Many people swear by these reusable plastic balls that you place in the drum of your machine instead of washing detergent. In my experience, they clean clothes but they don't do much for your washing machine.

You need only to spend a few minutes browsing domestic appliance advice websites, such as www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk, to get an idea of how unpopular they are in white goods circles. The problem is twofold. First, they don't contain any bleach or cleaning agents; these might appal the dark green-minded, but they will break down residues left in the machine.

The result is that you may find gunk building up around the rubber seal, which will smell, especially if you don't leave your machine door open to air the drum. To get rid of this, several green cleaning forums recommend white vinegar, although I tackled my own murky seal with hot water and Ecover multipurpose spray.

Secondly, most eco-ball brands recommend that you use them on a low temperature. We all know this cuts bills but your machine will suffer if you don't conduct a “maintenance cycle” every few months. According to Miele, the cycle must be above 75C and you should use conventional washing powder. It might sound about as green as a stint under a patio heater, but it is the best way to keep your machine healthy. Better to run an electricity-greedy cycle every few months than to send your machine to an early grave in landfill and buy another one.

GREENIE POINTS

Do it

Drowning in paper work? You might find it easier to keep on top of bills and bank statements by managing them online. By switching over you can save paper, time and money. Sign up for paper-free billing with BT and you will receive a discount on your monthly line rental of £1.25 a month. Many other banks and utility companies offer a paperless billing option, which includes a discount as an incentive.

Click it

It's pretty clear by now that beating the credit crunch can also be green. Christian Aid is making this point with its Advent e-mail, a modern-day twist on the traditional calendar. Sign up at www.christianaid.org.uk/ christmas/advent/ and each day in December you will be sent a seasonal tip to help you to save cash, cut carbon emissions and make merry. Tips range from car-sharing websites to advice on how to make decorations from holly and pine cones.

Skip it

Planning a Christmas break? Why not choose one in a country celebrated for its environmental commitment. To find out, visit www.epi.yale.edu to compare environmental performance index (EPI). Devised by two leading American universities, Yale and Columbia, EPI is an assessment of how countries are responding to environmental challenges, much like a green GNP. Indonesia, for instance, comes a lowly 102 out of 149 countries researched, scoring badly on pollution and managing its forests, which are being felled even faster than those in the Brazilian Amazon.

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