The great people at Becothings.co.uk, the manufacturer of biodegradable potties and dog bowls are giving away three Becopotties to VoucherMum.com readers!

The Becopotty just launched last month and offers an eco-friendly alternative to the standard plastic baby’s potty. The high back offers extra support, while the large splash-guard helps keep potty training hygienic. It is tough and durable and will last just as long in the home as a plastic potty.

Made from rice husks – a waste product of rice farming, the Becopotty is not only 100% sustainable but also biodegradable so unlike the 17 million other potties that are sent to landfill around the world each year, once it is disposed of it will break down naturally.

The potties retail for £7.99 at JoJo Maman Bebe stores, but I’ve got three to give away to you!

Please write in the comments if you want one or email me at vouchermum@gmail.com. First three requests will win!

Note: I’ll be closing the contest on Monday morning. If you comment, I am the only person who will see your email and I won’t use it for any other purpose.

Update: This contest is now closed. If you comment I’ll keep you tops on my list for next time!

Tesco Greener Living and Tesco Photo are giving away 10 personalised jute shopping bags. Now to be green you’ll just have to remember to take it to the shop with you! (eek I always forget to bring bags!)

The ecofriendly bags up for grabs are made from jute – a natural fibre that is strong and fully sustainable – and will be printed with your favourite photo.

To enter, send your top tips for celebrating a greener Christmas this year to competitions@tescogreenerliving.com before 4 December.

Find complete details here.

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.

There are now heaps of online communities and resources that match up people who need stuff with people who have stuff they no longer need, for free. Not only is free stuff great for the pocketbook, it prevents unwanted items from ending up in landfills. Freecycle is possibly the most well known, but in the UK there are several sites to try. Here are a few I’ve found:

• Freecycle
• 2recycle
• eFreeko
• SnaffleUp
• Don’t Dump That

I’m on the lookout for a second-hand sewing machine, so I’m giving these sites a try. Will report back on my success/failure!

Update: Looking for more free sources? The Guardian (Fed up with Freecycle? Try these top 10 alternatives) and BitterWallet (Like free stuff? There’s an alternative to shoplifting) have both posted on the subject with a number of other sites to try!

According to This is Not Work you can pick up 10 Philips Energy Saver Lightbulbs for £1 at Robert Dyas:

Old lightbulbs are being phased out. Get over it! As an advertising slogan might put it. And where once they cost a fiver a pop, you can now pick them up for pence; 10 pence in fact at Robert Dyas. In store only.

Dyas store finder

Thanks for the tip!