Cover Image: Clean & Green

Clean & Green

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Member Reviews

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

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Great follower of Nancy’s tips on social media, so it was fabulous to find them all in one place. Lots of ideas which I’ve never heard of before. She’s so much more than a talented baker

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A really great wee book with lots of good tips for a more environmentally friendly cleaning routine.

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Interesting tips and hints on how to clean in a more environmentally friendly way, with lots of nice ideas to try out.

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I think this is a great addition to anyone’s kitchen book collection. Anyone that encourages us to be ‘greener’ is to be admired and the author does a good job of providing a detailed, useful and accessible collection of ideas for the kitchen and laundry.

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Rating 4.5 stars

This is a book on how to make your own cleaning products to use around the house.

The first thing the book mentions cleaning is the washing machine and as I type this review I have pulled out the detergent draw and it is now sitting in hot water and soda crystals. After a few hours, it does look better than before, but I need to get another ingredient to do the job really well.

The book move from room to room and provides lots of recipes on how to make up solutions to clean each area. I will certainly be using lots of these solutions in the future; some of the ideas I have heard of before, and already use them. My only concern from the book is that it gives a recipe for Ivy detergent, but doesn't warn you about poison ivy - I mean I wouldn't know if the ivy I have in my garden is okay or not.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

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As a pet lover I have often spoken about how concerned I am about the use of chemicals in home cleaning brands, and how dangerous these can be for dogs in particular. In addition to this, these harsh cleaners are causing great damage to the environment along with the plastic they are contained in.

This handy and informative book gives simple recipes for every cleaning product needed throughout the home. Many of the items required will already be in your kitchen cupboards. All are cheap, can be purchased in bulk and are completely harmless to pets, wildlife and the environment. The cleaning solutions are easy to make and can be stored and refilled in glass bottles which drastically cuts down the use of plastic containers.

Author Nancy Birtwhistle is best known for winning The Great British Bake Off .However, it is clear from reading the hacks and tips in this book, that she is a keen environmentalist too. All the recipes and cleaning methods have been devised with specific jobs in mind. They have all been tried and tested by Nancy herself.

This book proves that you can still have a sparkling clean home without the use of harmful chemicals and still save yourself money. It shows how you can clean kitchen appliances safely and keep them running smoothly and for longer. There is a section to show how to control garden pests and remove mould, how to clean jewellery and make homemade relaxing bath soaks and even hand sanitizer.

I know I will be referring back to Clean & Green on a regular basis and passing on some of the inspiring tips I learned from reading the book. It would make a great gift for anyone who wants to become more Eco-friendly, save money and protect our families, pets and waterways from hazardous chemicals.

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A fantastic reference book that is full of eco-friendly cleaning tips. From everything including descaling to disinfecting, it covers almost every household chore that you might come across. A definite must for anyone who cares about the environment.

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This book was filled with really clever tips and tricks on how to keep your home clean whilst respecting the environment. Brilliant!

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A very comprehensive book on how to clean your home the green eco-friendly way.

Nancy Birtwhistle has created this book, inspired by her grandchildren and her concerns for their futures with a fragile planet. So she set off on a journey of discovery to record her own knowledge as well as research more ways we can reduce our use of harmful chemicals in our homes.

This is such a cracking book, Nancy tackles every room in the home from top to bottom. There are green recipes and step by step guides on everything from cleaning windows to bathrooms, kitchens even laundry.

There are tips on descaling, deodorising and disinfecting. Just about any household cleaning chore you can think of is listed. There's also instructions on how to maintain household equipment such as irons, kettles, toasters and ovens.

Anyone who cares about their health and the planet should buy this book. In fact buy several copies and gift them to family and friends. Let's help Nancy share the important message that we don't need to use chemical cleaners in our home. There is a low cost, eco-friendly solution to all our cleaning needs, we just need to re-educate ourselves and change old habits.

