I love using Sundays to reset my space for the week, to have a clear space to be my most productive self. Here are 5 eco-friendly cleaning tips to reset your space, in a manner that’s good for both you and the environment.
*Note: This article contains links to partners and affiliates. All brands and products featured are ones I truly stand by for their sustainability. I only recommend items I love and that I think you’ll love too.
1. Use Non-toxic cleaning products
Many commercial cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can lead to health risks if used in high concentrations. Growing up, I always hated the chemical smell of commercial products like Fabuloso (a liquid floor cleaning product common in Hispanic households) and also had allergic reactions every time I was in a household that recently used it. These toxic chemicals also wash off into our waterways, causing harm to the environment.
Commercial cleaning products also tend to come in excess waste plastic waste. These products are overpriced as they are typically filled with water, an ingredient we can get within our own homes for little to no money.
One alternative is to buy low waste & non-toxic cleaners. I typically use this set from Blueland which includes multi-surface spray, bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner, and hand soap tablets, as well as designated reusable containers for each. The refills are cost-effective, the smell is light, and they get the job done. A second sustainable alternative is to use products that only use water. These E-cloths do wonders for cleaning my stainless steel appliances. I also use this steam mop on my floors and love it.
2. Use Quality Equipment
Back in college, the cheap vacuums I would buy never lasted a year without malfunctioning. Therefore I would have to buy a new one each year. So many resources and money is wasted on creating new electrical equipment. Now, for both my wallet and the planet, I focus on investing in high-quality equipment to clean.
I’ve seen the rave online about Shark vacuums and didn’t understand the hype until I bought this one while it was on sale. The suction is strong so it cleans quickly and efficiently. My favorite part about it is that the bottom was made so that hair doesn’t get stuck and wrapped around it. My mom bought the same vacuum immediately after trying mine because of how good it was. I can tell this vacuum will last me a long time, making the money spent on it completely worth it.
3. Adopt a sustainable laundry routine
The laundry routine I grew up with was filled with plastic, toxic chemicals, and wasted energy. There are various steps you can implement to make your laundry routine more sustainable such as washing less, air drying, using non-toxic detergents, and more. Read my other blog post, “7 steps to make your Laundry Routine Sustainable” for more tips.
4. Use the dishwasher
I love having a dishwasher, mainly because it makes cleaning and drying dishes so much quicker and easier. To the planet’s benefit, dishwashers are also a greener alternative to hand washing! They have been found to save over 100 gallons of water a week compared to hand washing for ten minutes a day. Dishwashers also conserve energy used to heat the cleaning water, therefore saving money on both your water and electricity bills! Just be sure to only run full loads to conserve the most amount of water and energy possible.
5. Reuse cleaning rags
We are way past the times of using a different paper towel every time you wipe the counters. I love using these reusable cloths made of recycled polyester to wipe glass and mirrors. For most surfaces, I use either these unpaper towels or any old rag I have on hand. Cleaning these rags in the washing machines saves way more water than is used to make new rags/paper towels.
For full transparency, I still have paper towels on hand as others in my household like to use them more often. Occasionally with certain floor messes, I will use one too. When I start to feel guilty for using one, I like to remind myself of this quote:
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” Anne Marie Bonneau, Zero Waste Chef
I hope these 5 eco-friendly cleaning tips inspired you to reset your home more sustainably! If you have any other sustainable cleaning tips, please leave them in a comment below!
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