Cleaning Tips to Help You Live Green

Living green is very important to us here at Cleantec. For this reason, we thought we’d share some eco-friendly ideas. Here are some tips to help make your everyday regimen more eco-friendly:

DIY Cleaner

Many household cleaners contain chemicals that can be harmful to people as well as the environment.  When cleaning surfaces (countertops, furniture, floors, etc.), opt for chemical free cleaners.

There are numerous companies offering environmentally friendly cleaners for purchase.  If you are the DIY type, you can make your own homemade green cleaners. Not only will you know exactly what is in your cleaning product, but you will feel confident about using it around your family.  It will probably save you a few dollars, too!

Here you will find tips for creating all-natural cleaning solutions with ingredients you probably already have in your home.

Avoid Products with Microbeads

Microbeads are used in personal care products and serve as a bulking agent or as abrasives. The use of this synthetic substance used to be proudly advertised on the packaging for products such as body and facial washes. Now they are known as a major pollutant of oceans and waterways because they are not biodegradable.

The tiny particles that make up microbeads are too small to be filtered by conventional wastewater treatment plants and therefore many of them end up in rivers and oceans.  This has caused some countries and companies to ban their use.

Repurpose, Reuse and Recycle

Another great and green way to save money is to skip the paper towels and use rags for cleaning. Save some trees by cleaning with an old t-shirt ripped into rags. The same goes for disposable dusters and sweepers – swap them out for reusable mops and rags.

When you are finished with the rags, you can drop them off to a textile recycler. Nonprofit organizations like the Salvation Army and Goodwill accept used textiles at donation centers.

Cleaning out

Speaking of unwanted goods … when you are decluttering your home, consider these greener options as opposed to throwing things away. You can hold a yard sale, donate to a nonprofit, or sell your stuff on eBay, LetGo or Facebook Marketplace, among other online resellers.

Think of all the unnecessary items you could keep out of landfills! You can also make a few bucks in the process.

Reduce the Use of Plastics

Did you know that it takes about 400 years for a single plastic fork to biodegrade?  You can help rid the landfills of these plastics by using reusable utensils, plates, cups, and straws instead of disposable ones.  In the alternative, choose ones that are recyclable or biodegradable.

When shopping, bring your reusable bags with you.  If you forget them, ask for paper bags if they offer them or see if they sell reusable bags.  When making purchases online, see if you can have all your items shipped together to reduce the use of shipping materials such as plastic bubble wrap. When you can, try to shop in bulk.

Add Greenery

Who doesn’t like a fresh breeze coming through the home on a perfect day? The circulation of air just feels green! Another way to get clean air is by adding houseplants to your home. Not only do they bring life (literally) to a room, but they also help filter indoor air!

Plant a Garden

Consider growing a garden in your own backyard. This is a great way to cut back on carbon emissions by supporting plant growth while also reducing trips to the grocery store. It will also save you money on groceries and can be fun for the whole family! Not to mention it can be a learning experience for the kids.

Start Composting

A wonderful way of giving something back to the Earth is to create a compost pile. A compost pile consists of organic material such as food scraps, inedible portions of foods (banana peels, apple cores or eggshells) and yard trimmings. This material reduces food waste and can eventually be added to soil as fertilizer to help plants grow.

You can refer to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website for some helpful information on composting at home. This eco-friendly process not only reduces food wastes, but it prevents the need for fertilizers, which translates into energy and resource conservation. More savings for you!

For more sustainable living information visit here.

Here’s to living green!

Cleantec aims to offer helpful information to our clients and friends. We currently serve all of New York, including the Syracuse, Ithaca, Manhattan, Rochester, Utica, and Buffalo regions. We also have operations in Palo Alto, CA; Denver, CO; Muscle Shoals, AL; Tampa, FL; and Sanford, NC. Give our sales professionals a call at (877) 469-0543 for a free consultation and quote regarding janitorial services. Learn how we can help your business achieve your cleaning needs.

Cleantec ensures all staff members are thoroughly vetted conducting background checks and drug testing. In addition to providing professional cleaning services, we are also a supplier of specialized cleaning products and green chemicals. Please call (315) 463-5353 to place an order.