Due to rising environmental concerns across the globe, there’s more focus than ever before on the importance of living sustainably and switching to eco friendly cleaning products in our everyday routines. But when it comes to cleaning out homes, it can be difficult to let go of old habits and to know which green alternatives are right for you.

There are many myths surrounding cleaning products, and you may be wondering if those that favour natural ingredients over harsh chemicals will keep your home as fresh and sparkly as you’d like. Luckily, there’s plenty of options to choose from, and you may be surprised to discover just how well these natural products can spruce up your home.

Let’s run through our top three eco friendly replacements for your everyday cleaning supplies.

Window and glass cleaner

White vinegar is the star of the show when it comes to window and glass cleaning. This powerful liquid is great for getting rid of grease and stuck-on dirt, thanks to its natural acidity. Create your own window cleaner by simply mixing ½ cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water for the perfect grime-busting mixture. Adding ½ teaspoon of regular dish soap will help you to avoid any smears on your glass and windows, and you can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for an uplifting fragrance as you clean.

Antibacterial cleaner

Many people are surprised to discover that you don’t need harsh chemicals to disinfect surfaces. You can create your own eco friendly antibacterial spray with essential oils that possess natural antibacterial properties.

By adding ten drops of tea tree, five drops of eucalyptus, five drops of peppermint and five drops of lemon to a bottle of water, you’ll create a powerful sanitizing spray which doubles as a multipurpose cleaner. For an extra boost to help cut through grease, add some rubbing alcohol.

If you would still prefer to buy your cleaning supplies rather than make your own, there are many eco-friendly companies that now offer refillable bottles with small cleaning sachets to save on packaging and waste. Unfortunately, many products are actively greenwashing their consumers. This is a term used for when a label appears to be eco friendly, but has no relevant evidence to support it. Look for non-toxic, natural ingredients, and be sure to verify the company is as green as it pledges by checking its certification labels.

Oven cleaner

Readily available oven cleaners contain dangerous chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, which is a serious irritant to the eyes, skin and respiratory system. Even if you manage to avoid any contact with these toxins yourself when using them, they’re also harmful to the environment as they effectively release poisons into the water once washed away – damaging our marine life.

Another issue with many of these products is that they come as aerosols, which makes it virtually impossible to not contaminate the air in your home with these toxic chemicals. For people with pets or children, this is becoming a growing concern.

Luckily, there are natural, eco friendly alternatives which are just as effective for degreasing an oven and leaving it fresh. Plus, you won’t need to worry about any leftover residue contaminating your food when you’re done cleaning. Using baking soda to clean your oven is a cheap and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional oven cleaners.

Have fun while saving the planet, and your wallet

The great thing about many of these homemade and eco friendly cleaning alternatives is that they’re multifunctional – so you can clean multiple areas of your home with a single formula. By making up one or two bottles as needed, you’re saving valuable resources, protecting the environment, plus saving money and storage space. Why not also invest in some cute storage bins to organize your cleaning supplies? These also make carrying everything you need around the house with you much easier, too. Have fun choosing which essential oils you fancy this month and get creative with making your own eco friendly cleaning products.

 

 

– James Edwards

James is a fan of all things sustainable, and with a passion for home organization, he is always excited to share his eco friendly cleaning tips.

Explore the meori blog, Organize Life for more tips on how to organize and declutter your home, pack for a road trip and keep all your work essentials organized between office and home.