We often talk about how going green is good for the environment, but the truth is, going green can also be very good for our health. Although many people mean well and make greener choices for their home to leave less of a carbon footprint, there are still unknown hazards lurking around every corner that can be very bad for your health.
Here are 5 ways you can green up your home and live healthier at the same time.
Steam is Your Friend
We all know chemicals are bad, yet most of us reach for them without batting an eye when it comes time to clean our house. But there are other, more natural ways of cleaning your home that is safer and just as effective.
One of those is by using steam to clean. Vapor steam cleaners use high temperatures and low moisture levels to clean, deodorize, and sanitize. The other benefit of using steam to clean is that it has the ability to penetrate materials to kill mold, viruses, and even dust mites. Not only is this method safer, but it is also actually more beneficial as well.
When Life Hands You Lemons – Clean With Them!
Lemons are as versatile a cleaning aid as they are an ingredient in recipes. Take a lemon and cut it in half. Sprinkle coarse salt (not the fine stuff you normally sprinkle on your food) all over your kitchen counters and, placing the lemon cut side down, use it as a scouring pad to thoroughly clean the grime off your counters. After a good scrub, simply wipe down with a clean wet towel.
But don’t throw that lemon away just yet. Now take those two halves and squeeze the remaining juice into a microwave-safe bowl. Put the bowl in your microwave and run it on high for a minute. This will get all of the food odors out of the air vents. Take the rest of the lemon and cut it up into smaller pieces and send them down the drain and turn your garbage disposal on. They will freshen and degrease your drain and have your pipes smelling lemony fresh!
Sunshine – It’s More Than Just Bright
There are a lot of reasons why you should let the sunlight into your house, and one of those is the sun’s UV rays sterilize any surface they come in contact with. Why use harsh bleach and other chemicals when the sun will warm your house and sterilize it at the same time. This is another reason why you should consider drying clothes out on the line as well. The sun will freshen your sheets, pillowcases, even stuffed animals.
Listen to Your Grandmother
Back in the day, the woman of the house used certain products to clean, and many of these products are still around and much safer than our modern-day chemically-laden cleaners. For instance, Borax is a better and safer alternative to bleach, and Murphy’s oil soap is a wonderful wood cleaner that is biodegradable as well. And, if you share your house with pets, a much safer cleaner is Castile soap by Dr. Bonner.
You’ve Been Duped!
Actually, we’ve all been duped into thinking that we must use antibacterial soaps if we want to keep our hands and dishes clean from harmful bacteria. But the truth is, these soaps simply kill off the lesser, helpful bacteria allowing the stronger and infectious bacteria to propagate and spread. And also, while sanitizing hand gels may seem like a convenient way to steer clear of colds and the flu, many of these gels contain isopropyl alcohol which is a solvent that is sometimes used in antifreeze! Your best bet is to use good old soap and hot water.
The choices you make to go green should be good not just for the environment, but for you and your family’s health as well.
About the Author
James is your friendly neighborhood content writer here at the Green Living Blog. With a passion for all things sustainable, he’s your go-to guru for everything eco-friendly. Armed with a treasure trove of wisdom about sustainable living, recycling, and environmentally conscious practices, James is on a mission. He’s here to make sure you not only protect your family but also keep Mother Earth smiling. 😊🌎 When he’s not busy sharing eco-friendly insights, James can often be found teaching his cat that compost bins make the purr-fect hideaway. 🐱♻️ Join James on his quest to uncover the secrets of defeating wasteful habits while leaving the lightest footprint on our precious planet’s ecosystem.