7 Easy Green Cleaning Tips For Every Home

There are so many compelling reasons to make the switch to green cleaning - which simply means using cleaning methods and products that keep us and our environment healthy and free of toxins. We might worry about our health or the air quality in our homes. Or we may be concerned about the toxic chemicals released into our environment and the amount of plastic to landfill.

Whether we want to make our home safer, help the environment or save some money, eco-friendly cleaning is something to be considered. But where to start? In this blog, we share our top eco cleaning tips for every home.

Ditch The Bleach

Bleach is notoriously one of the harshest household cleaning products. Its active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, which is highly corrosive, meaning contact with it can damage your skin.

Factories that manufacture bleach release toxins into the air through both the ventilation and exhaust of the building. Some parts of the chlorine produced in the process and other byproducts stay in the air, creating more pollution.

Then, chlorine bleach is released into our waterways and other liquid industrial waste by manufacturers. When chlorine is present in water, it reacts with other minerals and elements. This mechanism results in the production of new poisons, including dioxins, furans, and PCDDs, which are known as "persistent organic pollutants" because they stay in water for years before disappearing.

All pretty nasty, right? You can find many online recipes for homemade bleach substitutes - baking soda and citric acid are fabulous for cleaning the toilet - or opt for an eco-friendly alternative from brands like Ecover, Eco-Leaf, Method or Bio D.

Use Multi-Purpose Products

Using a multipurpose product reduces the number of plastic bottles you buy and throw away or recycle. Some fantastic products are available that give good results on lots of different surfaces and fabrics.

A great example of this is Ecoleaf Antibacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner, a natural, biodegradable product, which is safe for the environment. It's made from plant extracts and is based on biodegradable, sustainably sourced ingredients. Vegan friendly and brought to you in recyclable bottles, Ecoleaf Multi-Surface Cleaner is guaranteed to be non-toxic, making it perfect for use all around the home.

Try Refillable Eco-Products

Another swap to make your cleaning routine greener is to change to refillable eco-friendly products.

We recently discovered Clean Living, whose mission is to harness the power of nature to give a far superior clean than traditional cleaning products.

Their aluminium bottles are sent out to you empty with a sachet of concentrate. You simply tip the sachet contents into the bottle, add water and have an effective environmentally friendly product to use in your home.

All their products are cruelty-free, natural, 100% biodegradable, non-toxic to aquatic life and pH neutral. As they are refillable, they continue to reduce waste plastic packaging for as long as you use them.

This is a genuinely eco-friendly answer to your cleaning needs.

Put Old Toothbrushes To Good Use

Old nail brushes and toothbrushes can come in very handy when you're trying to clean those awkward areas of your home.

You can utilise old toothbrushes for cleaning the soles of your shoes, the inside of water bottles or your shower fittings, to name just a few. Make sure to keep them separate so you know which brush you used for which project, and you'll be set.

Once you’re finished with your toothbrush, remember to compost it to ensure its life cycle is complete.

Use Natural Air Fresheners

Most air fresheners that we buy are made from plastic. Even if it says it's recyclable on the product, the infrastructure to recycle such material isn't available across the UK due to the high cost of recycling mixed plastics. It often ends up in landfill.

Add to that; there is debate about whether air fresheners are toxic and dangerous for our health. Air fresheners contain a variety of chemical, and sometimes biological, ingredients that can cause problems for some of us and also contribute to poor indoor air quality.

It makes a lot of sense then to try a natural alternative. You can simply add cinnamon, lemon or any other plant you like to boiling water, sit back and let that natural scent fill your home. You can also try potpourri in the bathroom, brew coffee in the kitchen, or zap bacteria and disinfect the air naturally with vinegar. Fill an empty spray bottle with one part white vinegar to four parts water and spritz it into the air to freshen any room. Alternatively, place a bowl of vinegar in the kitchen to remove cooking smells.

Try Baking Soda

Baking soda is a versatile and inexpensive product with many uses in cleaning the home.

You can mix it with water to make an overnight cleaning paste for your oven, combine it with vinegar to create an effervescent toilet cleaner or sprinkle it on carpets to remove smells - like the old 'shake and vacuum' product. It has so many cleaning powers, and a little investigation into how baking soda can revolutionise your cleaning routine will leave you feeling more empowered to green clean.

Invest In Greener Cleaning Equipment

Would you like to replace microfibre cloths, remove scourers full of microplastics and ditch your plastic washing-up brush?

Obviously, we would advise you not to throw anything away that still has a useful life, but when the time comes to swap, our pot brush and Kitchen Kit Hamper has everything you need for a greener cleaning and a plastic-free kitchen.

It contains:

• Our plastic-free, FSC certified beechwood and sisal bristle nail brushes
• Our biodegradable and sustainable, long-lasting coconut fibre dish brush
• A knitted, organic cotton dishcloth
• 100% organic, cotton hand towel
• A reusable tote bag.

All the hamper pieces are sourced carefully and are farmed ethically and sustainably. Even our packaging is made from recycled paper and is 100% recyclable. This hamper adds a touch of green to any household.

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There are so many simple ways to be more eco-friendly in 2022. Wild & Stone's mission is to create stylish, easy to adopt and usable alternatives to common plastic products around the home. We source all our products sustainably, from raw material to final delivery. Shop our wide range today.

Share your eco cleaning swaps with us at hello@wildandstone.com or tag us on Instagram #wildandstone.