Win a Seventh Generation Cleaning Hamper!
In our house, as a family of six, cleaning is a necessary evil. I’ve never been one of those people who loves to roll up their sleeves and have a good clean, nor can I tell you that my house is spotless from top to bottom, because most of the time I am fighting a losing battle, trying my hardest to simply limit the damage each day!
I’ll be honest, when it comes to cleaning products, I tend to throw whatever’s on offer at the supermarket into my trolley, paying very little attention to brands, labelling, never bothering to turn over the bottles to see what actually goes into these items that I use throughout my home. Shockingly, I recently learned that by law, brands don’t need to reveal what goes into their cleaning products! If you research this further, the number of chemicals which make up these basic household items is terrifying; ingredients such as petroleum, chlorine, ammonia – all of which are harmful, not only if inhaled or consumed, but even if they come into contact with the skin.
With Harry having such severe eczema I am horrified to think that whilst we take such care to ensure that his skincare products are completely natural, when it comes to our washing powder or the detergents we use around the house, I had never really thought about how they would contribute to his condition.
So I was delighted to recently discover Seventh Generation, a US brand who have been making cleaning products from plant based ingredients for over twenty five years. Not only are they vegan friendly but they are a member of the Leaping Bunny cruelty free programme, guaranteeing that no animal testing is involved, and are also listed in PETA’s database of recommended companies.
Their company ethos is to make the world a better place and they do this through using recycled materials, biodegradable formulas and through providing better conditions for their workers, communities and the environment overall.
When Seventh Generation offered to send me a hamper of cleaning products to try, I couldn’t wait. As much as I was bowled over by the company ethos, I was keen to find out if their products could clean away the aftermath of a day with my children!
The hamper included Seventh Generation laundry detergent, Natural 4 x concentrated laundry detergent, toilet cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, washing up liquid and glass and surface cleaner.
The verdict? Not only do they work just as well as regular cleaning products but, through using the Seventh Generation detergent for just two weeks, I have already seen an improvement in Harry’s skin!
I am completely converted to green cleaning, using Seventh Generation products to ensure that not only is my house clean and sterile, but my children are safe from harmful chemicals. Even better, these products are all available in Tesco stores throughout the country, meaning that you too can make that switch.
Win a hamper of Seventh Generation goodies!
To win a hamper of Seventh Generation cleaning products simply enter via the link below. The competition will end on Sunday 3rd September and the winner notified via email. Good Luck!
*** We were sent this hamper for the purpose of this review. All words and opinions are my own. ***
Keep on top of it
5 minutes here and THERE is much easier to manage
Great tip! Good luck! xx
Clear blocked plugholes with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar.
Great tip! Good luck! xx
do something each and every day dont leave it
My top tip is to get the kids to help out….Make it fun and it is less work for yourself x
Great tip! Good luck! xx
Also gets the kids used to cleaning up after themself /ves, as well as preparing them for independence and adulthood. Well Done!
always clean up stains as soon as they are made to avoid longlasting damage
Great tip! Good luck! xx
Just what I keep trying to instill in others. As it is much easier to deal with the stain initially. Can be difficult to impossible to remove it later.
clean as you go
Good luck! xx
Keep your kitchen bin fresh with lemon skin and some cold water for 20 minutes once a week.
Great tip! Good luck! xx
Do a room a day to spread the cleaning out during the week
Great tip! Good luck! xx
White vinegar is great for glass, worktops and for making your whites white again
Great tip! Good luck! xx
do a few little jobs while you are waiting for the kettle to boil
Great tip! Good luck! xx
I always try to focus on one room a day so I do not get too overwhelmed
Good luck! xx
Be realistic – your house will never be spotless while you’ve children!!!
Good luck! xx
Nice to read that. As obviously the children are the priority. They grow up so fast, enjoy their company while you can.
Clean up as you go along; little and often
Good luck! xx
Use a wet wipe on the stair rail to remove sticky finger marks and scuffs
Good luck! xx
Clean up daily then it doesn’t build up, little and often is the trick.
Good luck! xx
I got a big steam cleaner to do all the floora and dog beds fast.
