Green cleaning and natural products have been gaining popularity for some time now, but is it just a fad?
In the past, products were too overpriced and couldn’t even compare to the traditional cleaners our mothers and grandmothers had been using for years. With technological advances and more information, going green has never been easier. Here are five reasons why you should choose environmentally-friendly cleaning products instead of traditional ones:
Home safety
Aside from being carcinogens and neurotoxins, many of the harsh chemicals that are found in traditional cleaning products - such as chlorine, bleach, or ammonia - can be extremely harmful when mixed together, leading to burns, lung damage, and even accidental poisoning. By using natural cleaning products, you know exactly what is in them and you can reduce the risk of accidents at home.
Better indoor air quality
Many of the conventional cleaning products found on store shelves currently contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their formulas. VOCs are common chemical compounds that, at room temperature, evaporate at high rates and degrade the air quality of your home. In excess, these chemical compounds can lead to health problems such as headaches, nausea, allergies, and even damage to internal organs and the nervous system. While keeping your home well-ventilated and using an air purifier can significantly decrease these risks, the best option is to minimize the presence of these chemicals altogether by using green products instead.
Fewer allergens
Even if you’re working in a well-ventilated area or wearing gloves, conventional cleaning products include allergens or irritants that can cause issues for those with sensitivities. Toxic chemicals such as ammonia, chlorine, acetone, and VOCs represent a special risk as it is hard to avoid inhaling these gases when you’re manually handling them. By using natural cleaning products such as vinegar, citric acid, baking soda, and oils, symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, headaches, and even skin rashes should drastically decrease.
Help the environment
When you use natural cleaning products you’re making your household more eco-friendly! Many of the ingredients found in conventional cleaning products are toxic, non-biodegradable, and have non-renewable sources, all of which can cause environmental damage and represent a danger to animals. Making your own cleaners has a minimal environmental impact and also significantly reduces single-use plastic waste.
Saves you money
“Green cleaning” is especially cost-effective if you’re making your products from scratch with all the ingredients you already have at home. However, if that is too much for you to tackle at once, you can also save some money by buying natural all-purpose cleaners that do multiple jobs. As technology has advanced and more manufacturers have entered the green cleaning market, natural product prices are more competitive than ever before!