Spring is a time of new beginnings and change. What better time than now to change your cleaning routine to be more eco-friendly? Viridis Cleaning actively tries to reduce our environmental impact and wants to share some green cleaning tips we use to help with this.
Swapping to a green cleaning routine does more than protect the environment. Green cleaning reduces the number of harsh chemicals introduced into your home. Many green cleaning methods are safer and cheaper than traditional cleaning products on the market. We hope these green cleaning tips help you make the swap for both your home and the environment.
- Buy Eco-Friendly Products
- Use Homemade Cleaning Solutions
- Look for Glass Containers
- Swap to Reusable Cleaning Wipes
- Recycle Non-Replaceable Products
These simple and effective tips can greatly reduce your environmental impact. We hope this information helps you make the swap to green cleaning!
1. Buy Eco-Friendly Products
The easiest and quickest way to quickly swap to green cleaning is to swap your favourite cleaning products out for more sustainable green cleaning products available. This is especially important in products without viable homemade alternatives, such as laundry detergent.
When looking for eco-friendly cleaning products, look for products that do not include artificial dyes/scents and use fewer harmful chemicals. Most products developed for reducing environmental impact will have markings on the label. Swapping to these products will not only lessen your impact on the environment, but you can also reduce the number of chemicals and potential allergens you and your family are exposed to.
2. Use Homemade Cleaning Solutions
Homemade cleaning solutions are also a viable replacement to include in your green cleaning routine. There are several household cleaning supplies that can be used in a variety of cleaning situations. Using homemade solutions can often be cheaper and just as effective as these items can be used for tasks besides cleaning. Some great examples of items you can use in homemade cleaning solutions are:
- Baking Soda- Baking soda is useful for more than just cooking. Baking soda is a great natural deodorizer and fat destroyer. it can be used to break down most fat-based stains such as grease, oil and common food stains or as an air freshener.
- White Vinegar- White vinegar is a naturally acidic solution that can be found in most households. It can be used to clean tough stains on metal or ceramic surfaces easily. White vinegar is most useful in coffee/tea stains, cleaning metal surfaces or removing rust.
- Hydrogen Peroxide- Hydrogen peroxide is on the opposite side of the scale from white vinegar. It is a basic solution similar to bleach. This shared quality makes it a great bleach alternative that can be used in many of the same scenarios.
- Essential Oils- Essential oils are great natural options for making your home smell great. Many essential oils are made using organic items like lemon or cinnamon. Natural fresh scents are a great way to immediately affect your home.
Take some to go through your cabinets before tackling your next cleaning tasks.
3. Look for Glass Containers
Swapping to glass containers immediately reduces your environmental impact by reducing your plastic waste. Cleaning products sold in glass containers can be more expensive. it is most effective when paired with making your homemade solutions. Glass spray bottles last longer and reduce
4. Swap to Reusable Cleaning Wipes
Swapping to reusable wiping methods will reduce your paper waste and save you money while cleaning your home. Paper towels and packaged cleaning wipes build up over time and can fill landfills and increase the amount of household waste produced by your home. There are a variety of reusable cleaning options available, some of you might not even think of:
Cloth Rags- Cleaning cloths are the most effective replacement for paper towels. They can be used for those quick spills, drying dishes and scrubbing tough stains. Simply wash your soiled cloth rags after use. The quality of the reusable cloth used is entirely dependent on you. You can use a cheap rag for stains or outdoor cleaning while having microfiber clothes on hand for more delicate cleaning tasks.
Natural Sponges- Natural sponges are a great purchase for reusable cleaning. Many plastic sponges exist on the market that is cheaper than natural sponges. However, these are not degradable and have a shorter life than natural sponges.
Old Toothbrushes- Don’t throw away those old worn out toothbrushes. Save them for cleaning those small or harder-to-reach places.
5. Recycle Non-Replaceable Products
If you cannot find an effective natural or green cleaning item to solve your cleaning issue, take the time to recycle the containers. This is the bare minimum everyone can do to reduce their environmental impact. Recycling can be done at many local locations. Look for places in your area that accept recycled materials.
We hope these green cleaning tips will help your family enjoy a clean, more environmentally friendly home. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Viridis Cleaning is happy to provide our customers with clean and fresh homes throughout the year. If you are curious about the freshness a deeper clean provides, or you need a team of cleaning professionals that can meet your standard of cleaning, then we would love to hear from you! See our lineup of cleaning services or contact us today so that you can discover these unexpected benefits for yourself.