Use eco-friendly cleaning and personal hygiene products to avoid harsh chemicals.
Welcome to Week 33 of 50 Ways to Reduce Your Waste Line. Last week, we invited you to access bottle-refill stations rather than purchasing “disposable” or delivered water. This week we encourage you to use eco-friendly cleaning and personal hygiene products to avoid harsh chemicals.
There are several benefits to using eco-friendly cleaning products – in particular, they are safer for the atmosphere. Harsh chemicals commonly found in cleaning products, such as chlorine bleach, can affect indoor air quality. Lower toxicity contents in eco-friendly products are less harmful to our food, skin, air and surfaces so we can use these products without worrying about unwelcomed reactions. Eco-friendly products help reduce pollution since they have fewer smog-causing chemicals and are packaged in biodegradable materials. Lastly, these products often save us money. There are several eco-friendly cleaning products that can be made at home, such as lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar or olive oil, which are less expensive than purchased cleaning products.
One Thing You Can Do:
Try one of these homemade cleaning remedies.
1) Lemon & Baking Soda
Sprinkle baking soda over a surface which needs to be cleaned, i.e., your bathtub or kitchen counters. Drizzle a fresh lemon over the baking soda and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then spray the surface with water and wipe the area with a cloth. Be careful not to get any lemon juice on any fabrics nearby, as it may stain. (Source: https://inhabitat.com/inhabitots/5-homemade-cleaners-fresh-from-your-kitchen-pantry-and-the-best-ways-to-use-them/kitchen-pantry-cleaners-lemon-and-baking-soda/)
2) White Vinegar
White vinegar can be used on several different surfaces, including glass, floors, walls and even clothes! Use vinegar to break up deposits on your shower head to improve water pressure. Remove the shower head and soak it in vinegar. You may add a few drops of an essential oil to your vinegar cleansers to improve the smell. (Source: https://inhabitat.com/inhabitots/5-homemade-cleaners-fresh-from-your-kitchen-pantry-and-the-best-ways-to-use-them/kitchen-pantry-cleaners-clean-with-vinegar/)
3) Olive Oil
To prevent streaks and tarnish on stainless steel and brass cookware, take a cloth and rub a bit of olive oil on the dishes. You can also use olive oil to clean garden tools or help prevent wicker furniture from cracking by rubbing it directly onto the surfaces. (Source: https://inhabitat.com/inhabitots/5-homemade-cleaners-fresh-from-your-kitchen-pantry-and-the-best-ways-to-use-them/kitchen-pantry-cleaners-clean-with-olive-oil/)
4) Herbs & Spices
Herbs and spices can be used to clean and freshen the home. To get rid of unpleasant food smells in the oven, sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on an old baking dish, then squeeze some fresh citrus juice (preferably orange) over the spices. Let the dish sit in the oven as it cools. You can also make a homemade herbal disinfectant that works on most surfaces. Select a handful of fresh herbs, such as lavender, eucalyptus, juniper, sage, basil, thyme or rosemary (or mix and match as you please) and place them in a pot. Cover with 3 cups of water and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the herbs, pour the liquid into a labeled spray bottle and use to sanitize various areas in the home. (Source: https://inhabitat.com/inhabitots/5-homemade-cleaners-fresh-from-your-kitchen-pantry-and-the-best-ways-to-use-them/kitchen-pantry-cleaners-clean-with-herbs/)
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