01 April 22 - What is Green Cleaning and how is it changing the way we clean?

We've all focused more on safeguarding the environment in the last few years than before. We are constantly looking to reduce non-degradable materials, reuse containers, and conserve energy in this pursuit. Everyone today is playing their role in reducing their carbon footprint.

We now understand that even by carrying your grocery items in a reusable bag, we reduce our carbon footprint. Other activities like reusing clothes for long and recycling old equipment can also impact our carbon footprint. Homeowners are even going a level further with the use of electric cars in place of vehicles that run on fuel, installing solar panels to generate electricity and reducing the use of toxic material.

In the middle of all this, there's still a process that we forget – cleaning. Home cleaning is often overlooked in the middle of reducing water, switching off lightbulbs and installing solar panels. Without knowing, cleaning alone directly impacts the environment with the use of conventional chemical products.

Instead, a favourable approach can be the introduction of "Green Cleaning". Green cleaning is a relatively new topic of conversation. Green cleaning is all about replacing the toxic chemicals used in the cleaning process with eco-friendly, non-hazardous liquids, ensuring that the environment is protected.

The effect of chemicals

Have you ever wondered how much chemical cleaning liquid you use for a month? Assuming that you regularly clean your household every fortnight and have a deep cleaning scheduled every two months, there will be at least nearly a litre of a chemical solution on average that goes out of your home.

Add to that the daily cleaning tasks and the dishwashing liquid – where do you think the water ends up every time you rinse a sponge?

Cleaning chemicals are more likely to end up in wastewater plants whose sole objective is to remove the water's toxicity, but only a tiny fraction is actually taken out.

Once the water leaves the wastewater plants, it reaches the rivers, streams and the ocean, destroying the entire ecosystem. Marine animals breathe in this water that is contaminated by these chemicals.

There can even be traces of these chemicals tracking back to us in our water lines, endangering our health and reproduction in the long run. No matter how many labels are printed on these cleaning products about their eco-friendly nature, the reality is that they are not, which is why there's more reason to make the switch to green cleaning.

So, what exactly is Green Cleaning?

As the name suggests, green cleaning takes away all the chemical substances and brings in natural cleaning fluid that is harmless to the environment. These green cleaning substances are non-toxic and are made from organically grown ingredients.

A few key characteristics of green cleaning substances are:

While you use green cleaning to reduce your carbon footprint and play your role for the betterment of the environment, green cleaning comes with a few more benefits that you might have missed.

Here are three additional benefits of green cleaning:

1 - Better for personal health

Let's recollect the time when you last did a deep clean. You had protective gloves on, not only to keep away from the grim and dirt but also to prevent our skin from coming in contact with the chemicals.

But in contrast, green cleaning liquids are to a certain extent safe to be touched by hand and have fewer side effects. While we cannot say for sure that no one will have adverse reactions, they are generally safe to handle.

2 - Cleaner air at home and around you

When you clean with chemicals, you also contribute to polluting the air. There are volatile organic components (VOCs) that get released into the air around our homes, and these can continue to stay within the premises for a long time. Inhaling these particles can lead to liver diseases and nervous problems.

3 - Cost-effective

Up-front, the initial cost of procuring your natural ingredients can be expensive. However, when you see the reusability of these ingredients, you have the option of using them for a prolonged period.

Also, commercial cleaners are made for a single purpose – you cannot use a toilet cleaner on tile surfaces, and a surface cleaner will be disastrous on wood. In contrast, natural-based products don't have these issues – they come with multiple applications.

Creating your green cleaning solutions

Creating your very own green cleaning solution isn't as complicated as it may sound. You're thinking of a lengthy process that could be taking days, but green cleaning solutions take just a few minutes to create.

Here are a few easy to make green cleaning products:

Disinfectant: Mix 2 cups of water, one tablespoon of liquid castile soap and one teaspoon of oil (floral or tea tree) will create a germ kill disinfectant

All-purpose cleaner: Combine equal parts of vinegar and water to create an all-purpose cleaner that you could use on almost all surfaces. This all-purpose cleaner can remove even the toughest grime and dirt.

Drain cleaning: Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain and follow up with 1 cup of vinegar. Let the mixture work for 15 minutes, and then pour boiling water and watch the drain unclog.

Green Cleaning for the win!

Green cleaning liquids will soon be the accepted cleaning fluids, with more homeowners preferring organic substances over chemicals. This move comes not just due to the sustainable initiative but also because green chemicals are naturally sourced and safe.

Making the switch to natural cleaning fluids can be tough, but once you've embraced the green cleaning lifestyle, we'll highly doubt you'll switch back.