Natalie writes…Talking to various parents about how their lifestyle changes, one area that gets hugely affected but doesn’t always get talked about is the household products that you use.
I personally have found myself going through a huge shift on the types of products I buy and although a number of them are eco-friendly, they were actually chosen because they’re either ideal for use in pregnancy or they ‘re less harsh to use on surfaces that your child may come into contact with. Oh and of course they make life a bit easier too! Here are a few of my favourites with them all being available at your local supermarket, although you do get bigger options online:
Ecover Squirteco All Purpose Cleaner
After years of using the big brands and either coughing or wrinkling my nose after spraying, I have found the perfect cleaner for the surfaces in our kitchen and beyond. I first tried it when Waitrose did a brilliant 3 for 2 offer and I’m actually amazed by its capability. Safe around food, can be used on windows, glass, chrome, tiles – pretty much everything. No need to rinse and it is seriously good at cleaning the cooker!
It’s perfumed with plant based ingredients, biodegradable with 100% recyclable packaging, and has minimal impact on aquatic life. Most importantly though, it’s actually an excellent cleaner. It’s generally around £2.79 for 500ml although Tesco do it for £2.40 and Waitrose do 3 for 2 offers periodically.
Also try:
Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleaner Spray This isn’t eco friendly and it’s not a multipurpose cleaner, but it is an antibacterial surface cleaner which kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. Around £1.34 for 500ml at most supermarkets. Also try wipes (see below).
Surcare Sensitive Laundry Tablets/Powder
I started using this shortly before the bambino was born just for her clothes and after a bogof offer, it’s become the only soap powder we use.
My initial reason for using this was that’s dermatologically tested and specially formulated for sensitive skin, so no perfume or dyes.However, after trying out most brands of soap powder over the years, this is by far the best soap powder we’ve used on our own clothes too as the cleaning performance is fantastic and clothes smell really fresh, even on a large load. Even more impressively, when I forget to take them out the washing machine and they’re left for a few hours (or even overnight…) they smell just as fresh! 
They’re also not badly priced and we find that we do less washing as we don’t have to cut the load to get freshness. £2.04 for 1kg (Tesco and Ocado/Waitrose), £2.95 for the 16 laundry tablets pack.
Ecover Fabric Softener
This is another product that I started using just for the bambino but is now used across the board. Smells fabulous without being overpowering and you don’t need as much as other brands for a full load. It has the same ethics as all Ecover products (like the all purpose cleaner above) but it’s excellent for softening clothes. It can also be used in handwashing.
£2.89 for 1L at Ethical Superstore plus I’ve discovered that there is the ginormous 5L for £11.95 and a supersized 25L bottle for £56.95
Method Wood Floor Cleaner
Another eco-friendly buy with an ergonomic shower nozzle for covering your floor. A little does go a long way though and it’s natural, no-wax formula that leaves no residue, but it does have a nice almond smell. Ideal if you have a child spending a lot of time on the floor.
It’s normally around £3.91 for 739ml which makes it a pricier option. It’s on special offer at Waitrose/Ocado for £2.93 though till 24/02/09.
Also try (but check to ensure they’re suitable for your floor):
Ecover Multi Surface Cleaner Around £1.89 1L and Ecover Floor Soap £2.89 1L
Household Surface Wipes
Whilst they aren’t a ‘necessity’, I find wipes to be godsends that are dotted around the house for frequent spillages and ok, lazy cleaning…
Tesco’s ‘My Babys Antibacterial Surface Wipes’ are a handy buy, especially when you’re going through the ‘paranoia’ phase! They are clinically proven to kill nasty stuff like e.coli, salmonella etc and is specially formulated for coming into contact with your baby’s skin. It can be used on toys too. £1.61 for 30 Also try Milton Antibacterial Surface Wipes which are £1.59 although you may have to hunt in supermarkets.
For general purpose, the supermarket ones (I’ve found Waitrose, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s to be particularly good) and they’re all under a £1 generally. There’s normally between 40-60 per pack and some have a small/large option of wipes in the pack.
Scotch-Brite Kitchen Cloth 2 pack
The boyf has been buying these cloths for years although I’d never seen him actually use them – must be for the phantom car cleaning. However, one day I snatched one up to clean yet more mess from the bambino off the sofa and discovered another unscheduled use – cleaning the sofa and small patches of stains on the carpet. Bit of soapy water and our sofa looked like new…until her next accident.
It’s a microfiber cloth so can be used for washing up and general cleaning as well as on glass and appliances without leaving a streak.
Around £3.99 for 2 but they last for donkeys and they can be machine washed. Available in most supermarkets.
Ecover Stain Remover – It actually removes stains which is always a good start… Really handy brush built into the nozzle so that  you can work it into the stain properly. £2.99 for 500ml at most supermarkets
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