From Guest Blogger Hannah Thomas: Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips For Your Home

In most of the households, cleaning products are put away in some cabinets and out of children’s reach. In the back of our minds, we all know that those products are highly dangerous, yet we use them daily and spread poisonous chemicals for the sake of having a clean home. There is no such domestic dirt that requires those amounts of hazardous substance since they can bring more damage than good by simply evaporating. Those products, no matter how efficient they are cleaning-wise, are threatening as well as pollutive and turning to healthier options would be a reasonable move.

Learn the ingredients

Surprisingly enough, all the ingredients necessary for the non-toxic cleaning are the ones that we already have in our kitchen, with a small addition of essential oils (lavender, clove, tea tree). Lemon juice, baking soda, washing soda, white vinegar and olive oil are the main working material and before using them, learn their basic chemical features that will enable you to have clean, fragrant and even disinfected home. In addition to that, you can switch to microfiber cloth since they are eco-friendly yet very handy when cleaning.

Conserve water

Conserving water while cleaning may seem unsound, but no one is asking you to do the dry cleaning of your home. It is more of a guideline, aiming to trigger your awareness on how much water we waste during the day, whether dishwashing, cleaning or showering. Don’t let the water run unless you are using it to fill the bucket or rinse. Sweep more often and place a tracking mat at the door to collect the dirt from the outside.

The floors

For the perfectly clean floor, you’ll need to mix four cups of white vinegar and a gallon of hot water. Use the mop or microfiber cloth, clean the floors and do not rinse. If the scent of vinegar is too strong, do not worry because it will dissipate soon enough after the cleaning. To have a pleasant scent in your home, add a few drops of any essential oil in the cleaning mixture.

Furniture

Mix equal parts of olive oil and lemon juice for cleaning the wooden furniture. You can add few drops of essential oil here as well, even though the scent of lemon will stay for a while. Olive oil will add the glow to your wooden pieces, but make sure to apply a small amount on the cloth and clean the furniture in gentle and long strokes.

Toilet bowl

Though this may seem like mission impossible without throwing in some heavy anti-bacterial chemicals, a cup of baking soda and some vinegar will do the trick. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda inside the toilet bowl evenly and leave it soaked for an hour. After that, pour a cup of vinegar and flush it after five minutes. Unless it is seriously dirty, there is no need for scrubbing after applying these ingredients.

Countertops and tiles

Mix one part of baking soda with two parts of vinegar and four parts of water. Again, for the perfect scent add a few drops of oil you prefer. Apply it with a sponge, scour and wipe it away. Cleaning in general, whether eco-friendly or not can be daunting, so if you are in lack of time or will, you can always turn to professionals like Cleanworks that will do the job in a completely environmentally friendly way.

Glass

Mix even parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture on the glass and wipe it with a microfiber cloth or use an old trick, wipe it with old news papers. Not only that your windows will shine, but it is a perfect example of reusing the recyclable material.

Conclusion

Eliminating toxic cleaning products and replacing them with eco-friendly ones will instantly fill your home with fresh and healthy air. Clean air makes us rejuvenated, improves concentration and sleep and puts us in a better mood. By removing all these poisonous substances, you will significantly reduce the toxic burden of your home and improve the quality of life. Be aware and keep these tips in mind when cleaning next time.