8 Ways to Make Your Cleaning Routine More Eco-Friendly: Products That Work
After a good home cleaning, guilt is the last thing you should feel. But if you use traditional products in your house, you might carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.
By now, you know that most cleaning products are not very eco-friendly. Heck, most products, in general, are not eco-conscious, but it's no reason to not maintain your home's cleaning routine.
According to statistics from 2020, 55% of Canadians are looking for more sustainable products when shopping. Are you one of them?
Luckily, there are tons of alternative cleaning products and practices which are not only good for the environment but are just as effective as traditional cleaning items.
Let's look at the best ways to make your cleaning routine more eco-friendly.
1. Use Eco-Conscious Cleaning Products
Environmentally-conscious products are all the rage — which is great. No dirty corners should be ignored. Green cleaning products are growing in availability without the high prices you might expect.
For the sake of both you and the planet's health, look for non-toxic cleaning items when you buy. We've tailored a list of eco-friendly products we love to use that might amaze you.
The Shaklee brand is our absolute favourite all-purpose cleaning solution. The Shaklee line also touts a degreaser and a window cleaner. We’ve been using Shaklee for years now and can confidently say they are just as good, if not better than the more popular brands - AND they are eco-friendly. Win-Win!
We use this inexpensive green miracle-worker daily and at thousands of homes a year. The best part is, each bottle lasts 6 to 12 months. Talk about eco-friendly magic! We urge you to check them out!
2. Incorporate Baking Soda and Vinegar into Your Cleaning Routine
Yes, baking soda remains the holy grail when it comes to cleaning. This baking agent, which also doubles as an alternative to toothpaste for some, is your one-stop-shop for taking care of all the nooks and crannies in your home. Baking soda is especially helpful for stinky areas around your house.
Don't have baking soda? Vinegar is your next best bet. Both of these are ideal for removing mold and mildew.
3. Remove Paper Towels From Your Green Cleaning Routine
Paper towels might be your go-to for more than spills and splashes, but they're not the most friendly to the environment. There are A LOT of paper towels getting thrown out every single day.
The In n Out cleaning team hasn't used paper towels in 14 years! We swapped them out for our beloved microfiber rags. They work on almost any surface and are easy to clean — we explain to you how to do so in our list of Favourite Things!
If you want to see some eco-friendly cleaning practices IN ACTION, we’ve got tons of video demonstrations on both our TikTok and Instagram accounts where we’ve amassed a combined following of 190,000.
Who said cleaning can’t be hella entertaining?
4. Use a Natural Air Purifier to Freshen Your Home
Unlike your weekly cleaning, air freshening might be a daily activity. Unfortunately, many air fresheners contain chemicals such as benzene, phthalates, and formaldehyde. These are bad, BAD for your health.
We're talking about damage to your lungs, messing up your hormones, and the potential risk of cancer. Ditch them quickly and use houseplants or potpourri as your natural purifier instead. We promise you’ll get the same aromatic smells in your abode.
You can also boil cinnamon or lemon and let the scent carry throughout your home.
5. Life Gave You Lemons. Now Clean Your Home!
Lemons are a must-have in your cleaning arsenal. They take care of unwanted smells, greasy buildups, and are perfect for polishing your stainless steel kitchenware with the help of a bit of salt.
Lemons' antibacterial and antiseptic properties also help with those pesky cutting board stains that won't come out. When life gives you lemons, use them for an eco-friendly cleaning routine!
6. Open Your Windows for Cleaner Air
Even if you've taken the above steps, your home could still do with perhaps the easiest form of purification. Open those windows and let some fresh air waft in.
This will eliminate toxins and might even help with your allergies. An open window releases pollen, mould, and pet dander if that's something you're battling within your home.
7. Repurpose Items for Cleaning
Repurposing items saves you money and helps save the planet. You'd be amazed at what old socks and a used toothbrush could accomplish with a dash of creativity.
Those socks? Turn them into powerful dusters. Old jars? Use them as a desk organizer or for dry food. Drink coffee every morning? Make used coffee grounds into a cleaning scrub.
Repurpose your old toothbrush into the ultimate scrubbing tools for tiny spaces. We swear by it.
Repurposing gives you the same results as those brand new, store-bought items, and sometimes even do a better job!
8. Get A Green Cleaning Team to Help You
While an eco-friendly cleaning routine might be one of your goals, it could also be a challenge to carry out. If you don't have the time to save the planet with a cleaner home, employ a team.
There's an increasing number of green cleaning services today — we are such a green team. If we're not in your area though, try finding a sustainability-focused crew or one willing to use only the eco-conscious cleaning products you specify.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning is NOT Hard.
At least, it doesn't have to be. A change of products here, a repurposed toothbrush there, and you're on your way to a more eco-conscious lifestyle in a cleaner, healthier home.
And if you find yourself putting eco-friendly resolutions on your backburner because you’re unsure of something, feel free to reach out and ask questions. When it comes to green cleaning, the proof is in the sparkle!
Don’t yet have the gusto to go green, but want to avoid guilt of planetary proportions? Contact us for an estimate. Remember, you’re saving the planet here.