People spend a majority of their life inside their homes. Our homes are a safe and sacred space for us to come back to at the end of the day, after being out in the world. With global warming making a massive impact on our environment it has become more important than ever before to adopt a healthier, cleaner and a more sustainable life.
Considering the current events taking place all over the globe, it has become essential to keep ourselves and our surroundings clean. Unfortunately, these days all the cleaning products are full of chemicals and toxins which cause various harmful health issues. Switching these with organic cleaners in our homes is one way to embrace a more eco-friendly life that will help us in the long run. Organic cleaning products have so many benefits such as they don’t leave behind a foul odor in our homes, they are kid and pet friendly which is a bonus, they are made of natural ingredients that are not harmful and they are cruelty free and vegan.
Here are a few eco-friendly cleaning practices that we can adopt in order to lead a healthier life and live in a healthier home.
1. Shop for Organic Cleaning Products
Cleaning products that are available in the market are pumped full of chemicals because they are cheap and these products are mass produced. These chemicals can cause some serious long term health problems and should be avoided at all costs. One surefire way to go green is checking the labels and active ingredients of the cleaning supplies you buy and understanding if they are actually clean or full of chemicals. Things like floor cleaners or sprays and wipes, which are used most often, should have some sort of label that certifies their eco-friendly-ness.
You can opt for an organic floor cleaner, organic glass cleaning spray and other cleaning products that are toxin free and will not harm your health or the environment and look for 100% herbal actives present in your cleaning supplies.
2. Get Rid Of Disposables
Things like sponges, kitchen paper towels, plastic containers etc are all things that have microplastics in them and are usually thrown away after being used once. Microplastics are harmful and non biodegradable which make them highly toxic to use in and around the house. They tend to leave a train of microplastics when used as cleaning supplies. They not only leave residue in the house but also damage the environment when disposed of. They do not have a long shelf life either.
Switching these out with biodegradable cleaning products will help you clean your house better, keep yourself safe from the chemicals and also protect the environment as they last longer and are toxin free.
3. Clean with natural ingredients
Cleaning with chemical based products can be harsh for your furniture, as they tend to cut through surfaces in order to clean effectively, as well as your hands and skin. To avoid this, you can check out herbal cleaning products or make your own cleaning solutions by adding things like vinegar and lemon in them. These natural ingredients will prevent any harm to your skin and also leave your kitchen and utensils sparkling clean. The best part about natural and organic cleaning products is that they leave behind a fresh scent rather than a strong pungent odor.
4. Reuse and recycle
Everyday we end up throwing out something or the other that we no longer have use for. Things like old toothbrushes, t-shirts, bed covers and pillowcases, old plastic bottles, cracked glass jars etc are all things you can reuse and recycle in order to avoid adding to the pile of non-biodegradable trash. Toothbrushes and tshirts can be used for cleaning and wiping surfaces and old plastic bottles and jars can be used to store cleaning supplies or be upcycled as planters.
5. Invest In baking soda
Baking soda is a multi use, multi purpose product that is clean and can be used in a variety of ways around the house apart from just cooking.
Baking soda is a great ingredient that can be used to clean surfaces and make them look brand new or can be stored in the fridge or around the house in small pouches to get rid of any odors. It will soak up all the funky smells and leave your house smelling fresh. It can also be mixed with vinegar for harsher stains and surfaces as it does not damage or cut through anything, instead it leaves behind a shine after being wiped away.
Adopting a more eco-friendly life is extremely important as sustainable living will ensure that the resources we have at hand are being used effectively and efficiently. Making small changes in our day to day lifestyle will go a long way in ensuring we live a more healthy and peaceful life.
