10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – (oh no)- 5 – 4 ( I don’t have an New Year’s Resolution)- 3 – 2 – 1… Happy New Year! Don’t worry, we have one for you. Why don’t you make this year’s resolution one for the planet and clean green.
A few good arguments on why cleaning green is definitely the way to go:
It is cheaper to clean green than to buy all of those expensive cleaners (yes, it is even cheaper than those discount cleaners)
Using green cleaners actually cleans better than most commercial products
Cleaning green is generally faster than traditional cleaning
Most green cleaning supplies are already in your cabinet
You really are saving the planet
If you absolutely, positively cannot change your household cleaners, there are still some green tips that you can do as well
Going green was my resolution last year on the advice of a friend after a rather belittling disagreement with a prepackaged cleaning kit. I just knew there had to be a better way. I was wasting money on cleaning supplies that were negatively impacting my own health and killing my planet- and I needed help fast! Here are some of the things I found, tried and still use today:
For life changing clean windows and mirrors: Fill a large bucket (or sink) with warm water. Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Dip the squeegee in the water and wring out the sponge. Grab your dishcloth or washcloth and head for the nearest window. Sponge it up and squeegee it down. Wipe the squeegee after every swipe.
For sparkling white porcelain tubs and sinks: Using a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply to the tub or sink, let it set for a few minutes and rinse thoroughly with warm water.
For cleaning furniture: Mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice. Using a soft cloth, dab onto furniture and rub in.
Other quick tips to clean green and the benefits they offer:
Put your sponge in the dishwasher with the dishes to sanitize it and prolong its useful life (less waste, healthier living)
Use a hand towel in the kitchen to clean up messes and cloth napkins at dinner (eliminates paper waste.
If you cannot change to green cleaning supplies, at least rinse and recycle the plastic bottle your cleaners are in and use washable cloths instead of disposable ones (eliminates waste, provides material for recycled products)
If you have found even one thing on this list that peaks your interest or raises your curiosity then my job here is done. Once you find the right one, embrace it and make it your own resolution. No more running out of cleaners in the middle of a chore, no more accidental bleach stains on your clothes, no more worrying about your pets or children accidentally poisoning themselves on your cleaners. Green cleaning is simple, safe and effective- not to mention it fits nicely into that New Year’s Resolution list of yours. If you want more green cleaning tips or just general tips on how to live green pick your favorite search engine and start off with “green living” and “green cleaning tips”. Don’t just make this the year of clean… commit to it, and make it green.