First of all- what is green cleaning? As I see it, green cleaning means using products that are not harmful to your health, the public’s health, and the environment. It means using simple, natural, clean products that work. It means using products that you can feel confident about.

I know some people are hesitant about green cleaning- it’s a big undertaking. It doesn’t have to mean making all your own products, but it does mean considering the ingredients, the manufacturing, the packaging, and the long term environmental effects of the products you use. But trust me- it is simpler than it sounds!

If you’ve clicked this link, I’m assuming that you’re at least a little interested in green cleaning. There are plenty of benefits of green cleaning- more than I can list right now! I can tell you that I haven’t regretted making the switch to green cleaning one bit. It has been so great for me and my family. I definitely love it! So, here are what I think are the top 3 reasons you should be green cleaning:

1. Your health

I can’t be the only one who has felt terrible when using conventional cleaning products. I used to have to take breaks and sit down when scrubbing my shower because the fumes from the products would make me dizzy and give me a headache. You (or your family) shouldn’t ever feel worse because you want a clean home. There’s something very wrong with that picture.

The not-so-great ingredients in conventional cleaning products can range from mild skin irritants, to endocrine disruptors, all the way to full blown carcinogens. You shouldn’t have to wonder whether a cleaning product is going to give you cancer!

Green cleaning means using only products that will not negatively affect your health. In fact, some of them would even be safe to eat (although I wouldn’t recommend it!). Healthy ingredients and healthy products can make you feel confident about what you have in your home.

2. The environment

There are so many different ways that conventional cleaning products can harm the environment- from the manufacturing process, to the way they are packaged, the way they are transported, their ingredients, and how they accumulate in the environment after you use them.

When it comes down to it, you want to be confident about what you are sending down your drain and out into the world. You’re heard the horror stories- especially about aquatic life. Some cleaning products we use can really do a lot of harm to the environment. Simple alternatives are almost always better.

When it comes down to it- all the benefits of green cleaning are connected. If you’re putting less harmful things in your trash and your water, your health will benefit. After all, there’s just about nothing else as important as clean water. Humans, plants, and animals can’t survive without it.

Green cleaning means using products and supplies that are not doing to damage the environment.

3. Saving money

Green also represents money- and that’s no accident. Becoming a green cleaning home can save you real money. Almost all of my green cleaning recipes cost significantly less than their conventional counterparts, like my awesome dishwasher detergent tabs that only cost 9 cents a load!

Cleaning supplies can be costly! They can really eat up a good portion of your household budget if you aren’t careful. And companies that sell cleaning supplies are probably telling you that what you have isn’t enough or that your home wont be clean if you don’t use commercial cleaners. Honestly, it just all adds up.

What if I told you that you can clean pretty much your entire home with some dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar. Sure, I use more than that to make more effective cleaners- but simple is great. And so much less expensive! A little hot water and dish soap go a long way- for your wallet!

Green cleaning does NOT mean breaking the bank to keep your home tidy!

So- are you ready to make the switch?

Then download my free guide- the 5 Step Switch to Green Cleaning! Just click below to sign up and download!

some of my favorite green cleaning supplies

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Since switching to a green cleaning home, I never feel sick or dizzy after cleaning. My cleaning products don’t give me a headache. I don’t worry if my dog licks up a tiny bit of spilled cleaner. I don’t worry if I accidentally get cleaners on my skin. I don’t worry about my impact on the environment. And that’s not to mention the money I’ve saved on cleaning products.

Switching to green cleaning was one of the best decisions I’ve made! So if you want to love your cleaning routine as much as I do, follow my top 3 principles of a green cleaning home.

Principle 1: Use effective cleaners and methods

Green cleaning shouldn’t take any more time or effort than your usual cleaning routine.

After all, are you really going to switch to green cleaning if it is harder or your home won’t be as clean? I didn’t think so. Well, you don’t need to worry about that.

Just because you’re getting rid of a lot of the chemicals in your cleaners doesn’t mean they shouldn’t work just as well! Green cleaning operates under the assumption that simple is better- and I’ve generally found that to be true. With just a few basic ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, borax, rubbing alcohol, and a little dish soap, I can clean my entire home.

Believe it or not, I often find the green cleaning products I make are actually more effective than the ones I used to buy! And they never make me feel sick or icky either. Definitely a win-win!

Principle 2: Use non-harmful and non-toxic products

The goal of green cleaning is that your cleaning routine shouldn’t harm humans or the environment.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it needs to be said. Your cleaning products shouldn’t harm your health, your home, or the environment.

I like to stick to a few basic ingredients and keep my cleaners pH neutral when I can. If I do end up buying a cleaner or researching an ingredient I’m not familiar with, I always reference the EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

Remember, everything you send down the drain or into a landfill ends up back in the water table eventually. If you wouldn’t want trace amounts of it in your drinking water, don’t use it. If you know it will harm aquatic life, don’t use it. If you know it will do ecological harm, don’t use it.

Principle 3: Minimize waste and maximize resourcefulness

Green cleaning isn’t just about the products you use- it’s also about how you clean. 

Even if you clean your whole house with baking soda and vinegar- you may not be being a green cleaner! It’s hard to believe- but having a green cleaning home extends to more than just the ingredients and products you clean with.

If you use an entire paper towel roll to clean your bathroom- that’s not exactly ideal. If you use plastic bottles with BPA in them to store your cleaners, that’s not ideal either. You want to keep these things in mind as well.

I swear by my microfiber cleaning cloths. I only use reusable washable cleaning supplies- like my refillable bona mop or my reusable microfiber duster. Whenever we finish with a glass jar, I save it to store cleaning supplies in. Same goes for spray bottles- spray bottles are my favorite. Reusable things are your friends!

What do you think of these 3 principles? If you’re ready to make the switch to green cleaning, check out my free guide:

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