In 2022, consumers spent over £130 billion on household essentials, including cleaning products. With an increasing number of these products marketed as ‘green’ and environmentally friendly, claiming to avoid harmful chemicals, there is some ambiguity about which products are sustainable.
Unfortunately, this has been complicated by the rise of greenwashing. This is when organisations falsely market themselves as environmentally friendly with minimal change to their environmental impact.
Several consequences, such as harming the credibility of genuine environmental activists, reducing consumer trust in ecological claims and even misleading customers on the true impact of their environmental effort.
Luckily, there are several ways to ensure you are cleaning your home in a legitimately environmentally friendly way. The team at Art windows & Doors have compiled their favourite tips below:
1. Research Eco-Friendly Products
Recognising legitimately eco-friendly products can protect the environment in several ways. These include ensuring the protection of wildlife, making your home environment less toxic, improving your home’s air quality and reducing pollution.
You can identify truly eco-friendly products by reading the ingredients, looking for reputable certifications and researching the company that makes the product in question. Red flags for any ingredients list will be harsh chemicals like chlorine, ammonia and sodium hydroxide.
You should note that these aren’t only bad for the environment, but can also be harmful to the health of you and your household when misused, so make sure to ventilate your home and keep children and pets away from chemicals at all times.
2. Invest In Reusables
An alarming number of cleaning products are thrown into landfill every year, with the annual figure of single-use plastic bottles used in cleaning estimated at 500 million in 2021. This has drastic consequences, including more than 100,000 marine animals being killed by plastic pollution each year and landfills being unable to recycle items previously containing toxic chemicals.
Instead, you can replace your everyday single-use cleaning items with reusable products. Every year, new products are returned with sustainable options, such as dish towels, glass bottles for cleaning solutions, and even cleaning brushes or sponges.
Items like plastic wrap can also be replaced with beeswax, which is much more environmentally efficient and can keep your food fresher for longer!
These items have a higher initial cost – but this often becomes cheaper and more convenient in the long run, lowering your environmental impact and keeping your lifestyle sustainable.
3. When Life Gives You Lemons
Lemons are naturally great for cleaning due to their citric acid, which is both antibacterial and antiseptic. As a result, lemons can eradicate bacteria, mould, mildew and even rust! The all-natural qualities of the fruit mean they are non-toxic and incredibly safe alternatives to store-bought and chemical-containing cleaners.
In addition, lemons are an incredibly affordable product in almost every shop. This means you can capitalise on their versatile qualities without having to search far; they can even be disposed of directly into the trash. More sustainable individuals may even wish to compost their lemons and other citrus fruits, but be careful to include only a little, as this could throw off the pH balance of your pile.
Finally, lemons are renowned for their fresh and clean smell, which many chemical-based cleaners try to replicate. Your home will resultantly smell great, look great and contribute towards a more wonderful planet if you choose to include them in your cleaning routine.
4. Repurpose Cleaning Items
Most of the items in your home that are ready to be donated or thrown away can be repurposed into great, non-toxic, efficient cleaning tools – just like lemons. Food products such as baking soda, vinegar and coffee filters can be used as natural cleaners for your kitchen, flooring or windows.
Alternatively, toothbrushes are the perfect scrubbers for small spaces, particularly spaces with nooks and crannies that have been impacted by grout. You can repurpose your original single-use spray bottles if you thoroughly clean them. These can then be filled with homemade cleaning products, such as weed killer, mirror cleaner or even a cleaning spray for outdoor spaces.
Lastly, some clothing items can be given a fresh lease on life and used as cleaning items. Your socks, old-t-shirts and other soft items can be used as dusting rags, while woolly blankets or even sweaters will not produce static, meaning they are perfect for dusting furniture! Many other things can also be used to mop up spills and then washed or thrown away, making them useful one last time!
5. Avoid Bleach
Bleach is an everyday staple in any cleaning cupboard, and it has many purposes that make it great for cleaning nearly anything. From removing mould and mildew to cleaning surfaces, removing stains and even disinfecting dirty surfaces, bleach is arguably one of the best cleaning tools. Unfortunately, it is also very toxic, not only to the environment but to humans, with drastic impacts on your eyes, respiratory system and skin if misused.
Many will also dispose of bleach in drains or waterways, primarily if it is being used in toilets, showers or other areas in the bathroom. When this happens, the oxidising agents found in the solution can eventually reach the ocean, which can significantly threaten marine life.
Luckily, with so many readily available non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning products, it is easier to avoid bleach altogether. Everyday household items that can work include baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda), vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
Cleaning your home in an environmentally friendly way is easier than ever due to the rise of the internet. If in doubt, give it a Google – many pantry staples are capable of much more than you may think! An item you may have binned may become a sustainability essential in your household, helping you live a much more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Art Windows & Doors
This was written by Marina Vassilopoulos on behalf of Art Windows & Doors.
Art Windows & Doors is a highly reputable double glazing and other home improvement services provider with over 40 years of experience. The business is based in Glasgow, Scotland.
Tom is a Digital Content Writer passionate about sustainable property & property trends. Regardless of the subject, he will always write blogs of the best calibre. Read more about Tom here.
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