When it comes to running the home, it appears granny knew best all along. MAXINE GORDON reports.

FLUSH out your Flash, bin the bleach and give Mr Sheen his marching orders. Researchers from the Consumers' Association magazine Which? have discovered that the natural products used by our grandmothers, such as lemons and vinegar, are just as good as modern cleaning goods.

Two women who won't be surprised by these findings are TV super-scrubbers Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie. In their Channel 4 show How Clean Is Your House?, they showed how distilled white wine vinegar was good for tackling limescale, shower doors and mirrors and how bicarbonate of soda was perfect for stainless steel, sinks and even smelly trainers.

American Linda Cobb has been dubbed the Queen Of Clean on account of her bests-selling books which solve your cleaning problems with natural ingredients. Her six key ingredients for a gleaming home are tea, onions, lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda and petroleum jelly.

The Consumers' Association findings prompted two readers, Petra Chapman Gibbs, of York, and Liz Wright, of Wilberfoss, to share with us two books passed down through their families, giving no-nonsense, natural solutions to modern living.

Tried Favourites Cookery Book, With Useful Hints And Other Information, by Mrs E W Kirk, (circa 1900)

A gem of a book, packed with recipes and useful tips...

(1) A little lemon juice added to water for boiling rice will give a white appearance and causes the grains to separate well.

(2) Throw salt in an oven to remove the smell of burnt food.

(3) Rubbing the temples with a slice of lemon can relieve a headache.

(4) Rub salt on silver, china or earthenware to remove tea stains.

(5) Place charcoal in the larder to keep it smelling sweet.

(6) Collect odd ends of candles and place in an old duster then clean the iron with it - you will find the iron glides more smoothly.

(7) After frying onions or fish, put some vinegar in the pan to remove odour.

(8) Soak new potatoes in salted water for a few minutes to make skins come off more easily.

(9) When plates and dishes are burnt, clean by rubbing with a damp cloth dipped in salt.

(10) Shoes that have become stiff and uncomfortable by being worn in the rain can be made soft and pliable by Vaseline well rubbed in with a cloth and rubbed off with a dry one.

Mrs Beeton's Cookery & Household Management (1960)

Among its many tips are these for stain removal...

(1) Blood... soak in cold water immediately. If set and stiff, add salt to the water. Wash with soap and water.

(2) Coffee, tea... wash at once and if necessary bleach by pouring boiling water through the stain after rubbing on borax.

(3) Egg... soak in cold water then wash well.

(4) Grass... rub stain with soap then dip in hot hydrogen peroxide. If not effective, sponge with methylated spirits and wash well.

(5) Ink... rinse at once in cold water or in a little milk then wash well.

(6) Grease... scrape off excess. Rub well with a little butter, wash with soapy water and ammonia; if stain persists, remove with cleaning fluid.

(7) Lipstick... wash well, boiling if possible, if not use cleaning fluid. If stain is persistent, apply a little glycerine, rub well in and leave to soak for an hour, then wash.

(8) Wine... Stretch stained part over a bowl and hold in place with elastic band. Sprinkle salt over stain then pour boiling water over it. Wash well.

(9) Yellowing linen... place in a mild bleach for half an hour then launder well, boiling and blueing.

(10) Perspiration... soak in a mild solution of ammonia or borax.

What's your best cleaning tip? Tell us at features@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 08:45 Tuesday, March 22, 2005