Everyone needs to clean, but not everyone is comfortable with using cleaning products that are unsafe or harmful to the environment. Over the last decade or so, many companies have sprung up that offer safe, green cleaning products, and customers have taken a liking to them. We like to do our small part in keeping the environment clean, even if it’s just our immediate environment in and around our homes. But how do you know which products to use? What should you look for in eco-friendly cleaning products? Check out our short guide below and start making wise decisions about what eco-friendly cleaning products you should buy next!
EPA Labels
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an organization that helps determine the safety of products. Sadly, cleaning products are not as heavily regulated as other products; the companies are not required to disclose the ingredients, so buyers are not always aware of what they’re using in their homes.
To ensure that you’re cleaning with safe, environmentally friendly products, look for items that have the “Safer Choice” logo on them. The EPA evaluates performance, pH levels, the level of carcinogens, toxicities, environmental impacts, and more.
Additionally, you can look for products that have the “Design for the Environment” logo, which is primarily used on antimicrobial disinfectants.
Proper Packaging
Eco-friendly products are not only concerned with their ingredients. They’re also concerned with safe packaging that can be disposed of, recycled, or will break down efficiently. The packaging can even be made of recycled materials. The less plastic, the better!
Refillable or Reusable Containers
The bottles and containers for eco-friendly products should be used over and over again. You can sometimes buy replacement solutions to simply pour into the bottle. Some products even have tablets to drop in to the bottles so you don’t have to keep buying them.
Reusable containers are not unique to cleaning products – grocery bags, straws, chopsticks, and more have all taken off recently, too.
Green Ingredients
Many of the ingredients in cleaning products are toxic, fragrant, or harmful. They can’t be mixed with certain other solutions or you run the risk of creating noxious or deadly fumes. Hunt for products with ingredients made from plants and renewable resources as opposed to something like petroleum or bleach.
And of course, make sure the formula is biodegradable! Many solutions are poured down the drain once used, but this can still cause a lot of damage to the environment. Select products whose formulas break down and are safely reabsorbed by the Earth.
Do It Yourself
The other option is to simply make your own cleaning solutions. There are plenty of handy guides that you should refer to – don’t mix regular cleaners, though, or you run a huge risk. Simple household items like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice can actually take care of a lot of simple messes!
3 Maids For You
If you’re not looking to spend money on products and time cleaning your home, you’re in luck. 3 Maids is here for you, and we make sure your home is spotless while you focus on what you really want to do, whether it’s work or play. Call 3 Maids today to schedule a cleaning!
