subject: How To Clean For Your Health And Home [print this page] If you'd like to be more environmentally friendly, changing the way you clean is one of the easiest things to do. You can easily change your cleaning habits to reflect an eco-friendly mindset without sacrificing sanitation. If you want to be more green, consider the following tips about how you clean.
Buy environmentally-friendly cleaners. Cleaners made from renewable resources like tree bark and plants are not toxic and are biodegradable unlike many other harsh cleaning solutions. Birch bark or palm kernel oil are just a couple of natural resources that are commonly found in environmentally-friendly cleaners. Cleaners that are pH-neutral are just some of the many other options. You can be assured that these products are non-toxic and wont damage your home.
Second, make your air quality better. The fact that many cleaners have warnings about skin contact is a testament to the potency of many of the chemicals you are letting into your air. Then there is also the presence of microscopic dust and other allergens that float around in your home. The chemicals in many aerosol air fresheners or candles can exacerbate the problems. Instead of aerosol cans, consider other spray cleaners that are gentler and more environmentally friendly. Baking soda is a very traditional way to eliminate odors in your fridge as well as when you're vacuuming. If you want an air filter, Peace Lilies are pretty to look at as well as being good air purifiers. So are other plants with broad green leaves.
Clean floors mean less harmful chemicals indoors. In homes with a lot of foot traffic, it's hard to keep floors clean for long. Shoes can can so many nasty and toxic substances and carry them into every room in your home. Sturdy doormats can help scrub away the worst offenders. A more effective way to keep toxins out is to make your family and guests go shoeless in your home.
There are a number of other cleaning tips that are both eco-friendly and you-friendly. Using soap and water rather than antibacterial cleaners is one way to stay healthy. If you want to do more green cleaning, there are a number of helpful resources online.
By taking a few simple steps you can begin to live a greener lifestyle. It's up to you how green to make it. If you want to be a green cleaner, remember to be mindful of the ingredients going into the products you buy and of the substances that come into your home. It only takes a bit of work to make your home clean and more green.
