Some things are better than a squeaky clean kitchen. However, not every cleaning product we use in our Houston houses is safe for the environment. The good news is that there are more environmentally friendly cleaning products accessible than ever before. In truth, you can create natural cleaning products that are safe, efficient, and cost a fraction of what store-bought goods do with a few basic items you probably already have in your pantry.
Why Use Eco-Friendly Products?
There are major benefits to using eco-friendly cleaning equipment in the kitchen. Harsh chemicals can be particularly bad for your eyes, throat, skin, nose, and respiratory system. In addition, they represent a grave danger to animals and vulnerable people in the household. Most store-bought cleaning products include chemicals that can damage the environment in addition to having negative health consequences. From our kitchen sink drains, toxic chemicals can enter groundwater, rivers, and lakes where they can poison fish and animals, pollute the soil, and kill vegetation.
Eco-friendly cleaning products, on the contrary, use basic, non-toxic substances that are more beneficial to the planet. Although, not all brands that claim to be “natural” or “organic” are environmentally beneficial. The items that can make the “natural” claim are limited by federal restrictions. In addition, there are no guidelines that require makers of cleaning products to list the chemicals on the product’s package. This implies that it is up to the knowledgeable consumer to either investigate the truly eco-friendly brands of household cleaners that are currently available or manufacture their own.
Simple Ingredients = Safer Cleaning
White vinegar and baking soda are two of the most straightforward components included in the finest green cleaning products you can manufacture or buy. These two kitchen essentials can handle practically any messes your kitchen can create when combined in various ways. You don’t need to use the corrosive chemicals in many store-bought brands to thoroughly clean your entire kitchen with only a few basic common cleaning supplies. Here are just a few examples:
- Floors: White vinegar, warm water, and a mop or towel can be used to wash and sterilize tile floors and sealed wood. While the scent of vinegar may not be particularly pleasant, you may easily mask it with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and get your kitchen smelling clean.
- Ovens: Cleaning the interior of your oven after food has been burned to it can be challenging. Nevertheless, you can use a baking soda paste to get rid of all that stubborn grit if you have a little time, water, and baking soda. Let the baking soda paste soak overnight before scrubbing for maximum performance.
- Glass and shiny surfaces: Add water, cornstarch, white vinegar, and rubbing alcohol in a clean spray container to clean glass and other polished surfaces. After that, spray and use a microfiber or lint-free cloth to clean. It is not a good idea to use paper towels to clean glass and other glossy surfaces, as they are not eco-friendly and tend to leave streaks and paper towel fragments behind.
Buy or DIY?
If crafting your own cleaning solutions still doesn’t sound tempting, there are several eco-friendly solutions now. Bon Ami cleansers, Mrs. Meyer’s detergents, and Method products are among the most widely recognized brands. These and other brands promise that their goods are safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly. Some of these companies even employ packaging made entirely of post-consumer recycled plastics.
After you learn about the advantages of eco-friendly cleaners, you might never go back to using harsh chemicals in your kitchen cleaning products again, whether you decide to buy them or manufacture them yourself. You’ll not only safeguard your property and yourself, but you’ll also be contributing to environmental preservation!
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