As part of our commitment to Earth via our Laudato Si’ Action Plan, we are inviting everyone who shares in our charism to take a monthly Eco-Challenge with us.
Household cleaners made greener
There are many little changes towards ecological sustainability you can make in your household. Together they can add up. This month’s Eco-Challenge focuses on making sure that your cleaning products are eco-friendly by either:
- Making your own eco-friendly cleaning products
- Switching to more eco-friendly cleaners that use fewer harsh chemicals and less plastic packaging.
Realistically, you may choose to purchase some products as well as make a few of your own.
Make your own eco-friendly cleaning products
Q: What do vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice have in common?
A: They are all inexpensive, eco-friendly and have powerful cleaning abilities!
Q: Why should I be concerned with how eco-friendly my household cleaning products are?
A: The Environmental Protection Agency reminds us that “using green cleaning products can help to reduce the human health and environmental concerns that come along with cleaning.”
Q: How can I learn more about making my own eco-friendly cleaning products?
A: There are a number of web articles and sites that will offer suggestions and recipes. Simply search for something like “green cleaner recipe” or specify the type of cleaner you’d like to make. Here are a few links we recommend:
- “Clean and Green Homemade Cleaners” from University of Arkansas System Extension
- “8 Homemade Cleaners That Actually Work, According to Our Cleaning Expert” from Good Housekeeping
- “10 All-Natural, Homemade Cleaning Solutions to Scrub Every Inch of Your Home” from Real Simple
- “18 Easy and Green DIY Recipes to Clean All the Things, Plus Health Benefits” from Healthline
Switching to more sustainable cleaning products
Of course, sometimes you either don’t have the time or resources to make your own products or you need a commercial product to tackle tougher messes. It’s important to be a thoughtful consumer when choosing what products to buy to avoid “greenwashing” or marketing ploys that make products seem more sustainable than they actually are.
Consumer Reports suggests four ways to make better choices when buying cleaning supplies:
- Look for products with seals of approval from independent, third-party organizations such as the Environmental Working Group, the Environmental Protection Agency, UL (which also certifies things like home appliances and light bulbs for safety and sustainability), and the nonprofit group Green Seal.
- Avoid products with dangerous chemicals including phthalates, benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene and toluene.
- Buy the product in concentrated form.
- Prioritize buying cleaners that come in glass or metal containers that you can reuse, then recycle.
Take the Eco-Challenge
How many of these actions will you take this month?
Spread the word
- Leave a comment about how you’re taking the challenge below.
- Invite others to take the Eco-Challenge by sharing our post on Facebook and/or Instagram.
I already do a good bit of this. Baking soda is great for lots of things – I use it in the washer rinse cycle instead of fabric softener – comes out smelling “unperfumed!”
I’ve been doing this for a while as well. Very happy to have all these recipes and ideas in one place. Thank you for setting a great Eco example!
When camping in the Adirondacks each summer, I use a laundromat that has a posted sign forbidding the use of (beaded, fragranced, very popular/advertised) substances that are extensively advertised for final rinses (for the customers’ clothing). There are signs posted that explain how the smelly stuff harm the machinery as well as the environment. Just think about it – unaware people not only mess up the environment, but can destroy/shorten the life of the laundry machines of people who can ill afford to even buy their own. Just one small example…
Fortunately, people who live within the Adirondack Park – especially those who have lived there for years, respect the restrictions.
There is a wealth of information on the internet on how to protect the forests, lakes, etc…and even programs to teach children (and new campers) to do the same. There’s information from public and private organizations, property owner and private organizations, universities, etc. The problem is in trying to draw public interest in participating in them. Thank you for all you-all do – Sr. Lin Neil is a champion of this cause, of course – but I’d like to see an organized group that looks at the “big picture”, includes economic issues re poverty – people, in my opinion, don’t often see these connections. Dorothy Hathway Forbes, CSJA, OCDS
Use baking soda and vinegar to clean the toilet, stains in the coffee pot and baking soda and detergent to remove stains from fabric.
I actually grew up using soda and vinegar and that has continued through the postulate and beyond.
I already do most of the suggestions. But the glass cleaner was new and I plan on trying it.
I use baking soda and vinegar to clean almost everything. I love doing windows with vinegar and newspaper! I also use Thieves which is highly concentrated and has a really clean smell!
I’ve been following these suggestions for a long time now, but I love having some variations to improve what I use. Thanks so much!
I keep a spay bottle of the water/vinegar/dish soap recipe in every bathroom along with a rag to wipe up spills or spots on everything from mirror, countertop to floor