Should You Switch to Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products to Protect Your Health?

Certain cleaning products are filled with harmful chemicals that can seriously affect our skin, lungs, and respiratory systems if the proper precautions are not taken when using these products.

If you have ever cleaned your bathroom with bleach, then you must remember how the harsh smell of bleach can cause headaches and throat or eye irritability. When using bleach, you usually wear rubber gloves and maybe even a face mask to protect yourself from the fumes; doesn’t that already prove that these chemicals should be nowhere near our bodies?

It’s time to ditch those nasty chemicals and transition to using natural and eco-friendly cleaning products that do not have negative effects on the health of our skin, eyes, lungs, or throat. 

Why are regular cleaning products bad for your health?

Using eco-friendly cleaning products is better for your health because they do not contain or release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are present in ammonia, bleach, and other cleaning products and can be extremely harmful when used without protection, especially for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. 

Cleaning products like oven cleaner, carpet cleaner, aerosol products, washing detergent, and floor and furniture polish all release harmful VOC’s when used. Switching to natural, plastic-free cleaning products is much safer, cleans just as well as harsh chemicals, and leaves a fresh and natural scent in your home.

What are the eco-friendly cleaning alternatives?

There are a bunch of products that you can clean with that won’t give you headaches or skin rashes while you clean. If you know the basic ingredients of eco-friendly cleaning, then you can create your own recipes for nearly everything. Some natural cleaning essentials include:

Castile soap: Also known as the miracle soap, Castile soap has 26 different uses and it is a staple of many eco-friendly cleaning routines. It can be used to clean floors, wash marble or granite tabletops, and even wash your hair. 

Baking soda: Another versatile cleaning product that is easy to find anywhere. Baking soda is great for removing odours, whitens laundry, and can be made into a paste to scrub stained mugs, tile floors, or bathtubs. 

White vinegar: This is a great substitute for bleach because it is so effective at killing mould and bacteria, and is the ideal plastic-free cleaning product as it’s mostly found packaged in glass. Mix with water to create a spray cleaner for your fruits and veggies, add a couple of tablespoons to your laundry to get rid of the musty smell, or create water and essential oil dilution for a standard surface cleaner. 

Hydrogen peroxide: I used to think this was only used in first-aid. Made of water and oxygen, this is a super safe and effective disinfectant. You can mix it with water to sanitise wooden cutting boards, sprinkle it in your sink to unclog drains, use it as a toilet cleaner, or use it to whiten your laundry. 

These 4 simple ingredients can help you easily transition into greener cleaning methods. All easy to get plastic-free, they are such a simple way to switch your cleaning products. For a natural and fresh scent, you could even try mixing in your favourite essential oils.

If you don’t want to make your own, there are a whole range of eco-friendly cleaning products out there on the market. Choose the right product for you, without compromising on your health. 

Do you have any other favourite plastic-free cleaning solutions? Let us know in the comment section below.