When it comes to living green, home cleaning products offer a number of different ways to avoid harming the environment and live a more eco-conscious lifestyle. If you are looking for ways to green up your cleaning habits, then pay attention to these great tips.
Get Rid of Toxic Products
If you want to be more eco-friendly at home with your cleaning, start by getting rid of any toxic products in your home. This includes most cleaning products sold at stores, such as oven cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, bug and wasp spray, and anything in an aerosol can. Throw them away unless they’re hazardous waste; then you should locate a place willing to accept your household hazardous waste products.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Next you should stock up non-toxic cleaning products that come in biodegradable containers. Check out Good Housekeeping’s reviews for more information. There are a variety of natural items you can find in your local grocery store or your own cupboards to get the job done.
Start with the basics like distilled white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. These are excellent at cleaning up messes and removing stains, and vinegar also has antibacterial properties. Dilute it as much or as little as you need to. You can also find over-the-counter, non-toxic cleaning products, but be sure to read the label closely.
Re-Think Sponges and Paper Towels
Some of the conventional cleaning tools like mops and sponges are not seen as natural or eco-friendly. These are made with non-renewable resources, therefore having a negative impact on the environment. Instead of sponges you buy in the grocery store, create rags from old T-shirts; this saves you money, makes good use out of clothes you no longer wear, and gives you a great way to clean up messes in your home.
Dish towels are much better than paper towels, but you can also buy recycled paper towels made with unbleached paper.
Monitor Water Use
To keep on your environmentally-friendly cleaning path, consider water usage while you clean. This means turning the water off whenever it is not in use, such as while cleaning your countertops. Sure, it is more convenient to leave the water running until you’re finished disinfecting your kitchen or bathroom countertops, shower or toilet, but it is wasting water for no good purpose. Turning the faucet off and on after each time you rinse your rag will take a few extra seconds and save several buckets full of water.
When cleaning your own home it’s entirely up to you what products and materials you use, from simple vinegar to sweepers. Why not consider using eco-friendly cleaning practices to reduce your impact on the environment?