Good luck! xx
Put everything back in it’s place as soon as it is finished with.
Good luck! xx
Means that anyone in household, etc can find item/s :- As everything is in it’s place. Seems a Respectful and considerate thing to do. I shared flat when I was a student. Had a variety of experiences, and would much prefer that everything has a place, and it returned to it’s place :- Makes for a more Cohesive household, etc.
I clean up often (because I can) But when i was working I always made sure my bathroom was dried after use this prevents dust and water marks building up!
if you try and clean often you won’t have so much to do on your big cleaning day.
Great tips! Good luck! xx
Do it as you go along.
Good luck! xx
Get someone else to do it
Good luck! xx
Any suggestions?
Put on some music as you clean it makes it less boring.
Good luck! xx
Little & often if, like me, you find it overwhelming!
Good luck! xx
Clean today and don’t wait for tomorrow
Good luck! xx
to get mould off ceilings and walls use bleach much cheaper than the fancy mould cleaners
Good luck! xx
Do little and often so jobs don’t build up.
Good luck! xx
Get someone else to do it 🙂 x
Good luck! xx
Who?
if the knobs on the cooker dont come off clean behind them with dental floss
Good luck! xx
Use your washing powder as a general cleaner. It really cuts through dirt, grime and grease, very good on shower trays, baths and sinks. Put some down the loo and watch the stains disappear, no need for other high priced cleaners.
Good luck! xx
clean as you go so you are keeping up with it!
Good luck! xx
Clean one room a day
Good luck! xx
I’m a sucker for my rota for light cleaning and then my monthly deep clean!
Good luck! xx
Use vinegar in the water for cleaning windows and buff up with newspaper
Good luck! xx
I always have an old tooth brush in my cleaning kit, its fab for all the places you cant get reach x
Good luck! xx
Make sure beds are made first thing and do a little cleaning each day as you go along. Everyone has to clean the bath out when they have used it in our home and my son makes his own bed and attempts to keep his room tidy enough to get in!
Good luck! xx
Seems sensible to encourage children to make their own bed, tidy their own room, etc. They are likely to grow into adults, therefore plenty of practice will build their skills through experience. As surely adults should be capable, independent, Responsible, etc. Well Done!
Use baby wipes to clean around your skirting quickly and easily
Good luck! xx
Do one room clean a day so you keep on top of it
Good luck! xx
Miracle White Sponges which are available in many shops and by a variety of brands. They are good for cleaning bath, cooker, marks of wall, marks of radiators, etc.
clean on a regular basis ie Mondays Kitchen, Tuesday Bathroom etc
Good luck! xx
Little and often so it doesn’t get out of hand.
Good luck! xx
A little but often! 🙂
Good luck! xx
I set the alarm a few minutes early each work day so as to do a bit of cleaning before I go. It helps motivate me for the day ahead and saves the chores building up and not having to do it later
Good luck! xx
Use a long feather duster to get into hard to reach high areas
Good luck! xx
cleaning the windows put a little vinegar in the water leaves a niceshine
Good luck! xx
Use wipes for a quick clean and try to keep on top of it
Good luck! xx
TOOTHBRUSHES ARE USEFUL FOR NOOKS AND CRANNIES
Good luck! xx
White vinegar to deodorise kitchen worktops. Also great in the washer for the final rinse instead of fabric conditioner x
Good luck! xx
As a fellow mum, I’m amazed at the cleaning power of baby wipes! They’re always on hand and will give a quick clean to almost anything… I’ve even used them to clean my car!
Good luck! xx
Furniture polish whips through those dirty marks on stainless steel
Good luck! xx
Add a cupful of vinegar to a litre of water when cleaning your windows.
Good luck! xx
Wet wipes are wonderful , they get in all the crevices
Good luck! xx
Use a window squeegee to remove pet hairs from the carpet and rugs
Good luck! xx
Use toothpaste to get rid of crayon marks
Good luck! xx
Little and often, for example whilst my kettle is boiling I will empty the dishwasher 😉
Good luck! xx
Make sure to clean your kettle handle as it is one of the dirtiest things in the kitchen
Good luck! xx
Clean windows with newspaper
Good luck! xx
Clean often and it means less work.
