Sign Into Environment 911Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Tips for Any Household
Everyone is trying to do two things right now: save money and protect the environment. As people become more conscious of their impact on the planet, every aspect of day-to-day life is being scrutinized to determine if there is a better way. One of the easiest ways to contribute to the well-being of the environment, and your family, is to starting to buy green cleaning products and methods. In this chemical-happy society, it can be hard to know where to start, so here are some environmentally friendly cleaning tips for making your household a little greener.
First things first: get rid of all those chemical-heavy cleaning products lurking under your kitchen sink. How many of those bottles read “Danger” or “Caution” complete with a frightening warning and the image of an injured or dying stick-figure? Throw them out! You can always buy green cleaning products, which are safer alternatives, or make supplies from scratch. Call your local recycling center for tips and drop-off spots for hazardous materials and chemical-heavy cleaning products.
Get some glass jars and spray bottles. One of the great things about homemade environmentally friendly cleaning products is that you won’t have to buy new plastic bottles each time you run out; you’ll simply re-use the bottles you start with. Also stock up on natural, reusable mops, rags, and sponges. You can even get unbleached paper towels made from recycled materials. See which environmentally friendly cleaning tips you can apply to your cleaning routine before you buy green cleaning products, as it will save money in the long run.
The primary ingredients for most homemade environmentally friendly cleaning products are simple, everyday household materials. The most crucial materials are baking soda, white distilled vinegar, lemon juice, club soda, a good natural soap and/or detergent, and your favourite natural oil (such as tea tree, olive, jojoba, etc). With these ingredients, you can make most of the things necessary for cleaning house with ease in your kitchen.
Baking soda is the first and foremost in our list of environmentally friendly cleaning tips: with it, you can freshen your carpet; just sprinkle on and let it sit for half an hour before vacuuming. It’s also great for cleaning off stovetop spills that have set; a little water and baking soda mix together to create a perfect paste for breaking through the gunk with ease (this works great for sinks and bathtubs, too). Just let the baking soda sit, then come back to it and scrub away; it’s non-abrasive, but it gets the job done.
Sprinkle baking soda and vinegar into your toilet bowl and let sit for about thirty minutes before scrubbing down. If water and baking soda don’t cut it for other areas of the house, simply use a mixture of baking soda and liquid soap.
Polish wooden furniture by mixing about a teaspoon of your favourite natural oil and half a cup of vinegar or lemon juice. Use a soft rag to apply it to your furniture to give it a healthy, natural sheen that will keep your favourite pieces strong and beautiful.
Clean windows by combining one teaspoon of natural detergent, four tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice, and two cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and use this solution just the same as you would any store-bought product.
Club soda is another staple in the arsenal of homemade environmentally friendly cleaning products. Use it on small stains and spots that give you trouble, or mix it with baking soda to clean up any grime.
If homemade environmentally friendly cleaning products don’t suit you, just buy green cleaning products for an equally healthy impact on the environment. It might be an adjustment at first, but it is well worth applying these environmentally friendly cleaning tips to your routine, because in the long run, it will benefit both your family and the environment in wonderful ways.
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