Home Tip Tuesday: Green Cleaning in the Home

Vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda double as cleaners.

Not only is cleaning your home the green way better for your health, it is less expensive. Institute these tips one by one to transition into a green cleaning routine. 

1. Toss harmful products. 
If you're serious about cleaning green, discard the old cleaning products that contain chemicals. Why keep or donate something you know is a health hazard? 



2. Buy the right products. 
There are so many options these days for green cleaners that you are spoiled with choice. However, not every product that claims to be environmentally friendly is in fact so. Additionally, some products proudly proclaim they are phosphate free or have no CFCs and are therefore environmentally friendly. In reality, phosphates have been banned from cleaning products for over 20 years - so this does not indicate a true green cleaner. 

Review the label for ingredients, but keep in mind that cleaner labels are not like food labels. Ingredients are not listed in descending order based on content. Are there words you do not understand? Look them up at home. Ensure the product has no chemicals; otherwise it isn't truly green. 

The best choice of green cleaning products are those made from 100 percent plant-based ingredients. 

Use rags instead of disposable wipes.

3. Stock up on pantry staples that double as cleaners. 
Some of the best green cleaning agents are items you already own. Baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and lemon juice can all help you clean. These items are cheap and widely available. 

Baking soda and vinegar can tackle everything from rust stains to a clogged toilet. Lemon can remove stains from wood cutting boards, clean the microwave, and add a clean citrus scent to DIY cleaners. 

4. Don't forget about rags. 
If you replace chemical cleaners with green ones, yet still use disposable wipes or paper towels to clean, you're still impacting the environment. 

Purchase cleaning rags or tear up old clothing into strips you can use to clean the house. Save newspaper, then use a crumpled sheet to wipe glass and mirrors. 

Wash rags after use and reuse to cut down on consumer waste associated with cleaning. 

5. Recycle water for cleaning your home.
Whenever you turn on the sink or shower and wait for the water to heat up, place a bucket to collect water running from the tap while it heats. This water is clean and would otherwise go to waste. Now that it is collected, use it to wash dishes, water plants, or mix with green cleaning products to clean surfaces and floors. 

These tips may take a little getting used to, but soon you will be cleaning like a green pro! 

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