Green Cleaning Essentials

Want to change up your cleaning routine and make it better for you and the planet? These green cleaning products can help you get started. 

Conventional cleaning products are full of questionable ingredients. Making the switch to green cleaning products is not only better for our families, but it can also save us money. 

Many of the best green cleaning products are really affordable and you may already have them around the house. While the ingredients are very important we also want to try to reduce waste when possible. Many of these items help us do that as well.

If you have been reading this blog for a while you know that I have a love for the 1950s. While there are a lot of commercial cleaners available in the 1950s, many housewives still used more simple cleaners like hot soapy water which will clean most things.

So making the switch to these more eco-friendly cleaning options can also be a very vintage thing to do. I even have a whole post with green tips from 1950s housewives. 

To recap, green cleaning is better for you, better for the planet, often cheaper, and it even fits into a vintage lifestyle. Have I given you enough reasons to try it out yet? If so I have some of my essentials for you to help you get started.

Green Cleaning Essentials

Castile Soap

Castile soap can be used just like you would any other soap. I use it as an all-purpose cleaner (good old hot soapy water), to hand-wash dishes, hand washing,  and pretty much everywhere in my home. It also makes a great cleaning scrub when mixed with baking soda!

My favorite castile soap is Dr. Bronner’s. You can find it just about anywhere; Whole Foods, natural food stores, Target, Walgreens, Amazon, and most places that sell soap.

Note: Don’t mix vinegar and Dr. Bronner’s.

Vinegar

I go through a few gallons of vinegar in most months. I use it to disinfect, deodorize, kill weeds, clean my toilets, clean my garbage disposal, as a fabric softener, and so much more. I keep some in a spray bottle at all times and usually, there is a gallon in my laundry room.

Note: Vinegar can damage stone surfaces because it is an acid. Also, vinegar is not approved to kill COVID-19. Be sure to use approved cleaners while disinfecting right now.

Baking soda

Baking soda is another great cheap cleaning ingredient. While you will see many cleaning recipes calling for it to be used with vinegar this is only good if you are clearing a clogged drain.

Vinegar and baking soda, when mixed, react and become carbonic acid, which then decomposes to water and carbon dioxide gas. They are great when used separately though. Baking soda is great for a gentle cleaning scrub and deodorizing. One way I love to use it is as a carpet freshener.

Everclear

Everclear isn’t the best thing for drinking but it works really well for cleaning. Many are discovering it currently because it contains above 60% alcohol which is needed to disinfect for COVID-19. 

I use it to make a daily shower spray, fabric freshener, air freshener, and of course as a disinfectant. Just make sure if you are using alcohol for disinfecting that the finished product is above 60%. Most vodka is not 60% or above so it’s usually best to skip that if disinfecting is needed.

Cleaning Cloths

Paper towels get expensive and are not the best for the environment. There are many options when it comes to reusable options. I like using old t-shirts cut into rags but you can also buy cleaning cloths that look and work like paper towels called unpaper towels. You can also make your own unpaper towels. 

I also really like the microfiber cloths from Grove Collaborative. They are a great size and really good quality. They also have multiple colors so you can have one color per area you clean. I have one set in the kitchen and one for bathrooms. I love that it’s easy for me to know which goes where.

Concentrated Cleaners

You can make your own cleaners very easily but I know sometimes time is a very valuable resource and spending a bit more to have something done for you is helpful.

There are a lot of great natural brands out there like Mrs. Meyers, Seventh Generation, and Method but if your goal is to also reduce waste a concentrated cleaner can be a good option.

These are cleaners that come in a small container and then you add water to make the actual cleaner. There are a lot out there now but one really good natural option is the Grove Collaborative brand. They even sell beautiful glass bottles you can mix the cleaners in. 

If you haven’t tried Grove Collaborative yet you can get a free earth-friendly cleaning kit that comes with a 3-pack of their concentrates, a glass spray bottle, cleaning caddy, and walnut scrubber sponges, plus you get free shipping.

Once you stock up on these items you will be good to go with your new green cleaning. It’s such a great step for helping the planet and our families.

More Green Cleaning Tips

• 15 Eco-Friendly Cleaning Hacks
• 10 Benefits of Line Drying
• 5 Ways to Start a Paper-Free Kitchen