When you think about cleaning your home, thoughts of a spotless, peaceful home may come to mind.
While these thoughts can drive your motivation to start scrubbing and mopping, the unfortunate reality is that some cleaning practices could actually contribute to indoor and outdoor air pollution, contribute to overflowing landfills, and impact water quality.
By transitioning to sustainable cleaning practices, you can enjoy the full benefits of a cleaner home without concern.
What Sustainable Cleaning Means
Sustainable cleaning sounds great, but what exactly is it? To understand what this term means, it’s important to dig deeper into the typical home cleaning process. A routine housecleaning may include the use of chemical-based cleaning products. It may also involve the use of disposable mopping pads, dusting clothes, and paper towels.
Such practices pollute water, air and soil. They can also impact your health. For example, the fine print on many store-bought cleaners includes a laundry list of cautions with potential health effects like skin and eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and more.
Sustainable cleaning involves the use of non-wasteful and non-polluting products and practices. You’ll put less or no chemicals into your home and the outdoor environment. You’ll take steps to avoid contributing waste to landfills. As a result, you might save money and enjoy a healthier living space indoors and outdoors.
What Is the Most Sustainable Way to Clean a House?
Sustainable housecleaning might initially seem like it would add stress and inconvenience to your life, but this isn’t the case. In fact, you only need to take a few simple steps to reap the benefits.
Choose Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
You might think that the strongest chemical-based products are necessary to get your home clean. However, you can skip over bleach, ammonia, and other harsh and harmful cleaning products without sacrificing the cleanliness of your home.
Smart, natural alternatives include hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. You can find numerous recipes for homemade cleaning products using a combination of these ingredients. Always test a small, out-of-sight area when using these products on a material for the first time.
Reduce Waste While Cleaning
If your waste basket is filled with wadded-up paper towels and cleaning pads after a housecleaning session, there’s plenty of room to improve. Completely eliminate paper towels from the equation and opt for reusable microfiber clothes as a superior alternative.
In addition, exchange your dryer sheets for wool dryer balls. Rather than using a mop with replaceable cleaning pads, invest in a steamer. Another alternative is to use a washable microfiber pad on your mop.
Save Water and Energy
Appliances like the washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher use an incredible amount of energy. The washing machine and dishwasher also use a surprising amount of water to do their jobs properly. When the time comes to replace your appliances, pay attention to the EnergyStar ratings.
In addition, follow the manufacturers’ maintenance recommendations to minimize water and energy waste. Adjust the settings for heat and water to suit your needs for each load.
Whether you’re hand-washing dishes, scrubbing the tub, or doing a similar task that uses water, pay attention to the flow of water. If water isn’t needed at that moment, turn the faucet off. Mindfulness with these tasks can save countless gallons over the months and years. If you’re cleaning with hot water, you’ll also save energy.
Clean More Naturally
Choosing eco-friendly cleaning products made from natural ingredients is only one step you can take to clean more naturally.
For example, olive oil can be used sparingly to polish wood and stainless steel. Essential oils are a great alternative to aerosol air fresheners. If you do need to use paper towels for a specific project or you have other recyclable waste, make sure those items find their way into the right bin.
Build Sustainable Cleaning Habits
Changes to your cleaning habits aren’t always easy to do. It may seem faster and easier to continue doing what you’ve been doing. Perhaps you’re concerned that your home simply won’t be as clean if you change your cleaning habits.
For quality changes that you can sustain over time, consider taking small yet impactful steps. For example, start by swapping out paper towels for washable cloths. Once you’ve grown accustomed to that, look for another habit to replace.
You don’t have to question your sustainable cleaning practices when you hand over your cleaning to-do list to our experts at TidyHere. Each member of our cleaning team has extensive experience, has been carefully vetted, and has a firm desire to do amazing work in your home. Learn more about TidyHere cleaning services by calling us or contacting us online today.
