A Guide to Green Housekeeping by Christina Strutt

A Guide to Green Housekeeping Reviews

• 
  Donna

  This was a great recommendation from a friend, I may think of getting my own copy, or at least copying out some of the useful tips before it gores back to the library.
  I was particularly interested in the section about making your own household cleaning products, as although I use eco-friendly brands like Ecover, I'm still not really sure what is in them - anyone know what an anionic surfactant is?? This book implies that if you have water, bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar, you can clean virtually anything. I'm definitely giving it a go.
  There are also some interesting gift suggestions for scouring antique markets and shops for presents rather than buying something new (and probably plastic!).
  A good section on gardening, and the uses of herbs.
  And it is all written in an easy to read style, as if you were getting advice from a friend.
  
• 
  Dan

  To imply that this book is simply about housekeeping is a tad misleading. Housekeeping tends to make me think about cleaning. The book does cover keeping your home clean and fresh using natural products, but it includes so much more too. Sustainable energy options, green gardening, preserving your produce, herbs and their properties, green gifts, homemade herbal remedies and homemade beauty products are also included.
  
  The book is beautifully and liberally illustrated, and is an absolute joy to read. Not only that, but it actually has lots of ideas which are relatively easy to actually implement at home.
• 
  Saffron

  As coffee table books go, this is a good one. It has pretty pictures and big font to make it an easy read, however there are some very interesting bits of information too that should, if you are interested make you head to Google to look up some of the statistics. This book was published in 2008 but even then she states that 148,000 acres of woodland is left unmanaged that could be supported and maintained as a source of renewable fuel and over 4 million tonnes of wood is sent to landfill every year!
  
  Lots of basic information, I wouldn't want to spend the money purchasing it as it really is too short but borrow from the library, which I did and it's worth a read.
• 
  Thomasin Propson

  A lovely book with a simple, hopeful message. We can do better and love our lives at the same time. There is beauty in the old fashioned and the vintage, value in the pre-owned.
• 
  Louise

  It was okay, not a book I’d read again.
• 
  Meredith

  Well, I was somewhat cynical from the moment the phrase "my publishers asked me to do this book" as in my experience this is a herald of bad things to come.
  
  I will however grant that this book is a beautifully photographed, fairly complete overview of natural cleaning. Nothing new if you have read anything on the subject before, but if you haven't, then this would be a good place to start, and all that eye candy of beautifully rustic shelves won't go amiss.
  
  
• 
  D.G. Rampton

  I hate how full of harmful chemicals our modern life is...which is why I love this book! It is full of fantastic and practical advice on how to clean, polish and revive everyday household items with cheap and natural products like vinegar and baking soda. I'm always referring to it...recently on how to remove burn marks from fabric!
  
  It's beautifully put together and the photographs really inspire me to attempt to become a domestic goddess.
• 
  Rachel Maxwell

  I loved this one. most of it I already knew & currently do but she had lots of good info about what plants to plant next to each other as natural pesticides & a recipe for petal sugar! don't know when I'll ever use a recipe for petal sugar but I love that I have a recipe for petal sugar :)
• 
  Spinneretta

  A beautiful book, with some great ideas. It is lacking in the recipe department, but the photography is beautiful, the ideas workable.
• 
  Maureen

  I have read a number of different books on "greening" your home. This is by far the best one so far. It offers helpful tips in all aspects of your house, from environmental cleansers to gardening.
• 
  Emma

  One of my very very favorite books. I refer to it often for advice or inspiration. Beautifully laid out with great pictures.
• 
  Bronwyn

  A good, general introduction into Natural Housekeeping, though I felt this book was extremely vague in places.