Good luck! xx
Toothpaste and a clean toothbrush cleans fridge seals and will eliminate smells.
Good luck! xx
Everyone do a bit each day, small steps climb mountains
Good luck! xx
Little and often that is my motto
Good luck! xx
white vinegar is great on limescale as is coca cola!
Good luck! xx
We have the rule of before dinner everything must be put away. I often do different cleaning jobs every day, Tuesday bathroom cleaning, Monday big hoovering, etc. I love and only use eco friendly products.
Good luck! xx
Do not let your kids partner or pets enter at any time lol
Good luck! xx
Put small toys like teddies/Lego in a laundry bag and wash in the washing machine, or even the dishwasher.
Good luck! xx
Keep your cleaning supplies in a cleaning caddy, toothbrushes, a scrubbing brush, micro fibre cloths and newspaper should definatly be part of any cleaning kit.
Good luck! xx
Make sure you tidy and clean as you go and never leave things to pile up! That way you never have a massive cleaning day!
Good luck! xx
Tidy away each day.
Good luck! xx
Make cleaning a family task, getting everyone involved means less work for me
Good luck! xx
My mum always told me to let the cleaning product do the work…in other words if you spray – leave it for a minute to soak in before wiping.
Good luck! xx
Make a list of little jobs and tick when done to make things seem less overwhelming!
Good luck! xx
Bicarbonate of Soda is the best household cleaner you can get has so many amzing uses
Good luck! xx
Cleaning windows with vinegar and water
Good luck! xx
Use dental floss to clean behind cooker knobs
Good luck! xx
Aw yay I am so pleased to hear that the cleaning products are vegan and cruelty free. That is good news for me as I try and be as ethical as I can x
I agree, it’s really opened my eyes to it all, I had no idea that other brands were so unethical and also had such scary ingredients in their products! xx
i have a vinegar book its great for everything!
Good luck! xx
Don’t ever leave a room empty handed. Put things where they belong. Cleaning is so much easier in a tidy house!
Good luck! xx
Declutter each month as it makes cleaning so much easier and quicker.
Good luck! xx
Squirt some washing up liquid in some water in a bowl and then heat it up for a minute to help soften any tough splatters on a microwave
Good luck! xx
Do little and often. Don’t worry if your house isn’t spotless. There are more important things in life to concentrate on!
Good luck! xx
love using pure white vinigar to clean white tiles they come up sparkling
Good luck! xx
Don’t let it all build up, do it one bit at a time, it will be a lot easier!
Good luck! xx
Keep on top of your cleaning, don’t let it build up. Just 10-20 minutes a day will spare you from having to days of cleaning
Good luck! xx
spring clean every few months to clear cutter
Good luck! xx
Don’t leave it all to the last minute, a bit every day means it doesn’t build up to a huge task.
Good luck! xx
Dont leave things do a little each day
Good luck! xx
Use a toothbrush and bleach to clean in between grout and around your taps, then a cloth to wipe it clean xXx
Good luck!! xx
Pure vinegar on windows works brilliantly
Good luck! xx
Wipe down kitchen surfaces every day and you will never get a build up of difficult to remove grease.
Good luck! xx
Wipe it up before it sets hard.
Good luck! xx
A dab on baby oil rubbed on stainless steel makes it shine like new!
Good luck! xx
Always run a cloth round the bath before you let the water out
Good luck! xx
Dance while cleaning, helps keep you motivated 🙂
Good luck! xx
fab…good luck
Good luck! xx
Get wife to do it
Good luck! xx
Do one room at a time and then close the door on the rooms that you have done. Makes it seem more manageable
Good luck! xx
I clean one room at a time. Then I close the door on that room. It feels better to see what I have achieved. I also like to ensure that everything has a place, and that the end of the day, everything is put back in its place
Good luck! x
Put an old sock over your hand and dust away!
