Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
You could be polluting your home without even knowing it. Some of the chemicals we use to clean affect the air inside our homes in negative ways. If you knew that when you were cleaning you were actually putting your family’s health at risk, wouldn’t you want to make a change? Many people believe that in order to be clean, the house has to smell like a bleach (or other cleaning product) factory. This is not the case at all. You can choose environmentally friendly cleaning products to keep your home clean and your family safe without the “knock you down at the door” smell of some of the commercial cleaning products on the market.
What are eco-friendly products? You’ve seen ads for cleaners that are organic or “green.” These products comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for product ingredients that are safe for the environment. If these products won’t poison the earth, they are a lot safer for you don’t you think?
Think about it. About 50 to 100 years ago people cleaned in other ways. They didn’t have all the cleaning product choices found on grocery store aisles today. If they can do it so can you. Part of the return to environmentally friendly products is that they don’t use chemicals that can breakdown and affect the soil and water and ultimately animals and humans.
Check the labels when you go to the store. Look for products that are specifically designated as “green” cleaning products. Most major manufacturers have come out with their own line of cleaning agents geared towards being gentler to our bodies and the earth.
In addition to buying eco-friendly products, you can also create your own homemade cleaning products. That is exactly what people used to do before the products we have today were invented. The nice part is that many of the ingredients are already in your home.
You’ll need to invest in some spray bottles. When making homemade products, the spray bottles can be reused to make fresh solutions as often as you need to. What a great way to not only use friendlier products, but also recycle.
Let’s begin with water. It will be the base for most of the products you use. Water doesn’t permanently stain and is safe for all surfaces. Different substances can be diluted with water to reduce their strength.
Consider white vinegar. Combine it with water to clean your floor. The same combination can be used to clean your windows to a streak-free shine. Instead of using paper towels (which create more waste), use a piece of newspaper to wipe the window. You can recycle it when it dries.
Vinegar can be used in conjunction with baking soda to clear clogged drains. Pour a bit of baking soda down the drain and follow it with vinegar to dissolve the crud stuck down there. After about fifteen minutes, flush with hot water.
Use baking soda in your garbage disposal to neutralize odors. For a fresh scent, grind up a lemon peel in the disposal. Shaking baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming will also pull odors from it.
An added tip: Keep any cleaning products, no matter how eco-friendly, out of reach of children in a locked cabinet. You don’t want any accidents. Cleaning is a chore but it doesn’t have to ruin the environment or your family’s health. Buy environmentally safe products or create your own.
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