Two of the best ways of ensuring that keeping your home clean doesn’t harm the environment, is by correctly storing any toxic products – such as those used for cleaning or for killing bugs – and wherever possible, making your own non-toxic cleaning products, or buying them from a store.
- Begin by placing all toxic products that you need, into safe storage:
Whether we realise it or not, most of us have many potentially poisonous products lurking under our sinks or in cupboards, and over time, small amounts of the poisons can be omitted from the bottles and aerosol cans. This can obviously present a health hazard for members of your household, and for the environment.
Place every product that contains poisonous substances, into a clearly labelled cupboard or box that small children cannot reach.
- Safely dispose of unwanted hazardous goods:
No hazardous material should be poured down the sink or simply placed in the trash, as they’ll quickly end up polluting the waste stream or leaching out into landfills, so if you do have toxic products that you want to get rid of, you should contact your local centre responsible for recycling, or your town/city hall.
- Make, or buy, your own natural products for use around the home:
Many store cupboard ingredients can in fact be used to make highly effective cleaning products, such as lemons, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. Try to avoid products containing chlorine bleach, as this can be especially harmful for the environment. If you need to buy a stronger product for tackling bugs or simply don’t have the time or inclination to make your own products, then simply buy them from a store, being sure to carefully check that the ingredients are not harmful in any way.
- Try to conserve water
Clean water is a precious commodity and dwindling resources mean that it’s in ever short supply. Conserving it wherever possible, such as taking shorter showers and swapping baths for showers, or not running the faucet while we brush our teeth, all contribute towards saving water, and will cost you less money, too.
- Keep the air inside your home clean, with plant power:
Not only do houseplants look attractive, but they have been proven to reduce indoor air pollution, a problem that can have very real negative consequences for our health. Polluted air in the home can cause dizziness, asthma or allergies, and while the most common solution is to have ventilation systems installed, a cheaper way of tackling the problem is by growing an array of houseplants inside the home.
These are just a few of the myriad ways in which you can keep a clean home while still taking care of the environment, and as you have read, all are perfectly doable and in most cases, cheap. So, what’s your excuse?