SPRING is here at last and now is the time to freshen up your home. The sunshine shows up cobwebs and dirty corners.

Before you consider sprucing up your home, please use sustainable materials to keep harmful chemicals out of the water system and improve the indoor air quality, making your home healthier for people and pets.

Indoor air pollution can be two-to-five times higher than outdoor air due to household dust, pet dander and chemical-based cleaners. On fine days, open windows to allow fresh air into your rooms.

According to research, 2,000 common cleaning products can contain ingredients that can cause asthma, allergies and breathing difficulties and other long-term illnesses due to prolonged exposure. There are many high-quality effective cleaning products that will do the job without polluting your home or making you ill. Switch to plant-based and non-toxic alternatives. Even better make your own products, saving money.

Make your own dusters and cloths from old T-shirts and other cotton materials.

Before you clean, sort out any clutter and recycle or donate to charity shops.

A mixture of white vinegar, water and lemon juice is ideal for surface cleaning. A 50/50 mix of vinegar and water is a powerful natural alternative to anti-bacterial sprays. Add a few drops of essential oil if you dislike the smell of vinegar. If possible, hang your washing out to dry - sunlight is a natural disinfectant.

Use refillable jars and bottles where possible. Anti-bacterial wipes are not biodegradable or flushable.

Clean ovens using a mixture of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, applied and left for a while before washing off.

Vinegar and water is an ideal way to clean mirrors and windows. Just finish with scrunched-up newspaper.

Remember always recycle and reuse wherever possible.

Article from Climate Action St Austell (CASA)