The Saunders Blog

Clean and Green – Top 10 Tips for Green Cleaning

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Follow these tips for a greener clean in your home.

Cleaning your home might be a chore, but it doesn’t have to be toxic, too. Unfortunately, most of the conventional cleaning products we all grew up with contain chemicals that have questionable environmental and health implications. Many cleaners also contain unnecessary antibacterial agents that can actually make bacteria stronger and more resistant to antibacterial drugs.

Since awareness of these harmful cleaning agents has spread within the last several years, there are now plenty of natural products and methods that keep a house clean and fresh-smelling without the noxious side effects. So, go green when you clean with these top 10 tips for green cleaning:

1. Less is More – Dilute your cleaning supplies according to instructions and use only what’s needed to get the job done.

2. Avoid “Antibacterial” – The antibacterial and anti-microbial ‘cleaners’ that many people think are necessary don’t clean hands better than soap and water, and also add to the risk of breeding “super germs,” bacteria that survive the chemical onslaught and have resistant offspring. The FDA has found that antibacterial soaps and hand cleansers do not work better than regular soap and water, and should be avoided.

3. Check for Certified – Label claims aren’t always true, so make sure you are buying certified green cleaners. Cleaning supplies certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo meet green standards.

4. Real Fresh Air – Air fresheners are unnecessary and potentially harmful. They only disguise odors while pumping potentially toxic chemicals into the air. Open a window, run a fan and try to identify and clean up the real source of the smell. A box of baking soda is another safe way to eliminate odor.

5. Natural Ingredients – Experiment with non-toxic options like vinegar (great for windows when diluted with a little water — wipe with old newspaper or rags) and baking soda (mix with water to form a paste for scrubbing).

6. Mop Smart – Try a microfiber mop to remove dust and dirt efficiently while using smaller amounts of both water and cleaning supplies.

7. Proper Disposal – If you choose to toss your old cleaners instead of using them up, drop them off at your local hazardous waste facility. Don’t pour cleaning supplies down the drain — some of the ingredients can harm wildlife as well as people.

8. Greased Lightning – Ammonia may cut grease, but it’s also dangerous to your health. Skip the chemical sprays and use your favorite spritzer bottle filled with 4 parts water, 1 part white vinegar instead.

9. Soda Pops! – Baking soda not only removes those strange smells coming from your fridge, it’s also a great odor-eliminator for your carpet. Just sprinkle on a little baking soda to soak up some of those odors and then vacuum it up.

10. Elbow Power – Never underestimate the power of nature’s most effective cleaner: elbow grease. A simple cloth, a little hot water, and your own muscle are sufficient for most cleaning tasks.