Homeowners are increasingly conscious of the environmental impacts of home cleaning products and supplies. How you clean your home can influence the health of your family and pets, as well as the greater ecosystem. It can be challenging to balance keeping your home clean and being environmentally responsible. At My Amazing Maid, we’ve been emphasizing green cleaning products for many years. Here are a few tips on ways you can maximize cleaning power while minimizing harm to your family and the environment.
#1: Choose Home Cleaning Supplies Without Harsh Chemicals
Whenever possible, opt for cleaning supplies that use natural or gentler alternatives to harsh chemicals. The advantages of skipping the harsh chemicals are many, such as:
- Keeping your family and pets from breathing in or coming into contact with potentially dangerous chemicals
- Avoiding putting harmful chemicals into the environment
- Lessening the risk of damaging home furnishings or finishes with a harsh chemical
There are many products out there that are marketed as being “green” or eco-friendly. At My Amazing Maid, we carefully research products in advance, and we’ve been using a few for many years now. One of our most-used green cleaning products is Biokleen, a general cleaner powered by citrus and grapefruit seed extract. Biokleen is a safe choice for your home and the planet, and it is made right here in the United States.
We use plant-based products whenever possible, such as vinegar-based rather than ammonia-based glass cleaners. We also use heavily filtered deionized water (DI Water) with high-quality microfiber cloths for many cleaning applications, which allows us to skip the added chemicals while still achieving a great clean. In fact, DI water has been shown by studies to be more effective than many harsh chemicals. We use a powder cleaner called Bon Ami, along with hydrogen peroxide, for many kitchen and bathroom cleaning applications. This green cleaning solution can be just as effective as other abrasives containing bleach, and won’t scratch surfaces.
#2: Clean With Natural Items From Around the House When Possible
Sometimes you need an extra boost from a commercially available product, like many of the green cleaning options we use at My Amazing Maid. Other times, you can actually accomplish home cleaning tasks with basic, added chemical-free household items.
Be sure to research each individual “cleaning hack” before you try it in your own home. While there are many amazing uses for everyday items like vinegar, baking soda, and citrus, some cleaning tricks get popular on social media or as urban legends without much scientific backing. Usually, there’s not a huge risk to trying DIY natural cleaning ideas, but you want to do your research just in case. While products like vinegar and lemon juice are natural, that doesn’t mean they might not have unexpected effects on your home or furniture. In some cases, you might even accidentally combine items that could produce a dangerous result (or at least damage your granite countertops).
If you don’t have time to do a lot of research and mix up your own products, stick with reputable commercially available green cleaning brands like Biokleen until you can do more investigating.
#3: Choose a Home Cleaning Company That Takes Green Cleaning Seriously
Just because you care about the environment and the safety of your family doesn’t mean you have time to do tons of research before you even get started cleaning. If hiring a home cleaning service is part of your plan, choose a company that prioritizes green cleaning. At My Amazing Maid, eco-friendly cleaning has always been part of our company value system, and we are happy to work with clients to educate them about our products and techniques.
Whatever home cleaning company you choose to work with, be sure that they are knowledgeable about the individual products that they use, and willing to work on a customized plan for your home. For example, at My Amazing Maid, if we have a client who has ongoing difficulty keeping mold from growing in their bathrooms (a common issue in the South), we will ask if they are comfortable using a bleach-based product, or if they prefer to exclusively use gentler, more natural options.
#4: Use Reusable Home Cleaning Products When Possible
Whenever feasible, try to avoid single-use products. For instance, rather than grabbing a paper towel to wipe up a counter spill, use a reusable cloth and toss it in the wash. Select mops or mop alternatives that have reusable cleaning pads that can be washed and reused many times before replacement. This not only cuts down on trash in the landfill but saves you money in the long run. A single microfiber cleaning cloth could easily be used hundreds of times, if not more before it wears out.
For cleaning applications where you prefer a single-use option, try to look for options that are sustainably sourced, free of harsh chemicals, and biodegradable or recyclable.
#5: Look for Green Cleaning Products That Minimize Bulky Packaging
Another great way to cut down on waste when cleaning is to select home cleaning products that don’t use up as much packaging. The simplest option is to buy bulk concentrate cleaners, either in large jugs or tablet form. Some green-focused companies are now selling cleaners in condensed tablets. You buy a spray bottle and a package of tablets, and then add a tablet to water to make the cleaning solution. Often the packaging the tablets come in is recyclable or biodegradable, and these companies typically focus on using more natural products. You can also purchase liquid cleaners in bulk. A gallon jug of concentrated cleaning solution could easily save dozens and dozens of plastic bottles if you usually purchase your home cleaning sprays in individual small bottles.
#6: Use Sustainably Sourced Green Cleaning Products
Not all green cleaning products and companies are created equal. Before buying a lot of products from any one company, be sure to look into how the company sources its raw materials and manufactures the final product. Higher-quality solutions can be expensive, but there are many companies out there that offer quality products at reasonable prices, particularly if you are able to purchase them in bulk.
#7: Ask Questions About Cleaning Products and Services
When in doubt about a green cleaning product or service, ask! A quality cleaning service or green cleaning product company will welcome your questions and be happy to help you learn more about cleaning your home in a safe, environmentally friendly way. Reputable companies that stand behind their products and approaches are transparent about their ingredients and processes, and willing to help customers learn more.
Questions? My Amazing Maid is Here to Help
At My Amazing Maid, we place a strong emphasis on transparency with clients and are always ready to answer your questions so you know exactly what happens in your home every time we visit.
Check out our Green Cleaning page for more information about our products and processes, and feel free to contact us with any questions you have.