Clean T.O: Everything You Need to Know About Green Cleaning
Okay, prepare to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about green cleaning! Basically, the goal of “green cleaning” is to use home-cleaning methods that are most compatible with human health and the environment. Simple, right? Furthermore, the commercial household cleaners are not necessarily bad- on occasion. However, they may contain toxic chemicals that after repeated use, can lead to long-term human and environmental consequences. So, are you ready to hear more about green cleaning?
Interestingly, many different kinds of home cleaning products fall under the “green” umbrella, including DIY solutions you can make from home! However, if you’re not into DIY projects, we can help you navigate the world of reputable green household cleaning products. Lastly, we’ll sum up the big controversy around green cleaning so you can make an informed decision! But first, let’s talk about why the green cleaning campaign has gained so much momentum…
Why Go Green?
When we’re going about our daily lives, we don’t often think about the long-term effects of our household cleaning products. Cleaning is a chore, and when it’s over you don’t want to think about it. But let’s just take a moment to consider t the accumulative effect of all the products we use. For instance, there’s evidence that the phosphates in dish detergents end up polluting rivers, and harming fish and aquatic life! And that’s just one example.
Plus, home cleaning doesn’t stop at dish detergents- we also use toilet cleaners, glass cleaners, wood polish; the list goes on. The scary part is, being exposed to multiple toxic cleaning products so consistently has documented long-term health effects on our skin, eyes, lungs and more. So why do we insist on putting ourselves in harm’s way?
It’s Canadian Law, Eh.
Well for one thing, we may not know better. Canadian law doesn’t require manufacturers to disclose a full list of hazardous ingredients in home cleaning products, or the potential chronic health and environmental hazards. In fact, Canada’s laws regarding household products are considered lax compared to other countries!
It’s crazy that we could be washing our sheets and cleaning our dishes and counters with products that could be highly toxic. Currently, the sad truth is that if you live in Canada, you’ll be able to stay informed in the workplace (by the mandatory GHS and WHMIS hazard symbols & labels) but you don’t have the luxury of safety when it comes to products at home.
However, there’s still good news! The truth is, you don’t need toxins to clean! Say bye-bye to all the chemicals! Because ultimately, they may make cleaning easier but they don’t necessarily make it any better. So, are you ready for a change? Get those gears in motions, it’s time to get your home shining without exposing yourself and your family to all those toxic commercial cleaners!
Navigating Green Cleaning Products
As you may have guessed, even green cleaning has a dark underbelly. For instance, many companies have “green washed” their home cleaning products, hopping on the bandwagon by putting buzzwords like “eco-friendly” on their labels. At the end of the day, misleading the public and doing nothing for the environment. However, there are a variety of green cleaning products that fall in the middle of the green-commercial spectrum. For example, the “green” products may not be free of harmful chemicals- but they have been produced in recycled packaging or contain ingredients produced on sustainable farms.
So, a product can be considered green for a number of different reasons. However, if health is your motivation, you must choose your green products wisely. This means you want to stick to products with natural ingredients and avoid those containing phosphates, chlorine, artificial fragrances and artificial colours. Ultimately, to see if your product is actually “green” make sure it has a third-party certification stamp, like the Green Seal. Check out a few of these green cleaning products we’ve compiled to get an idea of what’s out there. But don’t buy too quickly- we have a stellar list of DIY solutions further on that won’t cost you a dime!
For the Bathroom
- Seventh Generation’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner
For the Kitchen
- Live for Tomorrow’s ‘Dish the Dirt’ unscented, Dishwashing Powder.
- Ecover’s amazing Dishwashing Tablets!
Do it Yourself!
There are many different kinds of DIY green cleaners but we have compiled 5 tried and true green home cleaning recipes for you. If the ingredient lists seem too short, that’s just the beauty of green cleaning! You’ll see, that when you simplify your cleaning cabinet, you realize that you didn’t need to be using chemicals for all those years. However, it should be noted that green cleaners have yet to match bleach and chlorine in terms of strength. In reality, this means a spending a little extra time to achieve that shine you love- a small cost to pay for your health.
DIY Green Cleaning Solutions
Try these 5 simple & effective DIY green cleaning solutions for a healthier clean! However, this list is by no means exhaustive. Be sure to check out other great sources like the David Suzuki Foundation and Apartment Therapy for more green cleaning recipes and instructions!
- Stainless Steel Cleaner: 1 tsp. of olive oil, 1 tbsp. of vinegar, liquid castile soap, borax and essential oil of your choice!
- Glass Cleaners: Apply ½ white vinegar and ½ water to a wadded newspaper for a streak-free way to clean glass in your home!
- Furniture Polish: Mix 2 cups of warm water, 2 tbsp. of olive oil and 2 tbsp. of white vinegar/lemon juice and polish with a rag!
- Green Bathroom Scum Cleaner: Mix white vinegar and baking soda to a paste & clean!
- Natural Mold Killer: Use Tea-tree oil and a tooth brush to remove mold from your home!
As you can see, green cleaning involves a lot of vinegar. And for good reason! Vinegar is magical– even the most inexpensive white vinegar is very effective at killing salmonella and e coli. Plus, it can be used for a variety of situations, like washing vegetables to cleaning the floor! Additionally, by simply leaving DIY solutions like vinegar on your surfaces for at least one minute, not only will all the germs be killed, but you’ll be left with a nice shine! However, vinegar doesn’t smell great. To combat this, just mix in some essential oils like rosemary, basil or thyme to your solution! In fact, basil oils are also known to kill e coli, listeria and salmonella!
The Controversy
So, what’s the problem? Well, there has been debate over the effectiveness and strength of the disinfecting agents in green cleaners versus commercial household cleaners. Additionally, green cleaning products are under backlash because of their higher cost. Ultimately, consumers feel like they’re paying more for a less efficient product. This may be somewhat true, however maybe not entirely.
Though green cleaners may initially be more expensive, you actually need to use less solution per clean, saving you a trip to the store! Plus, unlike specialized commercial home cleaners, most green products are multi-faceted and can tackle a number of different components. Think of all the money you’ll save on specialized home cleaners!
Feel Informed Yet?
Ultimately, those hazardous home cleaning chemicals can make your cleaning job cheaper and easier, but not necessarily any cleaner. In fact, there’s plenty of sources to back that up. However, if you’re committed to playing your part to help the environment by paying a little extra and working a little harder to achieve your shine, then green cleaning is for you!
At the end of the day, commercial disinfectants are a sure-fire ways to clean, but is fire really necessary? Surely not every counter in Toronto needs toxic industrial-grade cleaner. Instead, practice prevention. By cleaning with simple DIY recipes regularly, you won’t need to use those toxic commercial cleaners periodically! Plus, you’ll be doing the environment and all of it’s creatures a big favour.
Hungry for more?
This post was brought to you by Maid4Condos, a top-rated residential cleaning service dedicated to the people of Toronto. Maid4Condos has been a committed partner to the Toronto cleaning and construction scene for years, and continues to provide exceptional cleaning services to clients. Get a FREE quote & book your cleaning today or follow this link to learn more of what we’re all about!
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