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It’s a common misconception that natural products aren’t as effective as harsh chemicals when it comes to cleaning.
Harriet Birrell says she’s long had a negative reaction to synthetic fragrances. Even as a child she’d screw up her nose at the smell of an overpowering perfume and dreaded walking down the cleaning aisle of the supermarket. “I always put that down to having a sensitive nose. However, as time has gone on, I have discovered more and more of the negative aspects to harsh chemicals in conventional cleaning and body products. “In my mid-20s, I began to research alternatives and replaced most of my home cleaning and body care products with a more natural alternative,” she says.
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I don t know about you, but I feel like I spent the best part of the past year cooking – and baking – up a storm.
And never mind banana bread, I have – for the first time in my life – made my own granola, attempted no-knead bread, made my own sourdough starter, got my children to like acai bowls as much as I do, taught my little girl how to make chocolate chip peanut butter cookies and actually had time to go through some of my enormous cookbook collection and make the recipes I wanted to make.
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As for what cookbooks I have been really loving these past few weeks, here are four books I have not only kept going back to for the yummy recipes, but also because of the beautiful photography and general healthy tips and advice in them.
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Before you go shopping, label your jars with what you plan to put in them. This will help you get exactly what you need, saving on cost and waste
Making your own home cleaning products can be quick, easy and affordable. Once you have the core ingredients in your pantry (think everyday items such as lemon, coarse salt and vinegar), you can mix, top up or replace your potions within minutes, ditching harsh, drying detergents at the same time.
A quick tip: store your mixtures in clear jars and upcycled containers in a cool dry space to help them last longer. Opt for durable varieties such as glass, ceramic pots and stainless-steel lunchboxes for longevity (lakeland.co.uk sells a wide selection).