Natural Cleaning: Less is More

I’m excited to be participating in the Go Green & Save Green Series with several other green bloggers this week!  We’ll be talking about different areas of green and natural living, showing you how to go green while saving money at the same time!  Be sure to check out the great links at the end of this post!

When it comes to cleaning a home naturally and in more eco-friendly ways, I’ve found that less is always more. I apply this theory to the different products and tools that I use to clean my house regularly in that the less supplies the better, the less dangerous (to us and the environment) chemical cleaners the better, and of course, the less storage space they take up in my home.

My biggest staple is the set of reusable washcloths (pictured above), that get used and washed over and over again. This saves huge amounts of money on paper towel, not to mention it’s one less thing being added to landfills. The cloths are sturdy and hold up to floor cleaning, wall washings, counter cleanings, and more. And if I ever find myself behind with laundry and out of these, an old rag or piece of clothing that’s no longer wearable works just fine, too. I also keep a scrubbing sponge at every location in the house (1 in the kitchen and 1 in each bathroom) that makes for convenient storage and a quick scrub whenever needed.

Other important tools that I use to clean my house are baking soda and vinegar. When I think of green cleaning, these are the ones that I stand by strongly and couldn’t imagine living without. Regular use of these has replaced many chemical cleaners in my house over the years including toilet bowl cleaner, glass cleaner, sink cleaner, tub cleaner, drain cleaner, and other bleach cleaners. And of course, I again enjoy the benefit of exposure to less chemicals in my home! Think about it, we bake with baking soda and cook with vinegar. That can’t say that about too many cleaning products!

Replacing many different cleaners with vinegar and baking soda certainly saves a good amount of money as these are SO economical. To minimize costs even further, I make sure to buy them in bulk (the biggest containers at my local grocery store or if I am lucky and can make it with a friend to Costco) and enjoy the fact that these large containers last such a long time. I never have to run to the store in a pinch to get a particular cleaner- I make it from what I have on hand instead.

Also, getting creative with recycling in your home can save money in conjunction with natural cleaning. Old toothbrushes can make for good tight-spot scrubbers, worn-out shirts can be cut into nicely sized rags, and empty food containers can hold small amounts for easy grabbing of your bulk purchased baking soda, for example. Used peanut butter containers are my favorite for those. The best part, of course, is that these tools are free and being reused again and again!

Now, if you’re interested in getting even deeper into natural home cleaning, I’ll be launching my “Clean Start” E-book (now completely finished!) in the next week or two which will walk through natural home cleaning in each area of the home so keep an eye out for that! In the meantime, here’s one of my favorite cleaning recipes that will be included in it as a little sneak-peak!

Easy Homemade Glass Cleaner: Mix 1 cup filtered or distilled water with 2 Tbsp vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe glass with a clean, lint-free cloth.

See how simple natural home cleaning can be?

Check Out These Other Great Posts in the Go Green & Save Green Series:

Kinda Crunchy Kate: Swap Paper Towels and Napkins for Cloth

A Delightful Home: 5 Natural Cleaning Tips