10 eco-friendly buys for the home

10 eco-friendly buys for the home

It\'s never been easier to go green - because there\'s a whole host of ingenious, affordable products to help you turn being eco-friendly into second nature. Here\'s our pick of the best...

Feature by Jane Murphy 

How to be green

Easy-to-make everyday changes to help you live a greener life - see our eco-friendly ideas special here

Home and dry

Dryer balls

Green credentials: Place one of these nifty little balls in your tumble dryer, and drying time is reduced by up to 25%. The reason? The square tips compress and soften your laundry load. A natural alternative to fabric softeners, they\'re ideal for delicate or sensitive skin. What\'s more, they cut down on lint and fluff - and reduce creases and wrinkles, so you spend less time and energy ironing, too! What\'s not to love?

Dryer balls, £8.29 for two at www.espares.co.uk.

Boiling point

Eco Kettle

Green credentials: Rather than having to guess how much water to put in, the Eco Kettle allows you to fill it up - then simply press a button to select how much you need to boil. It works by using two compartments: a water reservoir and a boiling chamber. This clever kitchen must-have requires an average 31% less energy than ordinary kettles - so helps to conserve electricity, as well as water.

Eco Kettle, £38.49 at www.earthwhile.co.uk.

Pure colour

Nature paint

Green credentials: Available in almost 100 gorgeous colours, this brand new decorating paint is free from fumes, solvents, toxins and tins. It\'s produced from natural extracts and minerals with non-toxic pigments - and even the paper-based packaging is 99.9% recyclable. Genius!

Nature paint, From £10.66 at www.naturepaint.com.

Reduce waste

Freshpod

Green credentials: It\'s estimated that the average UK household wastes around £420 worth of food each year - and that figure rises to £610 for households with kids. To stop the rot, this innovative little gadget extends the life of fruit and veg in your fridge by up to four times as long. How? By absorbing the natural gases that are given off as food ripens.

Freshpod, £12.99 for a 12-month supply at www.freshpod.co.uk.

Clean and green

Fresh and Green Bathroom Limescale Remover

Green credentials: This is just one of the brilliant products in the chemical-free Fresh and Green range, which uses only renewable natural plant extracts. The collection has also been approved by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and a donation is made to the charity for every pack purchased. Oh, and best of all: the product really does leave your bathroom limescale-free.

Fresh and Green Bathroom Limescale Remover, £1.99 at www.waitrose.com.

Blind heat

Luxaflex Duette Shades

Green credentials: These energy-efficient window blinds have an ingenious double-pleat honeycomb structure, which enables them to trap heat between the fabric to create an insulating layer of air. The result? By fitting them to your windows, the insulating properties more than double, which can save you around 20% on your heating bills during the colder months.

Luxaflex Duette Shades, From £53 at www.luxaflex.co.uk.

Power saver

Bye Bye Standby

Green credentials: The average UK household wastes £38 each year by leaving electrical appliances such as TVs, computers and phone chargers on standby. But by plugging them into this clever device, you\'ll be able to remotely cut power to all of them at once, simply by pressing just one button. The three smart sockets can each control up to four appliances.

Bye Bye Standby, £24.99 at www.ecokitchensonline.com.

In the wash

Beko 8kg Washing Machine

Green credentials: This brand new model allows you to wash extra-large loads - but still fits into a standard kitchen space. Features include: a special duvet programme; a 39-minute rapid wash programme; an automatic half-load feature so you can save water when the machine\'s not filled to capacity; and an A+ energy rating, to help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Beko 8kg Washing Machine,  Around £269 from www.beko.co.uk.

Bold designs

Katie Ramsden Recycled Designer Wallpaper

Green credentials: Exciting young designer Katie Ramsden\'s beautiful range of contemporary wallpapers is printed on 100% recycled lining paper - with either a bold graphic floral or oh-so-now Cascade Rose design. Katie\'s Junkyard Chic range also includes unique reclaimed designer furniture and lampshades. Green and gorgeous!

Katie Ramsden Recycled Designer Wallpaper, £95 from www.earthwhile.co.uk.

Brand new bin

Ben the Bin

Green credentials: Despite our best efforts to re-use and recycle, most of us still have a kitchen drawer full of old carrier bags. This clever little invention - made entirely from 100% recycled plastic - allows you to turn your old shoppers into an instant bin. It\'s also great for storing your recycling: line up a few of them to store glass, plastic, tins and paper.

Ben the Bin,  £6.50 at www.ecokitchensonline.com.

For more ways to enjoy an eco-friendly lifestyle, read our tips on easy ways to make your home eco-friendly, and see how one couple created their own innovative eco-house.