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Step 1
Consider why you want to make your cleaning process more ecofriendly. While this transition is relatively easy, knowing why you are doing it will make the minor inconveniences worthwhile. Need a few starter ideas? Green cleaning can improve the health of your family as well as the health of the planet. It's less expensive than using traditional cleaning products. It sets a great example for friends and loved ones to be stewards of the planet.
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Step 2
Eliminate highly chemicalized, fragranced, colored and toxic products from your cleaning routine. Unsure of what to get rid of? A good rule of thumb is if the list of ingredients on a cleaning product is primarily elements that you cannot pronounce, get rid of it.
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Step 3
Check that you have the following products in your house so that you can begin making your own green cleaning products: baking soda , which replaces other abrasive cleansers and is a great deodorizer;, olive oil, for polishing furniture and as a binding for other ingredients to make a cleaning paste; lemon juice, for lots of shine, stain removal and a citruslike smell around the house;, and white vinegar, for cutting soap scum, eliminating lint buildup from laundry, and much more. Do not be concerned that cleaning with vinegar will make your house smell like a salad bar. The smell dissipates as it dries. If you enjoy fragrances in your cleaning products, a few drops of natural aromatic oils can be added to most of your cleaning products for that little something extra.
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Step 4
Those not wishing to create their own green cleaning products can find a plethora of good products on the market. But buyer beware. While some regulation of these products does exist, a product can carry a "green" label and still be unsound for the environment. The best way to protect yourself is to become an avid label reader. Again, all the ingredients should be easy to pronounce and items that you recognize. Avoid products that list "other ingredients," Internet research is also an excellent way to find products that fit your needs and institute green practices in their manufacturing.
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Step 5
When looking for store-brought products, their packaging should also be a consideration. Most major corporations are making efforts to reduce the amount of packaging for products or at least utilize recycled materials to create them. Do your part as well by recycling all packaging from your cleaning products after they are used. Green cleaning is easy, economical and just as effective as the traditional methods and products we have become used to.
