Everyone wants to have a clean kitchen in their home. But in today’s climate, it is essential to realize that not all of the cleaning products we use in our Scott County homes are safe for our environment. The good thing about eco-friendly cleaning products is that there are more options available now than ever before to make our kitchens sparkle. Actually, with a few simple ingredients, most people already have in their cupboards, you just need to be resourceful to create safe, effective, natural cleaning products that cost a fraction of store-bought brands that work the same or even better.
There are a ton of valid reasons to use eco-friendly cleaning products in the kitchen. Harsh chemicals can be very harmful to your skin, eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system. Additionally, they represent a serious threat to any pets or sensitive members of the household. Besides the negative effects on your health, various store-bought cleaning products contain chemicals that can harm the environment. Toxic chemicals can navigate their way from our kitchen drains into rivers, lakes, and groundwater, killing vegetation, polluting the soil, and poisoning fish and animals.
Eco-friendly products, alternatively, use simple, non-toxic ingredients that are better for the environment. Even though there are a lot of stores selling eco-friendly products, unfortunately, not all brands that claim to be “natural” or “organic” are truly eco-friendly. Few federal regulations define which products can claim to be “natural.” Furthermore, there are no regulations that require cleaning product manufacturers to list the ingredients in their products on their packaging.
That means that it still depends on the informed consumer to choose between doing some research to find the genuinely eco-friendly brands of cleaning products available or make your own. In fact, some of the best eco-friendly cleaning products you can make or buy contain the same simple ingredients: white vinegar and baking soda. They are used in many combinations, aside from cooking, these two pantry staples can tackle almost any mess your kitchen can produce. With a few other standards, versatile cleaning supplies, you can clean your entire kitchen, floor to ceiling, without resorting to the harsh chemicals included in many store-bought brands.
Sealed wood and tile floors can be cleaned and disinfected with just a little white vinegar, some warm water, and a mop or rag. The smell of vinegar may not be pleasant, but you can solve that problem by adding a drop or two of your favorite essential oils. You can use the same ingredients to clean the messiest parts of your kitchen: inside the oven. Getting that burned-on gunk off your oven’s interior can be a difficult task. But with a little baking soda, water, and some patience, you can use a baking soda paste to remove all that tough grime. For the best outcome, you will need to allow the baking soda paste to sit overnight before scrubbing.
Similarly, you can clean your glass (and other shiny) surfaces with eco-friendly ingredients. Simply mix some rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, corn starch, and water in a clean spray bottle. Then simply spray and wipe clean with a lint-free or microfiber cloth. It is recommended not to use paper towels to clean glass and shiny surfaces since they are not eco-friendly and also tend to leave streaks and bits of paper towel behind.
If making your own cleaning products still doesn’t look engaging enough, there are quite a few eco-friendly options available. Some of the more popular brands consist of Mrs. Meyer’s products, Bon Ami cleansers, and Method brand products. These and similar brands guarantee that their products are both safe and effective, not to mention eco-friendly. Most of these brands even use 100% postconsumer recycled plastics in their packaging.
Whether you buy eco-friendly products or make your own, you’ll be doing a favor to yourself AND your environment. If you’re currently looking for a rental home or need help managing your Scott County rental property, contact Real Property Management Viking. You may reach us at 612-442-8850 to talk with a professional Scott County property manager today!
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