5 Easy Green Cleaning Tips for Every Home
We were taught that all efficient cleaners have that pungent smell of chemicals that is not pleasant or refreshing. What’s more, it reminds many of us of hospitals or the dentist’s office. The reason for this is the presence of toxic chemicals, like chlorine and ammonia that are good at destroying dirt, bacteria, mold, and other microbes. However, that also means they are bad for life on Earth and damaging to the environment.
Those who want to change that can try these easy green cleaning tips fit for every home. Chances are you have most of the ingredients at home in your kitchen.
1. Swear with baking soda
The most important thing to know about baking soda is that it’s not expensive and still has powerful cleaning properties. You can use it as a paste by mixing it with little water, applying it to your oven, and leaving it overnight to soak. If mixed with vinegar, it can clean limescale and other persistent stains in the bathroom or kitchen.
As a powder, you can sprinkle it on your carpets, leave it a bit, and then vacuum it to remove the smells. Put it in the washing machine with vinegar and set the program with the highest temperature to remove detergent residues and limescale from the drum and heaters. You can find products with baking soda in stores, but making your cleaning mixture is cheaper and more fun.
2. Don’t throw away your old toothbrush
Instead of getting rid of your old toothbrush, keep it! It’s a mighty tool when it comes to cleaning those narrow and small surfaces in your house. For example, you can scrub bathroom fittings, grout lines between tiles, and other spots that require more finesse. Besides this, you can use a toothbrush to clean your shoes, especially the soles, as well as to rub off stains on your clothes and linens.
Before you start using your old toothbrush, wash it in the dishwasher to kill the bacteria and toothpaste leftovers. Also, make sure that you have a separate toothbrush for each task by labeling them with a marker to avoid a mix-up.
3. Mix a homemade all-purpose cleaner
If you are facing an end-of-lease type of sweeping, it’s best to hire a team of professionals, like Simply Spotless cleaning service since it may be too much work for one person in a short time. Otherwise, you can deal with most of the housecleaning by using a homemade all-purpose cleaner. To make one, you will need a spray bottle, water, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and the essential oil of your choice.
Start with pouring 150ml of water into the spray bottle, then add 60ml of white vinegar and 40ml of rubbing alcohol. Add a few drops of essential oil for a more pleasant smell. You can use this all-purpose cleaner on most of the surfaces in your house, from cupboards to mirrors, even the bathroom, and tiles.
4. Buy refillable cleaning products
Refillable eco-friendly products are more and more present on the market. Some brands offer their products in biodegradable bags you can pour into the empty product bottle. Other brands may send you an aluminum bottle with their product where you will pour the accompanying concentrate and add water, making it ready to use.
Look for these eco-friendly products next time you are in the store and opt for the ones that are more sensible for you. Sometimes you don’t have to buy the original bottle and can whatever you have at home to minimize waste even more.
5. Forget about bleach
Bleach is toxic to you, the environment, pets, and surfaces in your home. While it is an efficient cleaner, you will find equally great options among green products. This is especially important since vapors from bleach can turn into dangerous fumes that may have you end up in the ER. Additionally, if bleach gets to waterways, it can create new poisons that are organic pollutants.
For those who think they can’t clean anything properly without bleach, we suggest they try a mixture of citric acid and baking soda. This paste is great for cleaning bacteria and limescale festering surfaces, like the toilet. Alternatively, you can buy eco-friendly cleaning products available on the market which promise the same results as bleach.
The bottom line
These easy green cleaning tips for every home will change the way you look at eco-friendly options. Once the king of cleaning, bleach is losing its popularity and being replaced by natural and healthy mixtures you can make at home. If you do opt for store-bought products, always read the label to make sure that you are buying a cruelty-free, non-toxic and biodegradable product, gentle to the planet.
