27 Easy Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning Tips + Products
The key to a sparkling clean home without toxic chemicals comes down to the products and methods you use. This post covers a big list of eco-friendly spring cleaning tips and shares a good list of the best eco-friendly cleaning products afterward!
Keep reading for a little dive into the importance of eco-friendly cleaning along with some useful eco-friendly cleaning tips!
Trying to live a bit of a cleaner life? Read my post on the best high-quality clean supplements next! Open it in a new tab so you don’t forget.
What is Eco-Friendly Cleaning?
Eco-friendly cleaning is a conscious and sustainable approach to maintaining a clean living space without resorting to harsh chemicals.
Unlike conventional cleaning methods that often contain harmful substances, eco-friendly cleaning prioritizes the use of gentle and natural alternatives. It's a great way to ensure a healthier indoor environment, reducing the risk of exposure to toxic elements present in many traditional cleaning products.
By incorporating eco-friendly cleaning products, such as those derived from plant-based ingredients, you not only contribute to the well-being of your home but also to the planet. This method encourages the circulation of fresh air, minimizes waste, and aligns with a more environmentally responsible lifestyle by limiting the use of single-use items and excess food waste.
Why is Eco-Friendly Cleaning Important?
Embracing eco-friendly cleaning practices holds a good level of importance in reducing our carbon footprint and minimizing the environmental impact of our daily routines.
Traditional cleaning products often contain harmful chemicals that not only compromise indoor air quality but also contribute to pollution when disposed of. Opting for eco-friendly alternatives helps improve indoor air quality by eliminating the release of toxic fumes.
Additionally, making your own cleaning products with simple ingredients significantly reduces the need for packaged and chemical-dense options, taking an even bigger step toward lessening your environmental impact.
By choosing eco-friendly cleaning, you actively participate in a sustainable lifestyle, leading to a healthier home environment while contributing positively to the planet's well-being. It's a small yet impactful step towards creating a cleaner, safer world for current and future generations.
27 Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips
Cleaning with natural ingredients and better for your home eco-friendly cleaning products is a start, however, it also comes down to how you are actually cleaning your home.
Here are 27 key tips for giving your home a thorough cleaning easily with sustainable, eco-friendly practices in mind:
Living Room:
Fresh Lemon Juice Dusting: Mix lemon juice with a bit of water and use a microfiber cloth to dust surfaces in the living room for a refreshing scent.
Repurpose Old T-Shirts: Cut old T-shirts into cleaning rags for wiping down furniture, reducing the need for disposable paper towels.
Kitchen:
Multipurpose White Vinegar: Combine white vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a versatile kitchen cleaner, perfect for countertops and appliances.
Reusable Cloth Napkins: Use reusable cloths or old clothes as napkins instead of paper ones, minimizing waste.
Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: Create a DIY natural all-purpose cleaner with white vinegar, water, and a few drops of essential oil for a fresh kitchen aroma. You could also pick one recommended at the end of this post!
Bedrooms:
Freshen Up with Lemon Slices: Place a bowl of water and lemon slices in the bedrooms to naturally freshen the air. Remember to remove them to prevent molding. This is just an easy and eco-friendly way to freshen up the room!
Microfiber Pillowcases: Use microfiber pillowcases, which capture more dust and allergens, contributing to a cleaner sleeping environment.
Bathrooms:
Homemade Shower Cleaner: Mix white vinegar and water to clean bathroom tiles and shower surfaces without harsh chemicals.
Old Towels as Cleaning Rags: Repurpose old towels as cleaning rags for bathroom surfaces, reducing the need for disposable Clorox-type wipes.
Floors:
DIY Floor Cleaner: Combine white vinegar and water for an eco-friendly floor cleaner suitable for various floor types. You can use this mix for so many cleaning purposes!
Vacuum with a HEPA Filter: Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to trap allergens and improve indoor air quality.
General:
Spring Cleaning Routine: Set aside a specific time for your spring cleaning routine to tackle tasks systematically. Don’t limit yourself to just spring, though. Do this for each season!
