When it comes to cleaning products for our homes, most people head to the local supermarket and purchase the most popular cleaning supplies. Unfortunately, many of these products are full of chemicals. Green cleaning is an excellent alternative. With the following green cleaning tips and methods for beginners, you can make your house naturally sparkle. Keep reading for everything you need, from getting started to safety issues. Consider this the essential green cleaning guide for your home!
A Healthier Clean Means a Healthier Home
Have you ever wondered if the chemicals you use to clean your home are the cause of the allergies, sinus infections, or respiratory issues that seem to happen more often when you go into deep cleaning mode in your home? Have you thought about making the switch to a greener, healthier way of maintaining your home? More often than not we chalk it up to the time of year or the fact that we are just busy and worn down. Below are some tips to help you make the switch to green cleaning.
Beware of Mixing Green Cleaning Products
The first and most important tip is to beware of mixing green cleaning products! Take some time to read up and understand what types of ingredients are safe to mix and which ones are not before making any cleaning solutions.
The majority of the issues you will find related to mixing green cleaning ingredients revolves around vinegar. Although vinegar serves its purpose in green cleaning, it does not react well when mixed with certain ingredients. Vinegar diluted with water and a few drops of essential oils for scent, are a fantastic home cleaning solution. However, do not ever combine vinegar with hydrogen peroxide, or bleach. This mixture is hazardous due to the emission of toxic gases, and can cause serious respiratory issues and, in extreme situations, death.
Additionally, combining vinegar baking soda, borax, or liquid castile soap is also not recommended. Vinegar affects these products’ efficacy; so, do not use them together.
Be Patient
It’s vital to understand that becoming green with your housekeeping takes time. Keep in mind that it is better to start slow and ease into a green cleaning process that works for you. First, consider using the remaining cleaning supplies you have on hand to reduce waste. Then, when you run out, create your own natural cleaning products as an alternative.
This method will help you to create one or two new green solutions at a time vs. everything all at once. Additionally, it will allow you to discover which recipes work best for you.
Slowing down allows you to experiment with scents and recipes to determine what you enjoy most. The end result will be delightfully fragrant non-toxic green cleaning solutions.
Reuse Everything You Can
The next tip for green cleaning is to save the empty spray bottles from your old cleaning supplies. By saving the bottles, you reduce waste. Clean your empty bottles thoroughly with a mixture of hot soapy water. You will also want to thoroughly clean the spray nozzles. Soak the tip in a hot water and spray several times to eliminate any remaining residue. After they dry, you may repurpose them for your new green solutions.
You may also store your green cleaning supplies in old glass bottles. Spray bottles made of glass are an excellent choice and are eco friendly.
Gather the Ingredients for Your Green Cleaning Solutions
The best tip for green cleaning is to keep a small stock of ingredients on hand so you can rapidly create fresh cleaning solutions. Some of the best green cleaning solutions made include the following core natural items.
Consider the following:
- Baking soda
- Soda crystals
- Borax replacement
- Citric acid
- White vinegar
Another essential item to keep in your repertoire is liquid castile soap. If you keep these ingredients on hand, you will be able to make practically any product in a matter of minutes. It is also important to note that just because your solutions are clean products, they can still cause irritation to your skin. Be sure to include rubber gloves, clean cloths, and a scrub brush with soft bristles in your cleaning supplies.
Get to Know Your Essential Oils
Creating green cleaning products are even better with essential oils. While certain essential oils are strictly for scent, such as geranium oil, other essential oils have a vital purpose. Skip any oils that irritate your skin regardless of whether you love the scent. The oils that provide true value in green cleaning include citrus oils for degreasing capabilities, lavender oil which is an natural antifungal, and much more!
While essential oils are wonderful for cleaning or just to add a lovely scent in your home, it is important to take note of any warnings. Some oils can cause harm or are not recommended for use around children, or animals. For example, Rosemary oil should not be used when you are pregnant, and tea tree oil should not be used around cats as it can be toxic. When it comes to using oils, it is important to do your research so you can make the best decisions for you and your home.
Become Familiar With Shelf Life
When you make your own green cleaning solutions, it is critical to consider shelf life. Green cleaning products should be labeled with the expiration date based on the shortest expiration date of the ingredients in your solution. As an example, if your cleaning solution has three ingredients and the soonest expiration date on the ingredients is April 2023, you should label your product to expire on or before April 2021.
If you utilize water, the shelf life is limited to eight weeks. The reason behind this is that water can contain bacteria, even if it has been boiled. Using cooled boiling water or distilled water can help reduce bacteria. If you use ap water for your solutions, the shelf life is reduced further to a maximum of two weeks.
Shelf life is never exact however, if the green cleaning solutions you make begin to look strange or have a bad odor, its time to dispose of your solution and start over.
Consider Storage
Finally, it is important to note that regardless of the cleaning solutions you use, be it commercial cleaning or green cleaning solutions, they can be harmful to pets and small children. Therefore, the products ingredients you use should be kept in a safe cabinet or up and away of curious kids and pets.
Always label your cleaning solutions so you know what each bottle contains. This is critical to ensuring that a product is not mistaken for anything else.
Green Cleaning with Clean Heart Maids
We hope our guide for green cleaning tips is helpful and are excited for you to start your journey to a healthy, clean home! And, if you need help, Clean Heart Maids is here to help with all your cleaning and organizing needs. So, if you’re looking for help cleaning your home or office, contact us today to schedule a consultation!