A spotless, sparkly kitchen is one of life’s few pleasures. Yet, not all of the cleaning supplies we use in our Highland Park residences are good for the environment. The good news is that there are now more natural cleaning products than there have ever been. In fact, with a few basic items you likely already have in your kitchen, you can produce safer, impactful, natural cleaning products for a fraction of the price of store-bought goods that work just as well or better.
Why Use Eco-Friendly Products?
There are major benefits to using eco-friendly cleaning equipment in the kitchen. Strong chemicals can be exceedingly damaging to your eyes, nose, skin, respiratory system, and throat. In addition, they represent a grave danger to pets and vulnerable household members. Many store-bought cleaning products contain toxins that can harm the environment in addition to having negative impacts on your health. Hazardous chemicals can enter groundwater, lakes, and rivers through our kitchen drain, polluting the soil, killing plants, and sickening fish and animals.
Eco-friendly cleaning solutions, on the other end, contain non-toxic, simple components. Unfortunately, not all “natural” or “organic” brands are genuinely eco-friendly. Few federal regulations specify which goods can make the “natural” claim. Additionally, there are no laws requiring producers of cleaning products to identify the chemicals on the packaging of their goods. Therefore, it is up to the knowledgeable customer to either investigate the truly eco-friendly cleaning product brands that are available or manufacture their own.
Simple Ingredients = Safer Cleaning
White vinegar and baking soda are two of the simplest components included in many of the best environmentally friendly cleaning products you can manufacture or buy. These two pantry staples, when used in various combinations, can clean up practically any kitchen chaos. You don’t need to use the harsh chemicals found in many store-bought brands to thoroughly clean your entire kitchen from floor to ceiling with a couple of common cleaning supplies. Below are a few ideas:
- Floors: White vinegar, warm water, and a mop or towel can be used to wash and sterilize tile floors and sealed wood. While the scent of vinegar may not be particularly nice, you could simply add a drop or two of your preferred essential oil to make your kitchen smell good.
- Ovens: Cleaning the interior of your oven after food has been burned to it can be challenging. But you can use a baking soda paste to get rid of all that difficult filth if you have a small bit of baking soda, water, and persistence. Let the baking soda paste soak overnight before scrubbing for maximum performance.
- Glass and shiny surfaces: To clean glass or other polished surfaces, combine white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, cornstarch, and water, in a sanitized spray bottle. After that, spray and use a microfiber or lint-free cloth to clean. Paper towels are not eco-friendly and frequently leave streaks and paper towel remnants behind when used to wipe the glass and bright surfaces.
Buy or DIY?
If the idea of developing your own cleaning supplies is still unappealing, there are now numerous eco-friendly alternatives. Solutions from Method, Bon Ami cleansers, and Mrs. Meyer’s brand products are among the most popular names. These, as well as other brands, claim that their products are practical, safe, and eco-sustainable. Some of these businesses even utilize packaging made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastics.
After you learn about the advantages of eco-friendly cleaners, you might never go back to using harsh chemicals in your kitchen cleaning products again, whether you decide to buy them or create them yourself. You’ll not only protect your household and yourself, but you’ll also be supporting environmental preservation.
If you’re needing advice in managing your rental property or looking for a rental home, call Real Property Management Legend at 214-227-2404 to chat with an experienced Highland Park property manager today!
Originally Published on February 28, 2020
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
