Traditionally, homeowners have always worked to strike a balance when it comes to keeping their homes clean. You spread powerful and often toxic chemicals around the surfaces of the home to eliminate dirt, grime, and harmful microbes. Most automatically associate the smell of chlorine, for example, with clean and safe surfaces.

Yet we also understand that we should reduce our exposure to unnatural chemicals harmful to our bodies. The more environmentally conscious millennial generation especially seeks natural alternatives to harsh chemicals, or at least the safest substance possible. 

Look for the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Safer Choice” Label

Since 2004, the US Environmental Protection Agency has offered a program called “Safer Choice”designed to help consumers to make informed choices about the cleaning products that they purchase. 

Over 2,000 products bear the Safer Choice designation. This means that they passed rigorous testing to show that the chemicals used within pose less harm to the environment and living creatures. Also, they perform comparably to traditional cleaning products with harsher chemicals.

Ways to Do a Greener Clothes Wash

You can do a greener load of laundry using these easy steps suggested by the New South Wales state government in Australia.

First, instead of bleach, add one cup of lemon juice to a half a bucket of water. Soak overnight. This will help to brighten your white clothes and linen. A half a cup of natural borax in your wash will have the same effect. Just remember that all-natural does not always mean non-toxic. Keep borax away from children and pets. 

To remove stains, try a few drops of eucalyptus oil instead of chemically based stain removers. 

You can make your own laundry detergent for green cleaning as well. Grate one-third of a cake of pure soap and mix with one-third of a cup of washing soda. Dissolve in hot water. It will form a gel that cleans clothes marvelously.

Keep Those Pipes Gunk Free With This Simple Tip

When the pipes beneath your kitchen sink get clogged, the consequences can range from inconvenience to disastrous. All types of food and other messes can find their way down there. If grease and oil coagulate, they can catch other items and form a clog. 

Once a clog occurs, most people buy highly toxic and corrosive declogging agents to clear away the mess and restore function. Others may try to use a popular cola known for its corrosive and cleansing properties. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In this case, you can save money and adopt a greener solution. Pour a large pot of boiling water down your sink once a month. This should keep away clogs in the most environmentally safe way possible. 

Cleaning Wood Surfaces

Ever think of using salad dressing to clean your wood surfaces? A mixture of olive oil and vinegar can make a salad taste great. It can also restore the shine to wood furniture and floors. This all-natural combination can be used safely around children and pets. 

Other Suggestions

For everyday green cleaning, replace your glass and surface cleaner with a solution that is half clear vinegar and half water. Vinegar degreases, disinfects, and leaves a more pleasant clean smell than bleach or other chemicals. 

Baking soda is the ultimate deodorizer. Instead of sprinkling chemically-based disinfectants into your carpet before vacuuming, use baking soda instead. It naturally deodorizes and leaves a fresh smell. 

For a thorough professional clean from a service as environmentally conscious as you, call Memorable Maids today. Our founder puts two decades of military logistics experience to work cleaning homes, businesses, and government offices throughout Maryland and Washington DC.