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Green living started out as a fad some years back. Many people were cynical about how long it would last and how practical it was. Most critics decided that green practices were just a passing phase and would soon give way to something new. Those who were critical thought that green living was too much of an effort. They didn’t see the point in discarding easily available products and practices in favor of more complex and time-consuming ones. Green living can also be expensive if you’re planning an overhaul of your living space like applying green roofing.
However, green living has caught on. If you are an environmentally conscious homeowner, why not take it to the next step and use green cleaning practices to keep your home clean? There are so many ways you can replace toxic cleaning products around the house with more environmentally friendly alternatives. Here are a few reasons and arguments in favor of green cleaning.
Helps the Environment and Your Families Health
To begin with, you will be greatly limiting or completely doing away with the use of artificial chemicals in the house. Which means, not only will you be reducing the damage done to the environment, you will also be promoting the overall health standard in your home.
The reduced levels of toxic residual layers on different items and surfaces in your home as well as fewer chemical vapors and toxins released into the air will positively impact the health of your entire family.
Also, fewer hazardous and artificial products used will mean that those suffering from allergies or other health conditions will have a much safer and improved environment. Green products are less likely to trigger off allergies or cause infections or illnesses because they are usually made from all-natural ingredients.
The run-off from cleaning products used in a house to the water systems is astounding. By switching to environmentally friendly cleaning products, you will be restricting toxic content from entering the waterworks in your home. This directly raises the quality of water, making it less toxic and safer to use for other household purposes.
Change Your Cleaning Habits
The whole point of cleaning your home regularly is to keep it free of any germs and dirt. It is ironic that to get rid of toxic substances and materials, we use other highly dangerous and toxic concoctions!
DIY Green Cleaning Products
If you are a proactive environmentalist, then consider making your own cleaning products. You can find a lot of recipes and ideas for homemade cleaning products on the Internet. Most of these can be whipped up using items, ingredients, and things that will already be there in the house.
In fact, most housecleaning products will come from kitchen ingredients. A little research, trial and error, and some practice are all it takes to make the shift from store-bought chemical cleaners to homemade, natural ones. This switch will also help you save money in the long run too!
Buy Green Products
The easiest way to make the change would be to start buying natural products. A lot of companies in the housecleaning niche have started making products and tools that are environmentally friendly.
These are typically priced higher but then spending a little extra for something that is less toxic does make sense. The next time you visit a supermarket, look for green-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products.
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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