Keeping a clean home is an integral part of staying healthy and having a home that we can enjoy. Many Australians love having a visit from a regular cleaner, especially since we all love that smell of a freshly cleaned house. However, many of the cleaning products that are available today might not be so good for us. Conventional cleaning products are most often petroleum-based and are not good for the environment. Aside from that, they might be harmful to ourselves, family and pets.
What is green cleaning?
Not too long ago, our grandmothers did not have modern cleaning products to clean their homes. They had to rely on what was available. They kept their homes clean using items such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt. With these simple products, you can keep your home or office just as clean as with modern petroleum-based products.
Companies have taken advantage of this return to natural products, and there are hundreds of green products on the market that use healthy, environmentally friendly ingredients. Now, there are even companies who will clean your home or business using green cleaning products.
Why should you start cleaning green?
There are many reasons to start cleaning green. We have already mentioned that chemical-based cleaning products are made from petroleum by-products, which is bad for the environment. However, there are other reasons, too. Many people use antibacterial products, thinking that they are eliminating disease-causing microorganisms, but research has now shown that soap and water does just as well. Sometimes, simple soap and water do better than antibacterial products. The use of antibacterial soaps is being re-examined.
Some people have allergies or develop asthma over time, from exposure to chemical cleaning products. They can be especially harmful to children, pets, or those who have a condition that makes them prone to reactions to chemical droplets in the air. With green products, you can still have a home that feels clean and fresh without the need for chemicals.
5 Ways to Green Clean
Next, you are probably wondering what you can use instead of chemical cleaning products. Here are a few examples that you probably already have in your kitchen.
- White Vinegar – White vinegar is a disinfectant and can help to loosen dirt and grime. Vinegar also kills mould in the bathroom. Spritzing your shower with vinegar every day will keep it fresh and mould-free. Combining white vinegar and baking soda is also a great way to clean your oven.
- Baking Soda – Baking soda is a bit abrasive and can be used to scrub surfaces. It also reacts with vinegar and lemon juice to create a powerful reaction. Baking soda can also absorb unwanted odours. Adding a bit of baking soda to your mop bucket can help give your home a fresh scent. Also, try sprinkling some on your carpet and leave it to sit before vacuuming it up. Your room will be left smelling fresh. You can also add a few herbs such as lavender or rosemary, to give it a light scent.
- Lemon Juice – Lemon juice is a disinfectant, and it is an excellent degreaser. Lemon juice is an excellent way to remove stubborn stains. Put a bit of lemon juice on bathroom surfaces, or spots on the kitchen counter, let it sit for about 15 minutes, then scrub with baking soda. Most of the time, the spot will be gone. You can repeat if needed.
- Salt – Salt is typically used as an abrasive, but it is also a disinfectant. That is why it is used to prevent infections after dental surgery and used in food preservation. Salt is an excellent scrub for cleaning the bottoms of kitchen pots and restoring them to new.
- Olive Oil – Olive oil can give your furniture and woodwork a beautiful glow.
Final Word and Extra Tips
We have one final suggestion. With many of us now working from home and shortages of cleaning products at our supermarkets, experiment with a homemade multi-purpose cleaner to keep your home and office fresh. Sometimes, one of these methods might not work on a particular stain or problem area. If one thing does not work, feel free to try something else. For instance, if vinegar does not work, try adding a bit of lemon juice. If baking soda does not work, try salt.
There is information available out there if you have a problem that you cannot solve. Many more are turning to green cleaning products as the only thing they will use in their home.
These are a few of the basics of green cleaning. The great thing is that these methods are the most tried and tested by homemakers. If you have these five things, you can replace a majority, if not all, of your cleaning products. Starting a green cleaning routine is something that you can do to keep your family healthy and help to protect the environment. When you hire a Carpet Cleaning Fremantle company for your home or office, be sure to ask if they used green products in their services. It is the best thing for you and the environment. Get
