Eco-friendly Housekeeping

The increasing concerns over the effects of chemicals on the environment as well as public health has resulted in new approaches to cleaning. This includes new methods of eco-friendly housekeeping that can be just as effective in removing dirt, stains, and other debris from household surfaces while reducing the possibility of causing damage to the environment, as well as to the well-being of the human beings that live in the household.

The traditional cleaning products that have been in use for many years have depended upon man-made chemical solutions for cleaning. The majority of these types of cleaning solutions included elements that have been found to cause serious health issues from long-term exposure, as well as long-lasting negative effects on ground water and soil content. This is due to the fact that most of these chemicals contain chlorine mixed with hydrated carbons, which have been found to have a high carcinogenic risk factor. Additionally, these chlorinated hydrocarbons have a greater density, which allows for them to penetrate more deeply into water sources and soil.

There are newer methods of eco-friendly housekeeping that include the use of natural elements that can produce equally effective results without presenting the possibility of toxicity and environmental damage that synthetic chemical cleaning solutions do. The common challenges to cleaning household surfaces, such as floors, rugs and carpets, windows, appliances, and countertops are in removing grease and oil, food and beverage stains, various forms of dirt and debris. Another challenge to household cleaning is presented by high levels of mineral content, otherwise known as hard water.

White distilled vinegar is one such organic substance that is an effective cleaner that is applicable in many different types of household debris. The acidic quality of vinegar, a by-product of sugar fermentation, makes it useful for freeing dirt and water scaling from surfaces and fabrics. It also has disinfectant properties that fight bacterial growth. A solution mixed at the ratio of 1 cup of vinegar per 1 litre of water makes an effective all-purpose surface cleaner for countertops and appliance surfaces. ¼ cup of vinegar in a clothes washing cycle will remove dirt as well as disinfect and deodorize clothing. A mixture of ¼ cup of vinegar into a medium-size spray bottle with water is also useful for window and mirror cleaning.

Baking soda is another versatile cleaning product that is organic in nature and thus very applicable for eco-friendly cleaning. The main element of soda is sodium carbonate, a natural mineral, that has many uses. Baking soda can be used as an abrasive for scouring surfaces, such as bathroom and kitchen fixtures. It also is an effective deodorizer for plumbing drains when mixed with vinegar. Resistant oven grease can be removed by mixing baking soda and water to form a paste that can be scrubbed into the stains and left standing for a long enough time to be removed by a sponge or steel wool pad.

Lemon juice is another eco-friendly cleaning product that is very versatile. It is most effective for removing stains, especially in clothing fabrics due to its ability to brighten fabrics when applied to the rinse cycle.

By: Dalia Sreideriene

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Domestic and commercial cleaning company based in London, DS Cleaning provides Environmentally Friendly Cleaning and sanitizing service that uses natural products for home, office and end of tenancy cleaning. All cleaning products used are eco friendly and will not harm the environment. For details visit www.dscleaning.co.uk