36. Clean Green
For this weeks’ #52climatesolutions, we ask you to clean green. Most household surfaces can be cleaned with simple products. We share some of our favourite recipes.
Advertisers aim to convince us we need things sparklingly clean to an industrial level. Hygiene is important (especially in pandemic times), but do we need hospital-grade hygiene in our homes? Ads have normalised single-use wet-wipes, synthetic cloths, aerosol sprays, industrial grade disinfectants and ‘chemically-proven’ powders, liquids, and gels. But products that appear ‘good for you’, which are designed to clean dirt and harmful bacteria, may kill the good bacteria too, and cause more harm than good.
Greenhouse gas emitting petrochemicals are commonly used in household cleaners. Many contain palm oil, grown where tropical rainforests are cleared and burnt, releasing huge amounts of CO2 into the air. Some household and industrial cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can trigger asthma, cause headaches and allergic reactions. Some products contain benzene and formaldehyde, and endocrine disruptors which pollute waterways, our soil and our bodies.
The perceived convenience of buying packaged cleaning products can mask their harmful impacts. Do you know what ingredients they contain? How many carbon miles are in shipping them? What happens to the packaging after it's used up? Disposable cleaning supplies like sponges, wipes, plastic dish-brushes and mop pads usually end up in landfill, but there are alternatives.
For this weeks’ #52climatesolutions, we want you to clean green. Most household surfaces can be cleaned with simple products containing ingredients like soap, vinegar, bicarb soda and water. These simple and affordable ingredients can replace a whole aisle worth of supermarket products, but retail companies won’t tell you that. Inform yourself about the impacts of the chemicals and packaging in products you usually use.
Also, consider how frequently you clean yourself and your home. Washing your hands regularly (and well) is a good idea, but it may be ok to skip a shower to save water and soap. Your home may be clean enough with frequent superficial cleaning, rather than weekly deep cleaning. Check for dirt and smells before washing clothes. Ditch your dryer and harness the sun! Clean green, but only when you need to.
Our favourite cleaning products and recipes
We keep our cleaning products to a minimum. Straight vinegar is great for cleaning windows. For stubborn surface dirt and grime, or to polish up stainless steel, bicarb does a great job. For the floors, we use hot, soapy water with vinegar and/or methylated spirits and eucalyptus oil, and a mop we make with an old t-shirt wrapped around the broom head. You’ll usually find us wielding our simple multipurpose surface spray for dusting, cleaning benches or the bathroom. We use our bee balm moisturiser for furniture polish! We save time and money in making our own. We’ve helped reduce the incidence of eczema in our family. We’re keeping chemicals to a minimum, and we’re reducing packaging waste. It’s wins all-round!
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