Repurposed Spray Bottles: Repurpose old spray bottles for DIY cleaning solutions, reducing plastic waste.
Natural Air Fresheners: Simmer water with lemon peels or essential oils for a natural air freshener in every room.
Eco-Friendly Laundry: Opt for natural cleaning products for laundry, such as eco-friendly detergents and fabric softeners.
Old Clothes as Dusters: Turn old clothes into dusters for efficient and sustainable dusting. You’d be surprised just how well an old t-shirt works compared to a store-bought duster.
Bring New Life to Living Spaces: Rearrange furniture and decor items for a fresh look without the need for new purchases.
Eco-Friendly Storage: Use eco-friendly storage solutions to keep your living spaces organized and clutter-free.
Green Plants: Introduce indoor plants to naturally filter the air and enhance the overall ambiance.
Natural Disinfectant: Use a mixture of water and lemon juice as a natural disinfectant on frequently touched surfaces.
Homemade Carpet Freshener: Sprinkle baking soda on carpets before vacuuming for a natural and effective carpet freshener.
Energy-Efficient Appliances: Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances to reduce energy consumption in your home.
Water-Saving Habits: Practice water-saving habits, like fixing leaks and using a broom instead of a hose for outdoor cleaning.
Recyclable Cleaning Tools: Choose cleaning tools made from recyclable materials to minimize environmental impact. Forget the single-use paper towels for cleaning.
Composting: Start composting kitchen waste to reduce the amount of food waste sent to landfills.
Curtain Refresh: Take down and wash curtains or blinds to eliminate dust and allergens.
Green Cleaning Certification: Look for cleaning products with green certifications to ensure eco-friendly choices.
Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Branch Basics
I have come to love this clean nontoxic baby + pet-friendly subscription service because it takes the thinking out of shopping for multiple products. Their formula is specifically a concentrate, so all you have to do is pick your bottle size and add water. They are safe on the most sensitive of skin (mine included) and are made with biodegradable plant-based products. What’s more is that they are incredibly effective in cleaning just about every part of your home, even toys and shoes! I would even go as far as gifting a subscription to new parents because they are baby-safe. I have a whole post on gifting ideas like this for new parents!
Cymbiotika
They not only make clean nontoxic supplements, they also created an amazingly fragrant cleaning subscription that makes chores a little more luxe and enjoyable. Their cleansers come in glass bottles, not plastic. They are all human and pet-safe formulas so you never have to worry. Plus, they are gentle and nourishing for the most sensitive of skin as well as cruel-free. And when you are done cleaning, you are left with the most refreshing smell of fresh tangerines.
Blueland
Their gorgeous eco-friendly packaging is one of my favorites for many reasons. Because they are plastic-free, that means no pods are allowed to clog our waterways. Their cleansers come in tablet form, so all you do is add water which is more eco-friendly than liquid-based cleansers. Blueland’s plant and mineral-based ingredients are certified by EPA Safer Choice, EWG, and Cradle to Cradle, holding this brand to the highest standards for health and safety. Why aren’t all cleaning companies held to these standards?
Grove Co
Grove Co is great because they are reasonably priced and can be found at Target which brings eco-friendly clean options to mainstream everyday shopping. Glass bottles make refilling easy, their concentrates smell wonderful, and they are effective on tough stains. Today, they are 100% plastic-neutral, with an ambition to be plastic-free by 2025. Check them out next time you shop at Target!
Homecourt
Homecourt is an all-vegan brand created by Courtney Cox. I know it is another celebrity product line, but honestly, this one is simple, clean, vegan, and gorgeously designed. Their chic bottles instantly elevate any home and smell of neroli oil, rose, and cedarwood to name a few scents. Plant-based, cruelty-free, and beautiful to look at, their ingredients are not only upcycled but also ethically sourced and sustainably harvested.
I hope you learned a thing or two from this post on eco-friendly spring cleaning tips and were able to note a few ideas down for yourself when it comes time to make your own spring cleaning list!
