Go Green or Go Home: How to Choose Green Cleaning Products

March 6, 2019

Written by: Terry Stevens

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In 2018, the UN released a damning report that told us how much climate change is impacting the earth. We don’t have long to reverse these effects, which means it’s more important than ever to go green.

Going green is one of the best ways we as individuals and house cleaning professionals can do our bit to save the planet. One thing we all use in our home is cleaning products, but some of these chemicals are damaging to the planet.

But there are a lot of great ways to start green cleaning instead. Using green cleaning products is a lot safer and healthier for both you and the planet.

Read on to learn about how to choose green cleaning products.

1. Know What to Avoid

One of the first steps to learning what green products you need to buy is to know what you should avoid. There are many dangerous chemicals in these products that you should steer clear of.

These include things like ammonia, bleach, chlorine, phosphates and more. These things are found in common house cleaners and we often don’t think twice about them.

But many of these can cause a lot of damage to the environment and to your own body. Do some research and learn about these many chemicals. 

2. Pay Close Attention to Ingredients

Now that you know what to avoid, it’s time to start shopping for green products. This is when you must pay very close attention to the ingredients listed.

If you come across a product that doesn’t tell you what is in it, leave it. These products clearly don’t want their customers to know what they use and that can only be a bad sign.

If you don’t know what is in a cleaning product, how can you know that it’s safe? Put it down and keep looking till you find one that does tell you what’s in it.

3. Don’t Always Believe Branding

When it comes to choosing green cleaning products, its best to remain sceptical. There are a lot of products that label themselves as ‘natural’ or ‘eco-friendly’, but they may not be.

If they do say this, take a look at the ingredients used to know for sure. If they include any items like the ones listed in the first point, put them down and look for something else.

These are marketing lies used to trick consumers into thinking they’re buying green. Don’t let them fool you.

4. Learn Which Products Work Best

One of the best parts of green cleaning is that you get to be creative and learn about what works best. There are lots of natural, eco-friendly ingredients that make brilliant household cleaners.

For example, vinegar is fantastic at cleaning grease and grime. Baking soda gets rid of tough stains, cleaning the dishes, and so much more. Soy-based cleaners make great all-purpose soap and are much better than using chemicals.

You don’t need to use much of them and they don’t have a negative environmental impact either. Plus, they’re much cheaper to buy and they will last you for a long time.

5. Switch to Eco-Friendly Rubbish Bags

It may not fall into the same category, but rubbish bags are also a cleaning product. They help keep your home clean and tidy from waste.

But plastic is decimating our oceans and rubbish bags use a lot of plastic. Instead, you can switch to eco-friendly rubbish bags that bio-degrade.

They’re still strong and sturdy and keep your waste contained. But they won’t do as much lasting damage on the environment once you throw them out.

6. Think About the Smell

One thing that pretty much all chemical household cleaners have in common is the smell. Often, they smell very strongly of bleach or ammonia, and it isn’t the most welcoming smell. 

But with natural household cleaners, you don’t have to worry about that. Most of them smell fresh and sweet, or they don’t have much of a smell at all. If you use vinegar, it may carry that strong smell, but you can use other ingredients to improve the smell.

It’s a great reason to make the switch to green cleaning products. They work well and smell even better, so no more chemical smells for your house!

7. They’re Much Safer

Not only are green products better for the environment, but they are way safer for our health. 

If you have children or pets at home, green cleaning products are much safer to have around the house. If they got into a harmful chemical cleaner, the consequences could be devastating. 

Since natural cleaners aren’t as risky, you have peace of mind that your house is a safe environment. You can also use them as an opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of being green.

You could even make your own natural cleaners together and turn it into a fun activity! 

8. Get Creative With It

Once you start using green cleaning products, you won’t ever want to go back to the chemicals. It’s also fun to learn about which natural ingredients work best to clean and how you can use them.

It gives you a chance to get creative and learn which combinations of products work best. You may find that one thing works better than another that you didn’t even know about!

The possibilities are endless and there’s so much for you to learn about and explore. It may also help you fall in love with your home all over again as you give it some natural TLC.

It’s Time To Start Green Cleaning Today

Switching to green cleaning products is much easier than you’d think and you won’t regret doing it. There are a lot of great benefits to natural cleaners and they help save the planet too. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to start using natural cleaning products today!

Looking for more ways to clean up your home? Check out our cleaning tips to get inspired!


Tags

Cleaning Supplies, Green Cleaning, Healthy Home Tips, Healthy Living, Natural cleaning, Smells


About the author 

Terry Stevens

The owner and founder of Sparkle and Shine. He is a seasoned professional in the home services industry with a decade of experience. He is dedicated to providing top-notch services for residential and commercial properties and has a wealth of knowledge to share on topics such as tips, tricks, industry trends, and the importance of loving your space.