Using anything other than natural cleaning products around the home increases the risk of filling a residence with harmful chemicals.

This is the view of US aromatherapy and massage supplies company Aura Cacia, which recommended in an advice column for the KMGH Denver news provider that natural cleaning is the only way to ensure that dust, dirt and grime are not simply being replaced with toxins and other potentially dangerous ingredients.

The firm pointed out that toxic and caustic chemicals are found "in most conventional cleaning products".

Consequently, it said that consumers have two options if they wish to minimise the risk of such toxins ending up in their home and possibly affecting their health - buy chemical-free natural cleaning products, or make their own.

Creating homemade natural cleaning supplies can be " cost-effective, not difficult and - like the task of spring cleaning itself - it's satisfying and rewarding", Aura Cacia added.

Householders looking to give their cooker a spot of TLC as part of their spring clean may wish to take the advice of Kim Carlson, green blogger for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

She said Ecover Cream Cleaner is the perfect product to use on grease-covered oven racks.