Good luck! xx
i find doing bits each day helps when it comes round to ‘deep’ clean day. get the kids helping and make it into a game – we have 6 kids, the 5 who can actually help have reward charts and their own little tasks
Good luck! xx
Rub a little toothpaste onto your taps and wipe off for a shiny finish
Good luck! xx
Do up the top button when washing jeans for easier ironing.
Good luck! xx
Get the whole family involved – even toddlers can help and it sets the tone for the future. A quick 15 minute blitz to see who can make the most difference can be fun and not long enough for children to get bored.
Good luck! xx
Squirt lemon juice in a bowl of water and put in microwave for 30 seconds on full power. This will help loosen any encrusted food from the sides of the microwave which can then just be wiped down.
Good luck! xx
To freshen your containers after having leftovers in them, wipe with a clean sponge sprinkled with bicarb. Or erase tough stains by soaking in a solution of 4tbsp of bicarb and a litre of warm water.
Good luck! xx
Clean one room at a time
Good luck! xx
i use white vinegar for alot of chores but it stinks so would love to try this but i say just concentrate on job a day , cupboards one day toy box the next etc
Good luck! xx
bicarbonate of soda is great for cleaning the oven and burnt pans
Good luck! xx
My tip is show the kids what to do while there going so they grow up knowing and wanting a clean room and house, worked well with my twins and they are 19 now x
Good luck! xx
To unblock your plugholes, use caustic soda but be sure to wear gloves and goggles.
Good luck! xx
Do cleaning often and don’t do it all at once.
Good luck! xx
Use baby wipes as a quick way to clean your bath!
Put rubish in the bin right away
Good luck! xx
Do a little every day
Good luck! xx
Coca-cola for limescale
Good luck! xx
baby wipes on lampshades to get the dust off of them
Good luck! xx
Set out a routine
Good luck! xx
top tip let someone else do it
Good luck! xx
Get someone else to do it lol. No, just do a little everyday to keep on top of it
Good luck! xx
Use the right tools and sponges for different surfaces, it saves a lot of work!
Good luck! xx
clean the taps with a toothbrush, gets in all the nooks and crannies
Good luck! xx
To wipe scuff marks off UPVC windows and doors, just wipe with a little nail varnish remover and they’re gone!
Good luck! xx
Tumble dryer sheets are excellent for polishing up taps
Good luck! xx
Clean up as you go along xx
Good luck! xx
Don’t let it get on top of you so you’re not overwhelmed, clean as you go. Hoover regularly with a dog too I’ve realised lol
Good luck! xx
a good clean up every day makes life a lot easier,than sitting in your own mess
Good luck! xx
Little and often so that it doesn’t become a chore but more of a habit!
Good luck! xx
I do a check list and tick off as your going along, it keeps me motivated
Good luck! xx
Do a little each day so it doesn’t all build up
Good luck! xx
Put a bowl of warm water with a few drops of lemon juice in the microwave for 2 mins it helps release stuck on food, just wipe with a cloth
Good luck! xx
Have the window open if at all possible; it makes the whole atmosphere of the job feel so much less oppressive, especially if you’re kicking up a lot of dust and dirt, like when you’re hoovering.
Good luck! xx
stick the music on and aim to do a job per song 😉
Good luck! xx
Have some banging tunes in the back ground to keep u going
Good luck! xx
clean and clear rubbish on a regular basis and try to avoid a build up
Good luck! xx
Deal with it as it happens, don’t let it build up or it will all get too much . When i bake, i wash up as i go. Spill something….clean it up right away.
Good luck! xx
Has to be Spray oven racks in a plastic rubbish bag for easier cleaning
Good luck! xx
Tell your husband how good he is at it. Then let him take over
Good luck! xx
Dont keep putting it off the longer you leave it the more cleaning your going to have to do
Good luck! xx
Sprinkle baking soda on carpets before hoovering to freshen them up and get rid of any smells
Good luck! xx
do a small bit each day then it doesn’t all mount up
Good luck! xx
Little and often during the week then once a week a fairly thorough clean. I don’t have the stamina I did when I was younger so now divide the house into four cleaning zones and attack each on a rota! 🙂
Good luck! xx
A damp cloth or rubber glove will remove pet hair from upholstery
Good luck! xx
Cheap toothbrush for cleaning round taps an corners. I also swear by baby wipes.
