Classy cleaner /September

Our domestic goddess Lorna Wing shows you how to recycle, re-use and reduce waste
Go green the easy way!

There are lots of simple steps we can take to make our homes “greener”. As well as getting that feel-good factor, you'll save money too

Clever recycling

o The Freecycle Network™ is a non-profit-making network aimed at keeping waste such as clothes, furniture and appliances out of landfills by recycling items that might otherwise be binned. Just post an e-mail on www.freecycling.org if you want to offer an unwanted item or need to acquire something. But no money must change hands.
o Invest in reuseable bags such as the Trolley Shopper (£9.95) from Natural Collection, 0870-3313333; www.naturalcollection.com. Made of cotton it clips onto a trolley to make packing at the checkout easier.
o Compost your kitchen waste into garden fertiliser with the EmPowered Composter (£55) and Bokashi Active Bran, rich in micro-organisms. For speeding up composting, the Can-o-Worms Wormery (£101) is faster since it comes with 1,800 of the little critters to munch away at your rubbish. Call 0800-216990; www.wigglywigglers.co.uk.
o Rethink rubbish with simplehuman's® Butterfly Recycler Pedal Bin (left, £129.99) with twin compartments to separate everyday waste, 01491-875974; www.simplehuman.co.uk. Line them with GM-free biodegradable Cornstarch Sacks (£12.50 for 50). Call 0870-3313333; www.naturalcollection.com.
o Turn paper, leaves and twigs into “logs” for burning in fires and stoves with the New Log Maker (£19.95), call 01452-770629; www.greenshop.co.uk.

Go for good gadgets
o Time for tea? Use the cleverly designed Eco Kettle (£39.99), which has a special feature to allow it to be filled up to its maximum, but lets you choose how many cups you'd like to boil. If we all boiled only what we needed it would save enough electricity to permanently run all the streetlights in the UK. Visit www.ecokettle.com or Currys.

o The John Lewis JLWM1202 Washing Machine (£299) automatically adjusts the water levels for half-loads plus it's A+-rated for energy efficiency and is economical on water and detergent. Call 0845-6049049; www.johnlewis.com.

o Save up to 25 per cent on your electricity bills with an Electrisave sensor (£79.95), which attaches to your electricity meter to measure how much you're using – and wasting. Usage is then displayed on a separate device that can be carried around to see exactly how much individual appliances cost to run. Call 0113-2534091; www.electrisave.co.uk.

5 Ways to Save Energy… and money
1 Choose A-rated washing machines (such as the AAA-rated Hotpoint Aqualtis, right, £479, call 0870-1506070), dishwashers and electric ovens as they're the most efficient (G is the least).
2 Turn your thermostat down by just 1 C and you will reduce your heating bills by a massive ten per cent.
3 Set your fridge temperature to 4 C and freezer to –18 C.
4 Use energy-saving lightbulbs where possible – they last eight times longer and use a fifth less energy than ordinary ones.
5 Unplug chargers when not in use. Leaving them and other electrical goods on standby still uses 25 per cent of their power.

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