Are Your Cleaning Habits Good for the Environment?
Statistics on climate change indicate that temperatures have risen by 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius) since the 19th century, and this has been heavily attributed to human activity, according to NASA. There are several sustainable developmental goals that have been established to addresses climate change, not to mention multiple global efforts such as the Paris Agreement, that are dedicated to improving the cause. One way in which individuals are reducing their carbon footprint is by conserving energy around their homes and embracing eco-friendly cleaning tips.
Unfortunately, most people have yet to consider the impact that their cleaning habits have on the environment and how to improve these for the better. Green cleaning essential habits should be practiced by Mom, Dad, and everyone in the family. Together we can make a difference. Read on to learn more about what you can do that will make a difference and some important facts.
Harmful or Helpful: Understating Your Cleaning Practices
You may not have considered the impact that your sweet-smelling cleaning products may have on the environment or even that they have any impact at all. Granted, homes generally don’t use large quantities of these cleaning chemicals as compared to commercial buildings. However, chemicals in most cleaners contribute to smog, reduce the quality of drinking water and are toxic to animals. The good news is that not all cleaning products contain these harmful chemicals and some are actually created to be eco-friendly. It is these products you should opt for to wipe down your counters, scrub your floors and even clean your windows with. You should be especially picky about the product you use to clean your windows as these are exposed to the sun. Keep in mind that whatever product you use is more than likely to evaporate.
Check out these eco-friendly homemade substitute to chemical based home cleaners that will keep your windows sparkling clean and your whole house without causing harm to your health or the environment.
Keeping Your Drain Clean
Green cleaning revolves as much around reducing waste products as using eco-friendly products. One of the most essential aspects of any home is the drainage system. You should know how to keep it clean and unclogged. A clogged sink presents a headache to any homeowner and requires a significantly large amount of powerful cleaning chemicals to clear it up, which contributes to environmental pollution.
- It is recommended to use a strainer to prevent hair or food particles from going down your drain and blocking your sink.
- Another way to keep your drain from clogging up is to flush the drain with hot water once a week especially if you use a lot of oil while cooking as this will wash away the fats.
Outsourcing Your Cleaning to Companies with Green Policies
In today’s fast-paced world and the cut-throat job market, it is not easy to find time to do a thorough cleaning. If you were already contracting a company to clean your home or even your office, you may not have checked if they have a green-cleaning policy. This is easily remedied as there are a number of cleaning companies that use eco-friendly practices. For example, there are the UK based cleaners at Ideal Cleaning who understand the damage that the chemicals in cleaning products can cause to the environment, which is why they ensure that all products they use won’t be harmful. If you don’t think that your cleaning company are doing this, you could request your regular cleaning service to use environmentally friendly products.
Climate change is our collective responsibility and we must play our part, however small, to reduce global warming. How we clean and what we use to clean is a good and easy place to start. It is our duty to our planet and to our family to keep our environment clean without causing harm. Making smart, green, and healthy choices in all aspects of our everyday life we can make a big difference in ensuring a healthier future for our children. By using eco-friendly and basic cleaning ingredients and products we are protecting our planet, our homes, and our family’s future.