Who wouldn’t want a clean kitchen? However, these days, it is crucial to understand that not all of the cleaning products we use in our East Providence homes are safe for our environment. Fortunately, there are plenty of eco-friendly cleaning products available now than ever before to make our kitchens sparkle. Really, with a few simple ingredients most people already have in their cupboards, you can make safe, effective, natural cleaning products that cost a fraction of store-bought brands that work in the same manner or even better.
There are plenty of good reasons to utilize eco-friendly cleaning products in the kitchen. Harsh chemicals can be very harmful to your skin, eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system. Furthermore, they present a serious threat to any pets or sensitive members of the household. Other than the negative effects on your health, many store-bought cleaning products contain chemicals that can harm the environment as well. Toxic chemicals can make their way from our kitchen drains into rivers, lakes, and groundwater, killing vegetation, polluting the soil, and poisoning fish and animals.
Eco-friendly products, then again, use simple, non-toxic ingredients that are better for the environment. The problem is that not all brands that claim to be “natural” or “organic” are truly eco-friendly. There are few federal regulations that define which products can claim to be “natural.” Moreover, there are no regulations that require cleaning product manufacturers to list the ingredients in their products on their packaging.
What this suggests is that it is up to the informed consumer to either do some research to find the truly eco-friendly brands of cleaning products available, or make your own. In fact, some of the best eco-friendly cleaning products you can make or buy contain the same simple ingredients: white vinegar and baking soda. Used in various combinations, these two pantry staples can tackle almost any mess your kitchen can produce. With a few other ordinary, versatile cleaning supplies, you can clean your entire kitchen, floor to ceiling, without resorting to the harsh chemicals included in many store-bought brands.
For instance, sealed wood and tile floors can be cleaned and disinfected with just a little white vinegar, some warm water, and a mop or rag. Even though the smell of vinegar may not be all that pleasant, you could easily add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil to make your kitchen smell great. The same thing is true for cleaning one of the messiest parts of your kitchen: inside the oven. Getting that burned-on gunk off your oven’s interior can be a difficult task. But with a little baking soda, water, and some patience, you can use a baking soda paste to remove all that tough grime. For the best outcome, you will have to allow the baking soda paste to sit overnight before scrubbing.
In the same way, glass and shiny surfaces can also be cleaned with eco-friendly ingredients. To do so, you can mix together some rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, corn starch, and water in a clean spray bottle. Then simply spray and wipe clean with a lint-free or microfiber cloth. It’s a good idea not to use paper towels to clean glass and shiny surfaces since they are not eco-friendly and also tend to leave streaks and bits of paper towel behind.
If making your own cleaning products still doesn’t sound attractive, there are quite a few eco-friendly options now available. Some of the more popular brands include Mrs. Meyer’s products, Bon Ami cleansers, and Method brand products. These and similar brands guarantee that their products are both safe and effective, not to mention eco-friendly. Some of these brands even use 100% postconsumer recycled plastics in their packaging.
It doesn’t matter whether you choose to buy or make kitchen cleaning products, it is not surprising that once you begin, you will never go back to harsh chemicals again. Not only will you protect yourself and your home, but you will be doing your part for the environment, too.
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