Tesco Greener Living has teamed up with method to offer free one-wash samples of its new laundry product: method laundry detergent. There are 1,000 samples available, so sign up now!

According to Tesco, method’s revolutionary new laundry product offers the same cleaning power as your normal detergent but without the environmental impact.

Until 13 July Tesco is also offering method products for 3 for 2 here.

Guest post by Jamie Breese, decluttering expert, for Gumtree.com

Springtime. The birds are singing, the daffodils blooming, and you’re itching to give the house a really thorough blitzing. Recent research by Gumtree.com, the online noticeboard, has found that this kind of seasonal spring clean can not only free up much needed space, but you can make a huge amount of cash from the clutter of the unused and unwanted everyday household things you clear out.

Did you know that the average UK household is hording a staggering £581 per person worth of workable everyday possessions, things like kitchen appliances, DVDs and sporting equipment?

You can save space and make money by selling unwanted everyday items. We know from our experience that here is always someone out there who wants something you might not want anymore. Most of us have no idea what the stuff in our attic is worth. Many people think that old kettles, sporting equipment and DVDs are worthless – but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

To help give a guide, we have put together the GRP, or Gumtree Retail price, of the most common unwanted goods you are likely to have in your cupboards:

Hoarded items	Percentage of people that claim to keep unwanted items	GTP Gumtree Price Index (average price on Gumtree.com)
DVDs and CDs	73%	£11
Kitchen appliances	23%	£37
Toys	18%	£13
Computer games	16%	£21
Music electronic equipment	11%	£54

To further maximise the cash from the goods cluttering up your home, here are some of my top tips:

• Don’t feel guilty about letting go of items you have a personal attachment to – it’s amazing how good you feel when you get extra cash for that ‘unwanted present’. If in doubt think of a price that feels right and add 10 per cent

• Sell items with the instructions manual if you still have them to get extra value – this is especially for technology items or gadgets and kitchen appliances

• Group lower-value items and sell as a job lot – items like a toaster, kettle and sandwich maker work well together and help appeal to those looking to update their kitchen

• Look for first editions or rare albums – books and music are some of the most hoarded items in the UK, if an album has a dustjacket or is a first edition then it could be worth a lot of money

• Present the product well – to get the most from your Gumtree gem give the item a good clean or polish and present it well in your photos, this will help catch the eye of potential buyers

• Consider how old the item is – with everyday household items, the newer the better. To help determine your Gumtree price ask yourself – is this a trusted brand? Has this games console been superseded? Do I have the washing machine’s service notes? How much was this new?

• Look on Gumtree.com – see how much other sellers have listed their items for, undercut them if you can to help secure a fast sale

Last night I went to a really fun event to celebrate the launch of Finish QuantuMatic, a time-saving device that stays in your dishwasher and dispenses detergent for 12 washes!

In addition to being one of the first to see the cool new product, we were treated to a live cooking demonstration by James Martin and some entertaining tips from Good Housekeeping. Plus we were given a QuantuMatic to try at home (stay tuned) and an autographed cookbook from James!

The lovely people at Finish have given me an extra to give away, so if you’d like to be one of the first to try it, be the first to comment on this post!

Here is the official info about the product:

Finish QuantuMatic is a revolutionary new detergent dispenser system that automatically releases detergent for 12 washes. Simply clip the dispenser on to the rack of your dishwasher and after 12 washes, replace the refill.

Finish QuantuMatic. The Diamond Standard.

The revolutionary advantages:

• Amazing shine – on all dishes
• Powerful cleaning – even on baked-on stains
• 12 washes automatically – without refilling
• Intelligent counter – shows the number of washes left

QuantuMatic is available in Regular and Lemon as a starter set: dispenser and refill with 12 washes, and a refill twin pack (24 washes).

A massive jug of vinegar may be the only household product you need. Not only is vinegar chemical-free and environmentally-friendly, its highly acidic so it kills germs and bacteria. Best of all, it’s inexpensive. So, here goes: ten uses you might not have heard of yet!

1. Bleach alternative—Get your dingy whites white again. Bring a pot of water mixed with 200ml white distilled vinegar to a boil. Drop in your whites and soak them overnight.
2. Toilet cleaner—Remove unsightly hard water stains. Pour in 1 pint of vinegar and scrub.
3. Rust remover—Dissolve rust from metals by soaking the rusty pieces in full strength vinegar for up to an hour.
4. Refrigerator freshener—Remove lingering smells within two days. Place 200ml of apple cider vinegar in a glass in your refrigerator.
5. Kill garden weeds—Starve weeds by spraying full strength white distilled vinegar on the tops of weeds. Repeat on any new growth.
6. Remove limescale—Get rid of limescale in your kettle by adding 100ml of white distilled vinegar to the water and soaking overnight. For tough deposits, boil undiluted vinegar in the kettle, cool and rinse.
7. Keep flowers longer—Add two tablespoons sugar and two tablespoons white vinegar in a 1-litre vase of water. Trim stems and change water every five days.
8. Set colours—To keep your colourful clothing from bleeding, soak for a few minutes in white distilled vinegar before washing.
9. Renew sponges and dishrags—Place in just enough water to cover them and add 50ml white distilled vinegar. Soak overnight.
10. Remove soap scum—Wipe with white distilled vinegar and scour with baking soda.

These and more tips can be found at VinegarTips.com, VinegarBook.net and VersatileVinegar.org.