Your contribution to the decline in the atmosphere may be small, but it takes solo efforts to combine and make big changes, so if you do not start by addressing the issues that are present in how you do things, then how will such efforts come together? In many ways there will be little that you feel is worthwhile, but you have to try at least, as otherwise you can not go on in a guilt free way! There are plenty of ways in which you can change your cleaning habits to ensure that you are not making the world a worse place for future generations, and they do not take a huge amount of effort on your part, just a change in attitude. A few pointers should help you get started with this new train of thought.

For a start, what kind of things do you use in your cleaning? Most households will use regular chemical based cleaners that contain harmful chemicals which get flushed into the water systems. The water systems in this country are not water tight, funnily enough, and that means that the contents of our water systems affects the water systems in the countryside. Flushing harmful chemicals into the waterways, and so in to the smaller environments of birds, plants, fish, animals and insects will cause considerable damage to those eco systems as the level of dangerous chemicals increases. You will no doubt understand that these eco systems will survive on a delicate balance of minerals and PH levels in the water that they drink and live in, so your bleach could be affecting the whole food chain in the area. The destruction of smaller habitats for animals by humans is what is killing off the bees which are so vital in our own survival, so do your part, and avoid using chemicals cleaners. These cleaners are bad for humans as well, breathing in their fumes, and getting them on your skin can lead to respiratory illness and rashes, especially in younger children. You will no doubt want to ensure that your kids are safe, even if the rest of the world is less of a problems, so it is worth finding alternatives. Try looking at eco friendly cleaning products that use plant extracts and minerals to get their cleaning done, which do not affect the chemical balance in the waterways, and will be kinder on your skin and lungs. These companies usually make their bottles from recycled, refillable bottles, which will reduce the amount of plastics that you consume as well. Not all can afford the mark up on these eco-conscious products, so have a think about how you could make your own eco-cleaner using natural ingredients like lemon, vinegar and baking soda. There are a surprising number of cleaning ‘recipes’ on the internet that are great for cleaning in the home, you just have to find the right ones for you!

Reducing the throw-away nature of cleaning in your home is essential as well. You will find that cleaning harnesses a lot of disposable products, simply because people want to get rid of dirt with the minimum effort. Using reusable sponges, cloths and flannels will reduce how often you throw things away, which will reduce your contribution to landfill sites across the globe. This extends to the tools that you use, which should avoid using plastics, as they are bad for the environment in both how they are produced, as well as how, and how regularly they are disposed of.

Guest post provided on behalf of: Kentishtown house cleaning