claim to be kinder to the environment and our wellbeing sit, however. And these products are fulfilling a public demand that is gaining popularity. Simply take a look in your local supermarket - or perhaps you have a local refillable shop just launched nearby - and you’ll notice a number of ‘eco cleaning’ solutions lining the shelves including multi-purpose sprays, bath cleaners, washing up liquids, biodegradable surface wipes and more. These products are taking on the mainstream cleaning brands that we’ve been using for years. Living Clean is a professional cleaning company that is committed to environmental sustainability. We use only the highest quality, environmentally friendly cleaning products. Our team of experienced and certified cleaners will leave your home or business sparkling clean and smelling fresh without resorting to bleach, ammonia, and peroxide.