Green Cleaning Important Rules

What is green cleaning? Green cleaning involves cleaning your home without harming the environment or your health. It is an empowering step to take if you want to be more self-sufficient. Green cleaning means moving away from conventional products containing synthetic chemicals, or petroleum-based cleaning agents, and using safer ingredients instead. Many cupboard ingredients can be used for safe, natural, and effective cleaning.

Basic rules

Making your own household cleaning products is fun and rewarding, but bear in mind that natural doesn’t necessarily mean safe. Turpentine, used for thinning oil-based paints and producing varnishes, is a natural product obtained from the resin of trees. However, its vapor can burn skin and eyes. When inhaled it can damage the lungs and central nervous system, and if ingested, can cause renal failure. You’ll be pleased to hear that many of the ingredients mentioned here are safe to ingest, such as vinegar, sodium bicarbonate, and salt. Yet even these substances, in large enough quantities, can be toxic! Follow these simple rules when making your own cleaners to ensure you and your family stay safe and healthy.

Never mix different store-bought household cleaners or solvents together. For example, bleach combined with household cleaners containing ammonia, such as toilet cleaners, produces a toxic and carcinogenic mix that can be fatal if breathed in.

Never reuse store-bought cleaning containers as, even if rinsed out, they may still contain harmful chemical residue that might react with your own homemade products.

Never mix homemade cleaners and conventional products; you never know what fumes will be given off.

When you make your own household cleaners, label the containers and list all the ingredients.

Keep all household cleaning products out of reach of children and pets.

Wear rubber gloves when possible; even sodium bicarbonate can dry out your hands!