The idea of spring cleaning is nothing new. It can make you feel rejuvenated and productive. If you’ve been cooped up at home over the last year, spring cleaning is a fantastic way to give yourself a fresh start and feel good about the upcoming season.

While cleaning and organizing for spring is nothing new, the way you get the job done can be.

Sustainability has become a hot topic in recent years, but it’s more than just a buzzword. In fact, 77% of Americans want to learn how to live more sustainably. Thankfully, it’s easier to do than you might think. You can start with the way you tackle spring cleaning this year.

Choosing the right products to get your home clean and organized is important. With that in mind, let’s look at the potential damage traditional cleaning products could cause, the benefits of using natural cleaners, and how you can make your own with ingredients you may already have on hand.

The Problem with Traditional Cleaning Products

Many traditional cleaning products on the market do a great job. From getting rid of stains to swiping away dust, there is an endless variety of cleaners you can choose from when you walk into a store or shop online. But, some traditional household cleaning products can do more harm than good.

For starters, they might be harmful to your health. Bleach, for example, is great for getting rid of bacteria, mildew, and mold. But, if the fumes from bleach are inhaled, it could lead to respiratory issues. It might also impact your eyes, mouth/throat, digestive system, or skin. Bleach’s powerful cleaning properties might get the job done, but it can make you sick. It’s not the only cleaning agent with that problem, either.

In addition to harming your health, some traditional cleaning products could be damaging the environment. If you’re shopping for cleaners, pay attention to any product with the following chemicals:

• Phosphorus
• Nitrogen
• Ammonia

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorizes these chemicals as “volatile organic compounds.” When you use them to clean your house, the fumes can create air pollution. Additionally, because these chemicals are often found in things like laundry detergent and dishwasher tablets, they will eventually get into the water supply. While the majority of contaminants are removed from lakes and rivers, some may not be fully extracted. The buildup can cause major damage to existing ecosystems over time.

It’s also a good idea to avoid cleaning products that come in an aerosol can. While they aren’t as bad for the ozone layer as they used to be, aerosol products still contain compressed gases that can contribute to global warming. A traditional “spray bottle” is a much better choice, and can be reused multiple times, especially if you’re making your own cleaners.

The Benefits of Natural Cleaners

Whether you make them or buy them, there are so many reasons to make the switch to natural cleaning products. Now that you know about some of the damage traditional, chemical-laden products can do, it’s just as important to know about the benefits of natural cleaners.

When it comes to your personal health, natural cleaners contain fewer allergens. They’re also gentler on your skin, so they are perfect for anyone in your family who might struggle with respiratory issues or skin sensitivity. If you’re trying to cultivate a healthy wellness space for your whole family, including kids, you can feel good about using natural products in play areas, or even on toys and furniture.

From an environmental standpoint, it’s impossible to ignore the many benefits of going natural. Green cleaning products typically don’t contain harsh chemicals or toxins that can damage the environment. Many of them also use eco-friendly packaging that is either biodegradable or can be recycled.

Purchasing natural cleaning products is becoming easier as more companies are shifting to sustainable products and trying to deliver to the needs and wants of consumers.

But, if you want to take things one step further and know every ingredient that goes into your cleaner, you might consider making your own.

How to Make Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

Putting together your own natural cleaning products is easier than you might think because there are no harmful or scary chemicals involved. Most homemade cleaners contain ingredients you probably already have in your home, including:

• Vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Baking soda
• Essential oils

Utilizing reusable spray bottles and microfiber cloths will also help you to cut down on waste, so you’re not constantly throwing away bottles or paper towels every time you go on a cleaning spree.

There are countless “recipes” that you can put together for natural cleaners. All it takes is a quick search online. But, we’ll get you started with an easy “all-purpose” cleaner that you can use anywhere from kitchen counters to bathroom sinks:

1. Combine equal parts of warm water and white vinegar in a spray bottle.
2. Add one sprig of fresh rosemary.
3. Add one squeeze of lemon juice or drop in a lemon rind.

This simple solution will kill bacteria wherever it’s sprayed. It will also leave your home smelling clean, fresh, and natural, without the use of chemicals, preservatives, or synthetic fragrances. Will it work as well as a traditional all-purpose cleaner? Yes. But, it may take some getting used to if you’re more familiar with cleaning products that foam up or get “sudsy”. Natural products don’t often do that, but it doesn’t mean their cleaning power isn’t just as strong – or even stronger – than most products you can get in the store.

Switching to natural cleaners in your home can potentially make a big difference for your family’s health, especially if anyone has underlying health conditions. But, perhaps the biggest benefit is how quickly the change can have a positive impact on the environment. If everyone decided to switch out their favorite cleaning products for natural solutions, we could take one step closer to reducing our carbon emissions across the globe. That can start with you this spring, so you can enjoy the greenest season of the year by utilizing green cleaning products in your home.

About the author:

Frankie Wallace is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She writes about a variety of topics, and spends most of her free time in her garden. 

Image Here

Submitted Exclusively to CrystalWind.ca by Frankie Wallace © 2021 crystalwind.ca