What Is Green Cleaning And What Are The Benefits
Green cleaning, like anything with the word “green” attached to it, simply means utilizing methods and cleaning agents that minimize your environmental impact. Traditionally, many off-the-shelf cleaners contain harsh chemicals that, when washed down your drains, inevitably end up making their way back into the ecosystem. While municipalities certainly make efforts to treat the wastewater that we are responsible for on a daily basis, it is not a foolproof method. Below are some of the benefits of green cleaning.
Protecting your Family
Using harsh chemical cleaners on counter tops, stoves, ovens, barbecues and areas where the potential for later ingestion is particularly high means that you are putting your family's health in jeopardy. Using green cleaners, particularly all natural products like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and lemon will keep your family, especially your little ones, and pets, safe from toxic chemicals.
No Toxic Fumes
One thing you will have noticed about most traditional, off-the-shelf cleaners is that most of them come with the dreaded “noxious fumes” warning. It is always a good idea to use a face mask when cleaning with these chemicals because inhaling them is bad for your lungs, bad for your eyes, can cause headaches, dizziness and confusion. Green cleaning products eliminate all this.
Kids Can Clean with You
Using green cleaning products will allow you to confidently allow your kids to to help you clean. Teaching your kids how to clean not only instills responsibility, it is also an important life skill. You can't really impart these skills with much confidence if you are worried that they are cleaning with chemicals that are going to burn their skin, their eyes, their lungs, or be accidentally ingested and require a trip to the hospital, or a call to the poison control line.
Cheaper
It's great protecting your family, yourself and the environment, and it is also great when doing so saves you money. Hydrogen peroxide, lemon, baking soda, and vinegar all cost much, much less than a plastic bottle of name brand cleaning solution at your local drug or grocery store. They last a long time, a little goes a long way and the same vinegar and lemons you use in the kitchen, can be used in the bathroom.
Green cleaning is cheap, simple and is definitely an effective means of cleaning your home. Green products work just as well, oftentimes better, than non-green alternatives, and they free you from the worry that your cleaning supplies and cleaning station present a health hazard for you, your family and the natural world.