Parents today have a lot on their minds to worry about. Paying the bills, putting food on the table, saving for their children’s college education and making sure everyone is happy and healthy are just a few. Many parents spend several hours every week cleaning the home, and some even go to the length of hiring someone else to come in and clean.
Keeping the house tidy is considered a parenting duty of the highest order in many homes, on par with keeping children healthy. But what about when cleaning the home uses toxic chemicals and other potentially hazardous materials? Or what about when cleaning the house just becomes wasteful, another way to add to the piles already sitting in landfills? There is good news for parents concerned with these issues. There are many ways to be green while cleaning your home.
8 Green Home Cleaning Tips
Reduce
If you cut down how much stuff your family uses, you will have less clutter in your home and fewer messes to clean up. So make it a point to be less wasteful by buying less of what you don’t really need. If you find yourself throwing away rotten vegetables, for example, buy less at the store.
Reuse
A lot of what we throw away can actually be reused. If you reuse half of what you can, you will be making a big difference. Instead of throwing something away, ask yourself what it can be used for. For example, does that cardboard box need to be tossed? Or can you save it to pack up other things?
Recycle
So maybe you don’t have another use for that cardboard box, and you don’t want to keep it around and wait for one to appear. That’s okay; just be sure that instead of throwing it away with the rest of your trash, you are recycling it. Sort out your recyclables from your trash, whether or not it’s the law.
Use fewer store-bought cleaning products
It can seem like Windex is the solution to all of your cleaning problems, but most of our favorite cleaners are loaded with toxic chemicals.
What can you use instead? Glad you asked. Try using a mix of water and vinegar on windows. It is good for the environment and keeps those toxic chemicals out of your home. Learn more about non-toxic cleaners.
Make a large donation
The more stuff you have, the more stuff you need to clean. Use the opportunity of greening your home to purge your belongings and those of your family. Donate anything that can be reused, including clothing and old furniture. Instead of letting these things sit unused in your closets and basement, you can put them to a charitable use. If for no other reason, the donation will be a tax write-off!
Teach your children to be green, too
Kids are responsible for 85 percent of the messes in their homes. They spill things; they spread things; they color where they aren’t supposed to. When you are cleaning up these messes, explain the measures you are taking to be green to your children.
Stop using throwaway cleaners
Do you use paper towels to clean up spills and other messes? Switch to reusable rags or dishtowels. You can wash them and use them over and over again. This will save you money and save those paper towels from landing in a trash heap.
Get plants
Plants make for great home décor, but they also clean the air because they naturally remove carbon dioxide from the air and replace it with oxygen. This is good for everyone!
