So it is always a good idea to look at ways to reduce our contact with chemicals, for our own health and also for the environment.

There are many household cleaners that you can make yourself, from basic kitchen ingredients- lemon juice, olive oil, bicarbonate of soda, even banana skins! Programs such as "How Clean is Your House" have highlighted how good some of these old fashioned cleaning products can be, and have various recipes for cleaning just about anything without using harsh cleaning products.

There are also ranges of safe natural cleaning products on the market too- such as the Earth Friendly range. Based on natural essential oils, the range is gentle yet effective and has unscented products too for extreme sensitivities.

Another product is the Allergymatters Anti Allergy detergent, very good for getting rid of allergens in low temperature items.

Another consideration when cleaning is dust mite control. If you are one of the many people who suffer from dust mite allergy, cleaning your home can trigger a violent allergic reaction too. So here are some top tips to reduce the amount of dust mites in your home:

1.  Seal you mattress with a zipped up dust mite proof cover, this will stop the dust from your mattress from escaping every time you go to bed! There is more dust in your mattress than anywhere else in the home! Visit Allergymatters Bedding shop for the best range.

2.  Make sure you vacuum with a high specification vacuum cleaner that has a hepa dust filter. The Allervac from Miele has a dust sensor which goes green when the dust has been cleared from a particular area and also a handy attachment fro hovering tricky crevices down the sides of your mattress, where dust can accumulate. Always look at the method of dust removal too- if your vacuum is bagless, then you will need to get someone else to empty out the hoover for you if you have dust mite allergy!

3.  Consider removing carpets and replacing with hard floors, which are less of a dust trap. Or make sure that you hoover regularly to keep your floors dust free. Invest in a Roomba automatic vacuum cleaner, it will go around cleaning up your floors, getting under furniture and beds, and wont finish until it is satisfied that your room is clean! We love this one for in between clean ups!

4.  Damp dust your furniture- it is a very effective way of picking up dust, instead of swishing it all back into the air.

5.  Keep shelves clutter free- have glass cabinets for ornaments where possible. The fewer things to dust the better (and less work too!)

6.  Air purifiers can help greatly in reducing the air borne allergens in your home- the less you breathe in, the less you will sneeze. Some are even good for getting rid of chemical fumes too- look for models with hepa filters for the particles, and carbon filters for the odours.

7.  Steam cleaners are an indispensable part of a good cleaning regime. Not only do they clean with out chemicals, but the high steam temperature means they also kill dust mites too. Look for a model that has suction, this means that as you steam an area, the machine will be able to extract the dirt and moisture at the same time too. The new Allergymatters range of steam cleaners offers you the best products ever.

8. When you run out of your strong cleaning chemicals, instead of replacing, look at alternatives that can be used. There are many safe products available that use natural products, or why not try a mixing a few of your own?

9. Freeze children's soft toys once a month, this will kill all the dust mites and make them safe for allergic kids to cuddle!

10.  UV light is very good for sterilizing the air, babies' equipments, mattresses and furniture. It can kill dust mites, germs, bacteria and viruses, safely, with no chemicals at all. It's like putting your house in the mid- day sun!