Good luck! xx
clean as you go
Good luck! xx
Keep on top of it
Good luck! xx
Dust from top to bottom so you don’t displace dust onto areas you’ve already cleaned. Vacumn last when hopefully all disturbed dust and dirt is on the carpet or floor.
Good luck! xx
Use a mix of vinegar and baking soda to clean carpets – it gets out really tough stains!
Good luck! xx
Don’t leave things pile up, do a little every day and then have a ‘big sweep’ once a week/month
Good luck! xx
white vinegar to descale a kettle x
Good luck! xx
Little and often – especially when you work!
Good luck! xx
Never leave a room empty-handed; always take away something that needs clearing up.
Good luck! xx
Do little and often so it doesn’t seem like a mammoth task.
Good luck! xx
Try not to let clutter build up. Decluttering at the moment and try not to buy something new until I get rid of a few items. My partner is now starting to get in the habit as well.
Good luck! xx
My best cleaning tip is for glass. Whether it be for glass tables, windows or mirrors! Fill a bowl with warm water and add half a cup of vinegar. Use a clean cloth to wash the glass in circular motions with the solution and then use scrunched up newspaper to dry it and it leaves glass squeaky clean, spotless and smear free.
Good luck! xx
I use a small amount of baby oil on a cloth to polish up stainless steel appliances and to get rid of smears and finger marks, they look brand new afterwards
Good luck! xx
My best cleaning tip would have to be clean as you go! Makes life that little bit easier x
Good luck! xx
You can clean your windows using newspaper
Good luck! xx
Little and often, don’t let it build up
Good luck! xx
Little and often and then things don’t build up too much and put you off tackling it!
Good luck! xx
Use white vinegar to remove stubborn smells or stains from fabric!
Good luck! xx
keep on top of things is the key.
Good luck! xx
i’d say do a little at a time so its easier to keep up
Good luck! xx
Use baking soda and the skins of juiced lemons to clean so many things
Good luck! xx
all you need to use to clean your windows perfectly is newspaper and water
After the daily chores deep clean one room at a time per week so it doesn’t build up xxx
Get the kids to help to lighten the load x x
I use cotton buds and toothbrushes to get in all the edges.
Good luck! xx
keep ontop of it!
Good luck! xx
A little every day
Good luck! xx
Do thing little by little everyday gets the job done quicker x
Good luck! xx
Put a dry towel among wet clothes whilst trying to dry them and they will dry a lot quicker.
Good luck! xx
Wrap your fridge shelves in plastic cling film. That way if you get a spillage or something sticky on the shelf you can easily remove the plastic rather than having to scrape or wash the shelf.
Good luck! xx
Do a little but often!
Good luck! xx
I may sound crazy but I love cleaning!!
Don’t use expensive oven cleaners, green fairy and a metal scourer does the job perfectly ??
Good luck! xx
I don’t actually clean, my hubby does all the cleaning in our house. He swears that by keeping on top of it, it actually doesn’t take long to do each day.
Good luck! xx
Wash windows with soapy water and dry with newspapers
Good luck! xx
use a little lemon juice in microwave to keep it smelling fresh
Good luck! xx
Use your time wisely, there’s no point spending ages cleaning the kitchen then cooking dinner and it’s pointless tidying the living room while the kids are still up. I use snippets of time I have while waiting for others so on school mornings while my son eats his breakfast I’ll tidy upstairs and wipe down the kitchen once he’s finished. At night while he’s cleaning his teeth and getting in his pjs I wipe down the kitchen and tidy downstairs. Once a week we blitz the house together then get to enjoy the day.
Good luck! xx
Little and often so it never builds up!
Good luck! xx
a little bit every day 🙂
Good luck! xx
Tackle stains as soon as you make them, before they set
Good luck! xx
Tackle stains as soon as they happen, before they set
Good luck! xx
clean windows with water + vinegar
Good luck! xx