It’s easy to incorporate an eco-friendly lifestyle, especially when cleaning the home you are selling or the home you are buying. Start by checking out the cleaning products you are currently using for your home. It’s essential to have a healthy and safe place for your family.
Eco-friendly cleaning products are usually made with all-natural, plant-based ingredients. As a result, they have no toxic chemicals, thereby maintaining a safe home for your family and pets, and you would also be doing your part in protecting the environment.
Most home cleaning products contain many toxic chemicals that could be hazardous to the environment and your family’s health.
Why You Should Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Better Home Air Quality
Most home cleaning products contain Volatile Organic Compounds that can be hazardous to your health as the fumes from these products can leach into the air. According to the EPA the nature and extent of the health effects depend on various factors, including length of time of exposure and level of exposure.
The EPA has a website with some of the health effects of exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds found in many cleaning supplies:
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation • Headaches • Loss of Coordination • Memory Impairment • Damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system • Eye Irritation • Nose and Throat discomfort • Allergic Skin Reaction • Difficulty in Breathing • Nausea & Vomiting • Nose Bleed • Fatigue • Dizziness
You can smell the strong odors when using non-eco-friendly cleaning products. Unfortunately, this means you are inhaling dangerous VOC’s, many of which contain petroleum-based chemicals, chlorine, and ammonia.
Avoid these products and instead, use eco-friendly alternatives. This will ensure that you and your family are breathing chemical-free air. Who doesn’t want that?
Your Home Will Smell Better
The stench from chemical-based cleaners can be overwhelming. Using eco-friendly cleaning products can help improve the smell inside your home. When using eco-friendly cleaners, the scents in your home will not only smell better, but what you do smell is coming from organic, pure, and natural ingredients.
Many of the products contain plant extracts and essential oils. Also, many are available in a variety of fragrances.
Living in a Healthier Home
Don’t we all want to live in a home free from unhealthy and unseen chemicals? When you use eco-friendly cleaners in your home, you will feel confident that you, your pets, and your family will not be exposed to an unhealthy environment.
So throw away your usual commercial cleaning products containing harmful chemicals, switch over to eco-friendly cleaners, and live in a home free from any potentially hazardous chemicals.
If children live in your home, it is good to switch to eco-friendly cleaners. Kids are exposed to many surfaces in your home. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure all surfaces kids will touch are free from hazardous chemicals.
Your Home Will Last Longer
Over time, many commercial cleaning products, which are filled with such a high concentration of toxic chemicals, can affect the condition of your counter-tops, furniture, dishes, floors, and other surfaces in your home.
This can be averted by using natural and plant-based cleaners. It will not cause any problems to the surfaces in your bathroom or kitchen.
What is The List of Cleaner Ingredients?
It’s good to know what the ingredients of your home cleaners are. It’s part of being a more aware consumer. What to look for in an eco-friendly cleaning product are those that indicate that their product contains information such as “plant-based,” “no phosphates,” or “no solvents.”
Try to avoid any petroleum-based products and go for plant-based ones. Do your homework and research the brands you are interested in. Check out the list of ingredients. Also, you may want to read about the manufacturer and how they might be contributing to a healthy and sustainable environment.
Using Too Many Cleaners?
It’s probably a good idea to choose fewer general surface cleaners rather than a cleaner for each surface of your kitchen or bathrooms. Instead, many all-purpose and eco-friendly products are appropriate for various kitchen and bathroom surfaces. This can easily make your cleaning job much easier and faster. So, go for the all-purpose, eco-friendly cleaners.
Save Money on Home Cleaners
Many eco-friendly kitchen and bathroom cleaners contain fewer ingredients than the usual commercial cleaners. This means the cost can be lower, and you won’t need different cleaners from different surfaces. So, less money spent and less time cleaning.
Another eco-friendly way to clean is using DIY cleaners. One idea is to take white vinegar and mix it with baking soda. (there are YouTube videos on this) Throw in some fragrant essential oils, and you’ve got yourself a multi-purpose, eco-friendly, and safe surface cleaner for your home.
Pets and Toxic Chemicals
If you have pets in your home, they are even more susceptible to hazardous chemicals from commercial cleaners due to their smaller size. Instead, transform your home into a pet-safe environment by using eco-friendly cleaners for your flooring, bedding, and upholstery. Also, don’t forget to clean their toys, food, and water dishes with cleaners containing all-natural ingredients.
Better for the Environment
Regular, commercial cleaners are washed down the drain and eventually enter waterways. Be aware that these toxins can contaminate the water and harm aquatic life. So, by using eco-friendly cleaners in your home, you contribute to a sustainable environment, helping protect all of us.
What do The Labels Say?
Many of the labels on commercial cleaning products display warnings words such as “toxic,” “danger,” “warning,” etc. This could indicate that you are dealing with a potentially hazardous product. Some safety instructions include “may cause skin irritation,” “flammable,” etc.
So, common sense would tell you this stuff isn’t good for you and can pose a health risk. If you must use these products, open the windows.
Be careful of some of the big brands that indicate that they have a “green” alternative on some of their products. But are they genuinely eco-friendly? Do your homework and follow up with any claims made on these products. It should almost always say “no phosphates,” “no solvents,” “no petroleum-based ingredients,” or “made from plant-based ingredients.”
Do not trust always rust the statement that a product is “non-toxic.” It’s what is in the ingredients that count. The consumer must do the appropriate research. In addition, stay away from products containing chlorine or ammonia. They have been known to cause respiratory and skin irritation. When these are mixed together, they can create toxic fumes.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solutions
So, we know that washing toxic cleaning solutions down the drain is not suitable for the lakes and streams. There are various all-natural spray cleaners useful for tile surfaces, the shower, and the tub. Some of these eco-friendly surface cleaners are made with just four plant-based ingredients. They follow the EPA “Safer Choice” standards on their list called “CleanGredients.”
There are many brands of eco-friendly cleaning supplies available. Just do the research, and you will feel great knowing that you, your pets, and your family are breathing safe and toxic-free air as well as promoting a sustainable environment.