Sustainable Cleaning Tips

Reusable sponges/cloths

Every regular sponge disposes microplastics into the water with each wash which pollutes our Earth. However, there are many sustainable alternatives that can make your kitchen greener. When getting a biodegradable sponge, you have to be looking for natural materials like plant cellulose or coconut coir. There are also loofah, cotton or jute sponges and cotton cloths that are environmentally friendly and have a positive impact on our planet considering their composting. 

White vinegar to clean surfaces over a range of different products

White vinegar is a multipurpose cleaner without toxins and other chemicals which means it is healthier for us than any other chemicals or detergents we normally use for cleaning. Vinegar is made from acetic acid which is colorless organic compound with natural disinfecting properties. It has sour flavor which makes it a great salad dressing or marinade. However, it is very helpful for cleaning as well. It kills bacteria and it is strong enough to dissolve dirt or grease. Only drawback of using vinegar for cleaning is the smell. Although, it lasts only for an hour which is not so bad considering it is nontoxic, eco-friendly, and organic. 

Surfaces you can use vinegar on:

• Glass
• Countertops
• Showers
• Toilet
• Floors
• Dishwasher
• Appliance surfaces

Surfaces you should NEVER use vinegar on:

• Electronics
• Stainless steel
• Natural stone countertops or floor
• Wood 

Buying concentrated cleaning products

The difference between concentrated cleaning products and ready-to-use products we normally use is simple. Ready-to-use products are already chemicals mixed with water and thus ready to use. However, concentrated cleaning products are not mixed with water and when you buy them, you have to do it yourself according to the instructions. The main reason you should buy concentrated cleaning products over ready-to-use products is environmental impact. By buying one 5 liter bottle of concentrated products you can save up to 500 bottles of ready-to-use products.

The environmental impact of aerosols

Aerosol is a substance enclosed under pressure released as a fine spray. It is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or a gas. The negative impact of aerosol on human health and environment is increasingly growing. The global combination of aerosol use substantially contributes to the greenhouse gasses and therefore negatively affect the environment. Sources of aerosol are urban and industrial emissions or smoke from burning biomass.

Vacuum Cleaners

For energy-efficiency and low environmental impact, when buying a vacuum cleaner, you should choose:

• Corded rather than cordless

There are environmental concerns about lithium-ion batteries in cordless vacuums, which have very negative impacts on the environment.

• Bagless or vacuums with reusable bags

You can spend less money on the replacement.

• Compost contents of vacuum

When vacuuming you mostly sucks up organic matter like hair, dead skin, pet fur, breadcrumbs, sand, and dirt. All of these are compostable without any problem. On the other hand, 20% of what your vacuum sucks up is non-organic such as synthetic fibres from clothing, carpets or any other microplastic which is not biodegradable. However, there is a way how to compose it all together. You have to mix the contents of vacuum together with other compost matter to help the bacteria dissolve it easily.