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Some cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that can lead to adverse health effects. In fact, you need to pay attention to home cleaning products and their impact on you and your household members. This post takes a look at the eco-friendly alternatives for cleaning supplies.
You can get an answer to what makes a cleaning product eco-friendly and learn how to check eco-friendly cleaning products. This post also discusses how to make DIY all-purpose cleaners, brands of eco-friendly cleaning products for the home, and how professional cleaners can help with eco-friendly alternatives.
What Makes a Cleaning Product Eco-Friendly?
An eco-friendly cleaning product does not harm the environment and can also be described as green. However, you must confirm that a cleaning product meets accreditation or certification requirements to ensure it is environmentally friendly.
You should know that cleaning chemicals can pose health risks to humans, plants, and animals. For instance, such conventional cleaning products may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause asthma and allergy symptoms.
The advantage of eco-friendly cleaners is that they are safer for the environment and humans. Unlike regular cleaning supplies, eco-friendly cleaning products do not contain toxic chemicals. Furthermore, green cleaning products have longer-lasting cleaning effects.
How to Check Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
The EPA Safer Choice program from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can vet and certify products that meet the agency's standards for environmentally friendly products. As such, you can check for the EPA's Safer Choice label featured on the certified products' packaging.
You can trust that such products emit fewer carbon emissions and produce less waste. It is also possible to consult the Environmental Working Group (EWG), as a rating from the EWG can indicate how toxic a cleaning product is.
Another way to check eco-friendly cleaning supplies is to consider the ingredients. Such products should be biodegradable and should have less fragrance and unnecessary additives.
Natural Alternatives for Home Cleaning Supplies
Here are some natural alternatives for cleaning products you can use in your home:
Washing soda
Washing soda is an effective natural alternative as it easily removes stains from clothes and surfaces. In addition, you can use it to disinfect and remove grease from kitchenware. It is an appropriate aid for cleaning tubs and sinks, and you can use it in a cleaning solution form in laundry sections. However, it is best not to use it on aluminum surfaces.
White vinegar
Also called acetic acid, white vinegar is an effective natural alternative to cleaning products. You can use it to remove grease and mildew and clear accumulated wax. It also helps freshen and lift some stains.
Rubbing alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is another name for rubbing alcohol and is a standard surface bactericidal cleaning agent. It is usually easy to get alcohol cleaning solutions at local pharmacies.
Hydrogen peroxide
You can use hydrogen peroxide as disinfecting bleach. While hydrogen peroxide is used for medical purposes, you can adapt it for household use when the solution grades are between 3-6%.
Castile soap
Castile soap can serve different cleaning purposes, including dish soap, laundry detergent, and floor cleaner. It has an olive oil component; you can use the liquid form as a cleaning recipe. In addition, you can get it in scented or unscented form.
How to Make DIY All-Purpose Cleaners
Using the above sustainable home cleaning products as natural alternatives is possible. Likewise, you can also mix them up to create effective natural cleaning solutions.
White vinegar and baking soda solution
Mixing a half cup of white vinegar, a half gallon of water, and around a quarter cup of baking soda is an effective solution for cleaning sliding windows. You can also use the solution to clean mirrors, tiles, and garden windows.
Incidentally, a half cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of white vinegar is a powerful solution to clean stubborn clogs in drains. You can finish the process by pouring in boiling water.
However, do not pour boiling water down plastic plumbing to avoid releasing harsh chemicals and causing damage. Meanwhile, pairing baking soda and vinegar with elbow grease is effective for many cleaning tasks. However, baking soda may harm some materials, such as aluminum.
Water and white vinegar solution
Get a spray bottle and mix water and white vinegar in a 1:1 proportion. This solution is excellent for treating carpet stains. Just spray it directly on the spot and let it stay for up to 10 or 15 minutes. Afterward, you can use a dish sponge to scrub the stain.
White vinegar and dish soap bathroom cleaner solution
This DIY bathroom cleaner is great for thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting bathroom surfaces. You only need to mix 12 oz each of white vinegar and dish soap in a glass or plastic spray bottle. After that, you can simply spray and wipe. Meanwhile, you can let it sit for several hours after spraying if you want to tackle stubborn soap scum.
Tea tree, baking soda, and vinegar toilet cleaner solution
This toilet cleaner can act as an effective scrub for cleaning and deodorizing your toilet bowl. Just pour ten drops of tea tree essential oil and ½ cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl. Allow it to sit, pour in ¼ cup of vinegar, and scrub as the mixture fizzes. Conclude by giving it a flush.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products for the Home
Many green cleaning brands are out there to suit your budget, cleaning style, and goals. They usually come in spray bottles, and some of them offer refills. In addition, some of them provide shipping without plastic to reduce the need to recycle plastic, reduce the environmental impact of shipping, and ultimately make your cleaning routine less wasteful.
Humble suds all-purpose cleaners
A glass bottle of Humble Suds spray can effectively clean dirty marks off floors and surfaces. The components include castile soap, distilled water, and essential oil.
Blueland laundry soap and concentrated cleaner kit
Blueland can provide dishwashing essentials, laundry soap, and other accessories. You can even mix products based on your needs. The starter kit contains spray bottles and a cleaning solution. The concentrate can make glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, and foaming wash.
Seventh-generation liquid dish soap
This dish soap has plant-based ingredients and is an effective biodegradable formula. You can get multipacks of it online.
No tox life's dishwashing block
This is a well-known environmentally friendly cleaning agent. You can pair it with a brush to get more suds.
Three bluebirds Swedish dishcloths
One advantage of these biodegradable cloths is that they do not get smelly. You can use them multiple times in washing machines. They are made of cotton material and tend to be more durable than similar products.
Marley's monsters unpaper towels
This is another durable cleaning product. They are also very absorbent and come as bright cotton flannel towels.
Dropps biodegradable laundry detergent pods
These pods are a great addition to your laundry room. They have plant-derived ingredients and smell great. The company also has wool dryer balls that you can use instead of fabric softener sheets. An alternative to these pods is MyKieri's Easy-Spray Laundry Detergent.
Defunkify stain remover spray
This plant-based product removes coffee, blood, or even makeup. It is pretty convenient as a natural alternative as it does not contain irritants like chlorine.
Sustainable Brands for Laundry Detergents
There are convenient brands you can choose whether you are looking for laundry detergent alternatives that are fragrance-free or scented options. Some strips are pre-measured to allocate the right proportion for each laundry load.
- Dropps is a well-known zero-waste cleaning brand that provides laundry detergents, hand soaps, dishwasher detergents, and natural cleaning tools.
- Tru Earth is also a great choice as a brand for laundry detergents, multi-surface cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and cleaning tools.
- Grove Collaborative can help you with laundry detergents, toilet cleaners, dish soaps, floor cleaners, and stain remover sprays.
- Public Goods offers a wide selection of cleaning products, like laundry detergents, surface cleaners, and glass cleaners. You can also find dishwasher detergent pods and castile soaps.
Consult Professionals About Cleaning Alternatives
In this blog, you have been able to read up on eco-friendly alternatives for cleaning supplies. A professional cleaning company can help out in many ways when it comes to house or office cleaning.
They can give great green cleaning tips on furniture polish, drain cleaners, and air fresheners. Moreover, they have various eco-friendly cleaning tools such as cleaning sprays, cleaning wipes, and different types of cleaners to do an excellent cleaning job that meets your needs.