When we do a thorough cleaning of our homes, we often end up with a bunch of plastic bags, paper, and plastic containers to throw away. This makes us think about how we can make our cleaning routine more environmentally friendly. Moreover, scientists are working on new ways to recycle plastic, as it's not the best material for the Earth. Also, cleaning supplies tend to use a lot of it.
Do you have single-use plastic bottles cluttering up your kitchen cabinets? Do you rely on sprays and liquids that can't easily be replaced with solid bars? The answer might be refillable cleaning products, which are a great zero-waste cleaning option.
Further, one can't just ignore the 35.7 million tons of plastic discarded in the USA every year. So how do we clean our homes while also "cleaning house"? The solution is simple: we can shop for natural cleaners and brands that offer reusable and eco-friendly cleaning products.
Blueland's Multi-Surface Cleaner is a fantastic eco-friendly cleaning option. It's been given the green light on Shark Tank and is designed for scrubbing surfaces like countertops and stovetops. What makes it stand out is the use of reusable bottles that come with dissolvable cleaning tablets. Simply fill the recyclable bottle halfway with water and insert a tablet to create twenty-four ounces of cleaning spray.
Besides, one can easily get more cleaning tablets online or at select retail stores. Plus, Blueland's hand soap, dishwashing tablets, bathroom cleanser, and multi-surface cleaner all meet the Safer Choice Standard.
Grove Collaborative is on a mission to become 100% plastic-free by 2025. And they're already making strides as they're plastic-neutral. Further, their sets include:
● Refillable glass bottles
● A 1oz (30ml) bottle of multi-purpose cleaner concentrate
You'll find a wide range of products, from all-purpose cleaners to hand washing and eco-friendly dishwasher tablets. They even offer an aluminum bottle option.
Clorox's compostable cleaning wipes are biodegradable in municipal facilities. Further, they're made from plant fibers and are excellent for cleaning hard surfaces like:
● Sealed wood
● Granite
● Stainless steel
These wipes meet the Safer Choice Standard and come in two scents: Free & Clear and Purely Lemon. Moreover, Clorox's bathroom and glass cleaning products are also non-toxic.
This US-based brand is committed to reducing plastic waste by offering refillable home cleaning products that use 86% less plastic than traditional containers. Common Goods stocks a range of environmentally friendly household products, including:
● Laundry detergent
● Multi-purpose cleaner
● Zero-waste hand soap
● Dish soap
When you purchase your first cleaning set, you'll receive glass refillable bottles with spray nozzles or soap pumps.
This carpet cleaner comes with a built-in brush that's safe for fabrics. Additionally, it helps you get rid of stains and odors from textiles, carpets, and upholstery. Woolite's Oxy Deep PowerShot, which is great at removing stains, is Safer Choice certified, just like their other products. A lot of cleaning companies in the USA are now starting to use this.
These solutions have vinegar, which is handy for getting rid of soap residue, hard water build-up, and grime. You can safely use them on bathroom surfaces like ceramic, tile, and porcelain. Plus, the toilet cleaner has essential oils that give them distinct scents.
Boulder Clean's dish soap doesn't have dyes or parabens and is free of:
● Phosphates
● SLS
● Triclosan
They claim it can not only clean dishes but also ceramics, crystals, glasses, pots and pans, and utensils. Also, Boulder Clean offers other non-toxic cleaning products like their all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, and toilet bowl cleaner.
This detergent is designed to clean dishes in the dishwasher, removing dirt and grease while leaving them streak-free. It's fragrance-free, made with plant-based ingredients, and doesn't contain chlorine or dyes. Other products from the Seventh Generation include:
● All-purpose spray
● Fabric softener sheets
Lysol's multi-purpose cleaner - an excellent eco-friendly cleaning product - made with hydrogen peroxide can kill 99.9% of viruses and germs. When you spray it on a surface, the disinfectant creates tiny bubbles that dissolve grease and soap scum. Lysol's Lemon & Lime Blossom and Fragrance-Free Multi-Surface Disinfectants further meet the Design for the Environment requirements.
Moreover, this WD-40 product is ideal for removing grease from car parts, tools, industrial equipment, appliances, and other gear. It's a water-based formula and comes in a non-aerosol spray bottle. This degreaser is safe to use on materials like aluminum, chrome, plastic, glass, rubber, stainless steel, stone, leather, and paint.
It's well-known that you can create your own green cleaning solutions. After all, manufacturers of green cleaning products aren't legally required to list all the ingredients on their labels. This lack of transparency can result in "greenwashing," where false ingredients are listed.
In recent years, many companies and organizations have realized the value of using the green movement to promote their products and services. It has given rise to the practice of greenwashing. In simple terms, this occurs when an organization spends more time and money on marketing itself as "green" than on actually implementing products and services that reduce the carbon footprint.
Yes, green cleaning products are generally better for the environment, but they may not be as potent. Meaning? Cleaning can take longer, and the overall cost-effectiveness may be reduced.
Companies can easily put terms like "eco-friendly," "green," "all-natural," and "sustainable" on their packaging without explaining what they mean. Further, they mostly mislead – making their products seem more environmentally friendly than they really are.
To avoid being scammed by such "greenwashed" cleaning products, look for "ecolabel" certifications. These labels are described by the EPA as markings on product packaging that help customers identify products meeting specific sustainability standards and are therefore considered "environmentally preferable."
Moreover, experts suggest that ecolabels are the most reliable way to verify a product is designed to be at least somewhat environmentally safe.
For your everyday cleaning, you really only require:
● Vinegar
● Alcohol
● Baking soda
● Dish soap
● Basic cleaning tools
If you like, you can include essential oils in your eco-friendly cleaning mix because they not only have disinfecting and antibacterial qualities. Also, they bring a pleasant natural fragrance to your cleaning routine.
● Multi-purpose cleaner - white vinegar:
White vinegar, thanks to its natural acidic properties, is a versatile cleaner that easily tackles dirt. Just remember not to use vinegar on stone or ceramics.
● Heavy-duty scrub - lemon + baking soda:
For tough stains, including rust, lemon juice and baking soda are a powerful natural combo.
● Kitchen cleaner - baking soda:
Moreover, baking soda is excellent for cleaning kitchen countertops, appliances, and the inside of your fridge. It's a great deodorizer and can even make stainless steel shine.
● Bathroom scrub - baking soda + salt:
Equal parts baking soda and salt make a dry scrub that effectively cuts through soap residue in the bathroom.
● Limescale remover - citric acid:
Also, citric acid dissolves limescale and kills germs.
The terms "green" and "eco-friendly" share similar meanings. They both convey a sense of environmental responsibility and a company's concern for the impact of their product on the environment. However, "green" is a broader term that encompasses the entire Green and Environmental movement. It's a general term used to describe various production practices. Referring to something as "Green" suggests an awareness of the planet, but it may lack specific regulatory standards or policies because "Green" isn't a certified designation.
In contrast, "eco-friendly" is a bit clearer in meaning, indicating that something doesn't harm the environment. It typically guides to products that don't pollute the air or water and contribute to sustainable practices, such as recycling.
All this talk about non-toxic cleaning products and none about the professionals who’re using them? Just like other reputable cleaning companies in the USA, DLL Cleaning Services also takes special care of how our workers treat the environment.
Reach out and have a chat to find out!
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