It’s that time of the year again, say goodbye to gloomy winter days and hello to beautiful spring flowers. With spring time just around the corner, this means it’s time to bust out those mops for spring cleaning! This year, do both your health and your planet a favour by cleaning green.
By “cleaning green”, we don’t mean mopping up all the green beer that was spilt on St. Patrick’s day. We mean making eco-conscious choices when it comes to the cleaning products you use.
Say Goodbye to Harsh Chemicals
Harsh chemicals found in most conventional cleaners are ammonia, phosphates, silica powder and any 14 letter words that you can’t pronounce like monoethanolamine or Nonylphenol ethoxylates.
These harmful chemicals are also found in most cleaning products like laundry detergent, glass cleaner and air fresheners.
Just because they won’t kill you on contact doesn’t make these products safe like many claim to be. These chemicals have delayed, long-term effects on our health as they enter into our air, water and soil and eventually absorbed into our bodies. These chemicals are a significant threat to our well-being and to the health of the planet. This is why it is essential to stop using harmful chemical cleaners and swap them out for all natural green cleaning products.
Air Freshener? Open A Window
Most people don’t realize just how much of an impact cleaning supplies can have. Something as simple as a basic air freshener can do a lot of damage. While they are removing smells from your home, they are also releasing 86 different contaminants into the air that will eventually end up in your lungs.
There are also alternatives to using air fresheners. One way to naturally get rid of odors is with a bit a fresh air. No windows around? Another alternative is boiling a pot of water and cinnamon or ginger, your house will quickly be filled with a delicious natural scent.
If you are planning on taking the time to look for products that are actually “green,” make sure only to buy products that are non-toxic, biodegradable and are made from renewable resources. Products like this can sometimes be a bit of a challenge to find but are definitely worth the hunt in the long run.
The number one and easiest way to know that you are using products that are 100% safe for both you and the environment is if you make the cleaning products yourself using all natural ingredients.
Naturally Clean
Did you know that most natural cleaning agents can be found in your kitchen? All you need is vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.
Baking soda is great for eliminating tough odors. Sprinkle it on furniture and carpets than vacuum it up to leave your fabrics smelling fresh again. Mix in a little water for a quick all-purpose cleaner.
Vinegar does the trick to making any glass sparkle. Give it a try on windows, mirrors, cutlery, and dishware for a streak free shine.
Lemons are a natural stain remover and disinfectant. They are great for preventing limescale on faucets, removing stains from grout and food storage containers. Not to mention the fresh lemony smell makes any room smell clean!
Green cleaning is essential to keeping those beautiful spring flowers blooming! Happy spring cleaning!
Sources:
http://www.earth911.com/living-well-being/health/cleaning-vinegar-baking-soda-lemon/
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=1073
http://davidsuzuki.org/publications/resources/2011/green-cleaning-recipes/
http://www.treehugger.com/htgg/how-to-go-green-cleaning.html
