We all want to use products that we think are safest for us, our family, pets, and the environment. And there are those that we can easily find or are accessible to us. But how can we exactly use them? In this article, we will explore different eco-friendly house cleaning practices that homeowners and part-time helpers can follow to achieve a clean home and at the same time support the initiatives of the government to go green.
Benefits of Eco-Friendly House Cleaning
Going green in house cleaning benefits both our health and surroundings. Here’s what you should expect when we embrace eco-friendly products and practices.
Less Exposure to Harmful Chemicals
These cleaning products are made from natural ingredients compared to traditional products that contain harsh chemicals, causing skin irritation, respiratory problems, etc. This reduced exposure means a safer environment for you, your family, and pets.
The Indoor Air Quality Improves
Conventional cleaning products often release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. These compounds are floating in the air in a gaseous state and contribute to air pollution. Eco-friendly products do not contain VOCs so you don’t have to worry about inhaling toxic compounds that can cause respiratory health issues.
Contributes Significantly to Sustainability Efforts
They are designed to be biodegradable and non-toxic. So if more people try to adopt sustainability practices in cleaning, there’ll be reduced environmental impact of waste disposal. The reason for this is it promotes the use of renewable resources and minimises packaging waste.
Are More Cost-Effective
Eco-friendly house cleaning products often last longer and require less usage compared to their counterpart. This makes them a cost-effective option in the long run. To achieve better value for money while reducing waste, you can buy in bulk and use concentrated formulas.
Support for Local Businesses
You can help reduce the carbon footprint related to shipping and support the local economy when you choose to buy eco-friendly house cleaning products from local businesses in Singapore.
A Healthier Work Environment
Cleaning staff and those who use conventional cleaning products regularly are exposed to the chemicals, which is a significant occupational hazard. Making the switch is the wisest move to mitigate the potential for work-related illnesses and injuries.
Are Less Likely to Cause Allergic Reactions
Eco-friendly house cleaning products are less likely to trigger allergies because their ingredients are natural.
Support a Sustainable Future
Overall, switching to eco-friendly products and practices secures a cleaner and healthier future for all. It aligns with the global and national movement towards sustainability and supports the collective efforts of the community to go fully green.
Green Cleaning Practices to Follow at Home
Consider doing the following house cleaning practices, whether you do the cleaning yourself or hire part-time helpers to help you with it.
1. You may want to repurpose and reuse items.
Convert your old toothbrushes into cleaning tools to reach every nook and cranny. As for sponges, you may want to switch to natural sponges instead of synthetic disposable ones, as you can reuse them for a long time.
If you have old t-shirts or worn out towels, cut them up to turn them into cleaning cloths, perfect for tackling spills and dusting furniture.
2. Implement water conservation techniques.
Some appliances are more water-efficient than their counterparts. For example, front-loading washing machines use significantly less water than traditional top-loading machines. Under the Climate Friendly Households Programme launched jointly by NEA and PUB, all HDB households can claim 300 SGD in Climate Vouchers to offset the purchase of 10 types of energy- and water-efficient appliances and fittings that carry NEA’s energy label and/or PUB’s water efficiency label. So you may want to opt for water-efficient appliances and fittings and use the Climate Vouchers to make your home more sustainable.
Here are other techniques that can save you precious water:
- Avoid running the tap continuously. Just fill the bucket with water and use the water in it, not from the tap.
- Check if any of your taps are leaking.
- Use microfibre cloths and mop heads because they clean just as effectively as normal cloths but use less water.
- If available, use low-moisture cleaning equipment as they consume less water than traditional versions for cleaning hard floors.
- Again if available, use high-pressure cleaning systems. These combine water with air to improve efficiency in cleaning and reduce the usage of water.
- When shopping for floor scrubbing brushes and you are faced with different shape/depth options, choose the cylindrical ones because they use less chemicals and water compared to rotary pads.
- Also, when you choose biodegradable cleaning products, you tend to use less water to dilute the solution.
- Use the water from your water barrels. It’s ideal for non-potable uses like cleaning, toilet flushing, and landscape irrigation.
3. Decide on the eco-friendly house cleaning products that you or your part-time helper will use.
Many brands have already embraced sustainability in their goals. Find ones in the market that are safe and effective on the surface that needs cleaning. For general use, all-purpose cleaners do the job. For specific surfaces, there are specialised solutions. Just be sure that the ingredients used are fully disclosed and made with food-grade and plant-based ingredients.
What is more important are the ingredients that the products do not contain. Here is a general guide for you. It should be free from…
- Sulphates and ethoxylates
- Artificial fragrances
- BPA and phthalates
- Added colours or dyes
- Controversial preservatives like methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone
Be it multi-surface cleaners, dish soap, bathroom cleaners, and laundry detergents.
Eco-Friendly Practices by Reliable Part-Time Helper Service Providers
On the side of the cleaning service providers, here are the practices that trusted companies are doing to stay committed to sustainability and customer satisfaction when it comes to professional cleaning.
- Training part-time helpers in green cleaning methods
What makes a good part-time helper company is its commitment to continuously training its part-time helpers in methods that support sustainability. Skills enhancement is not a one-time thing but it is an ongoing process to further hone the cleaning capabilities of their cleaners. - Adopting sustainable scheduling practices
Many part-time helper services are adopting sustainable schedules such as flexible scheduling and optimised routes to reduce fuel consumption and minimise the carbon footprint of their operations. - Educating their clients on eco-friendly practices
Part-time helper services in Singapore may also educate their clients on green practices such as reducing, reusing, and recycling and encourage them to adopt sustainable habits in their daily lives.
Tips for Homeowners to Support Eco-Friendly Cleaning
The following are ways for you to support environmentally friendly cleaning, especially if you plan to outsource all the house cleaning tasks to part-time helpers.
- As advised above, select products with natural ingredients as much as possible. They should contain NO harsh chemicals, phosphates, and fragrances.
- Communicate your preference for green cleaning to the helpers. Explain to them the reasons behind such a choice.
- Provide access to your tools and supplies. If you have microfibre cloths, reusable cleaning rags, brooms, and natural cleaning solutions, lend them to your cleaners. Most of the time, helpers use whatever is available at the client’s home.
- Encourage and support the helpers in using eco-friendly methods. If you have some tips you think they could use, don’t hesitate to share them with them.
Eco-friendly cleaning should be a collaborative effort involving the homeowner and those in charge of the cleaning to ensure that sustainability is embraced.
Conclusion
When you decide to buy green cleaning products or just make one at home, you can rest assured that the ingredients they contain are not harmful and non-toxic and they are safe to use throughout your household. But what if you don’t have the luxury of time to tackle the cleaning yourself? This is where home cleaning services enter. These companies offer much-needed solutions to your cleaning needs.
Ready for a clean and sustainable home? Fill in this form to get started with KungFu Helper as your cleaning partner.
