The Tribune

By Jennifer Bethel

Director, Seaglass Interiors Ltd

One of the most crucial parts of designing your home is determining how to keep everything looking as new as when it first arrived in the house.

Maintaining the quality, look and feel of your furniture, rugs and accessories is not all that difficult to do anymore. The main focus should be 'staying green' within the home and that includes cleaning products. This is important to keep design furnishings looking and feeling the way they arrived in the home.

There are a variety of 'green' organic cleaning products available in local stores. These products do no damage while cleaning and are also safe for pets and children to be around.

It is important to change the belief that 'if you can't smell it, it isn't working'. When you have the burning bleach smell or the strong ammonia aroma lingering throughout your home, it is actually hazardous chemicals being left on the surfaces you clean.

Plant based products are gentle, safe but get the job done. Most chemical based cleaning products are harsh, and can leave residue, stains and marks on surfaces after removing the original stain or scratch.

I have found that using organic cleaning products on all types of surfaces maintains a happy, healthy and good looking lifestyle.