Having a wonderfully clean and freshly fragrant home can do wonders for our mood. If we feel clean in our homes, we feel clean in our minds. It’s, of course, important to keep our environments clean for our physical health, too.
But have the products we use gone too far?
Many cleaning products can cause significant damage to the environment and release harsh chemicals into the air and water. Fortunately, eco-friendly cleaning alternatives offer an effective way to maintain a sparkling home without harming the planet.
Discover our top 10 ways to clean your home and find out which ingredients you should always keep in your cupboards to make your own eco-friendly cleaning products.
Why switch to eco-friendly cleaning products?
Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products is a much kinder environmental alternative to traditional products. However, did you know that making the change can also benefit you and anyone else living in your house?
The conventional cleaning products you pick up from the shelves at your local supermarket are filled with harsh chemicals that young children and pets are especially sensitive to. Products might be masked by pleasant floral or citrus scents, but they’re in there. These chemicals can cause skin irritations and potential respiratory issues.
Eco-friendly alternative products are made from natural ingredients that are kinder to you and the planet. The ingredients that make up these cleaning products are strong enough to banish bacteria and get your surfaces glistening, so you can feel fresh and safe all at once.
Eco-friendly cleaning hacks
Whether it’s your kitchen, bathroom, living room, or bedroom, there’s an eco-friendly way to clean your home.
1. Carpet cleaning
Carpets love to hold on to dust, dirt, pet hair, and crumbs. Sometimes, a once-over with the hoover isn’t enough to clean deep down between the fibres, which is when we typically reach for the carpet shampoo.
Eco-friendly carpet cleaning eliminates the need to douse your carpets with harsh ingredients. As an alternative, sprinkle baking soda over your carpets and let them sit for 30 minutes for it to do its job. Then, thoroughly hoover carpets to pick up the baking soda, along with any lingering smells.
If you have stubborn stains, mix equal parts white vinegar and water into a spray bottle by shaking well. Spray the solution directly onto the stain and pat it with a clean cloth until the stain lifts.
2. Dusting
Traditional dusting sprays release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are intrusive vapours that can reduce indoor air quality and impact drinking water supplies. While they produce a pleasant scent to the human nose, they can do more damage than they are worth.
Consider simply using a microfiber cloth or even a handheld hoover to pick up dust without the need for sprays. If you have wooden surfaces that need to be polished, simply mix a few drops of olive oil with lemon juice for a natural DIY polish. Your surfaces will glisten, and the lemon will leave behind a lovely aroma.
3. Window cleaning
Eco window cleaning is, thankfully, very simple. Grab the white vinegar and water solution you used for cleaning the carpet and spray it on to your windows. Wipe away with a clean cloth (preferably microfiber) using circular motions.
A handy trick for getting rid of cleaning streaks is to go over the window again with scrunched-up newspaper. If there are any stubborn spots that didn’t pick up, try adding a few drops of rubbing alcohol to your solution to give it extra strength.
4. Mattress freshening
We spend an average of one-third of our lives sleeping, so our mattresses are very well-used. As such, they pick up stains, odours, and even dust mites.
Refresh your mattress by dusting a fine layer of baking soda over the entire surface. Let it sit for at least two hours then hoover the mattress. You will be left with a much more pleasant scent and likely a better night’s sleep.
5. Grease removal
Tough grease stains can be so difficult to remove that it’s easy to reach for heavy-duty cleaning products. But just as they are effective for many other cleaning hacks, baking soda and white vinegar can be your best friends to tackle grease and grime.
First, sprinkle the baking soda over the greasy surfaces. Next, generously spray some white vinegar and let the mixture fizz. Let it sit for just a few minutes and you’ll find you can easily wipe the grime away with a cloth or paper towel to achieve a gleaming surface.
6. Oven cleaning
Commercial oven cleaners are among the most fiendish of cleaning products in terms of nasty chemicals. Because cleaning ovens often requires elbow grease, products are packed with more chemicals to lift burnt crusts and grease more easily.
For eco oven cleaning, all you need is baking soda and a little bit of water. Make a paste from the combination by only adding a small amount of water each time, mixing as you go. When you have enough mixture, spread it inside your oven and let it sit overnight. It will easily wipe away by the morning. However, if you do find anything has stuck behind, just spritz your trusty white vinegar solution to dissolve lingering grime.
7. Air fresheners
We all love to get our homes smelling clean, fresh, and inviting. But at what cost? Synthetic air fresheners release chemicals directly into the air that can be dangerous when ingested.
Try a natural alternative so you can enjoy pleasant scents in your home without any of the worry. Pick out your favourite essential oil and add a few drops into a spray bottle filled with water. Lavender and eucalyptus are popular, as are orange and jasmine. Spray it around your home to enjoy the natural scent. Be sure to check the oils are safe to use if you have pets.
8. Laundry detergent
It’s important to consider the impact of our laundry detergent has on water supplies.
If you’re trying to be more eco-conscious, try making your own detergent that is gentler on our skin and the environment. Simply mix washing soda and borax, grating in some soap of your choosing. It works as a natural detergent that effectively cleans your clothes without the negative impact.
9. Toilet scrubbing
Nobody loves to clean toilets, so it makes sense that we would want to pick up traditional products that speed up the process with the chemicals they use. But these chemicals are released into the world with every flush, so we have a responsibility to find an eco-friendly way to clean our toilets and achieve an environmentally conscious bathroom.
Measure 60g of baking soda into a cup and pour directly into the toilet bowl, followed by another 60g of white vinegar. Make sure to pour it all around the bowl. The mixture will begin to fizz and foam, breaking down stains and disinfecting the bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing with the toilet brush and flushing away.
10. Cleaning the microwave
Microwaves can get very messy, thanks to sauces and soups spluttering inside while heating.
Instead of scrubbing down with something harsh that could filter into your next meal, squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a cup or microwave-safe bowl if you have one. Add some water and microwave on medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, making sure the solution doesn’t boil over. When finished, keep the microwave door closed for another five minutes. The steam of the solution will loosen grime that can easily be wiped away with a paper towel.
Once you have discovered effective eco-friendly cleaning hacks, you’ll realise how easy it is to be kind to the planet. Discover more environmentally conscious tips and tricks with Forge Recycling so you can make mindful switches that help the planet.