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What an excellent book by Nancy which is going to transform my cleaning regime. I've been making a few homemade cleaning mixes since the beginning of lockdown based on suggestions I've come across whilst browsing the internet. Some have proved successful and some not. Nancy's recipes are so much more helpful and trustworthy and cover a myriad of cleaning problems. She gives so much detail for each cleaning task and yet there are just a limited number of ingredients needed to concoct them. It also means that glass and plastic jars and containers can be given a new role and not just thrown to landfill! The simple ingredients can be bought in bulk which makes them super cost effective too.There's also great advice about how to store and label everything safely. I would urge everyone who cares about our planet to give them a try.

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Clean & Green by Nancy Birtwhistle is like a direct conversation with the author itself. The writing style is light hearted and the author provides her reader with the some awesome eco-friendly and handy tips on cleaning and household chores.

The author discusses and shares some recipes on how we can swap or replace those harmful and chemical based detergents and floor cleaners. She also shares how we can reduce the usage of plastic to save Mother Nature. It’s time that we take a step and be kinder to our planet for future generations.

I see my mom working in her garden with eco-friendly fertilizers that she prepares at home. I can gift this book to her.

Thank you NetGalley for sharing the e-arc for a honest review.

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Being kinder to our planet should be top of everyone’s list. If you’re just starting out on trying to be greener, or if youre the green queen, this is a perfect read with fantastic help, tips and cleaning cheats.

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Did the author read my mind?! I have been trying to be more eco-friendly for years, and outside the house it is obvious the kind of positive choices we can make - taking public transport, not buying takeaway food in containers and not buying so many new items such as clothing. However in the home it can be more difficult, and our old habits die hard. So to save me from frantic googling, here is a handy guide that tells us how we can do better in the kitchen, bathroom, garden and beyond, for ourselves, our children and our planet.

And it isn't even hard to change - just changing how you approach your washing, for example, could save litres of polluted water, and it often isn't even more expensive to be eco-friendly.
I love this book and commend the author for the initiative. I hope more people will take notice, as well as the producers of cleaning products, convenience foods and skincare products, and we can start to change our harmful habits.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Practical and useful guidance and tips. Just what I’ve been looking for as I start to detox my home. Will recommend to others of a similar mindset. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review NetGalley.

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Can a 'green cleaning' book be revolutionary? I didn't think so - and I was wrong! Like many of us, I try to balance not wanting to destroy the environment with the need for time-saving and convenience; also, like many of us, my household has its share of allergies and sensitivities which send me on a constant hunt for skin-safe products.

In Birtwhistle's 'Clean & Green', we learn no-nonsense techniques for tackling all the home cleaning chores, from laundry and dishes to deep-cleaning appliances, and everything in between. Unlike so many of these books (and I've read more than a handful in my day), Birtwhistle's formulas work for the super-hard water that I have to contend with. My struggle with 'natural' cleaning products always came down to the fact that they only really worked in soft-water areas. Anyone who's tried to use a shampoo bar in hard water more than twice will get what I'm saying - soapscum / limescale central.

Not so here - Birtwhistle is very much aware just how much hard water impacts cleaning products, detergents, and their natural alternatives. Her instructions help you master greener cleaning that's both budget-friendly and hard-water friendly.

Highly recommended for anyone looking to reduce their environmental impact, decrease their dependence and expenditures on commercial cleaning products, learn about how / why certain products work, and anyone needing to 'DIY' their cleaning products due to allergies, sensitivities, eczema, psoriasis, or other medical reasons.

Advance reader copy kindly provided by Pan Macmillan.

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Whether you’re trying to be a bit greener this year or just fancy having fewer chemicals around your home, this book could prove invaluable. It’s packed with recipes for DIY cleaning products along with tips on everything from laundry to super easy oven cleaning. (Who knew chopped up ivy leaves could be used to clean clothes?)

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A book giving handy tips for cleaning your house using natural substances.
I think this book will come in really handy for household chores.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my e-copy in exchange for an honest

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We all want to be kinder to the planet and this book will help you do just that. We don’t need aggressive chemical to keep our homes clean and green. Here”s how.......buy this book!

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