Cleaning: How to make your routine more eco-friendly

Cleaning is more important than ever with many trying to keep germs and bacteria out of their homes. This means using an abundance of different products which all contain toxic chemicals which isn’t sustainable for the environment. CEO of Laundryheap Deyan Dimitrov has shared his tips with the Express.co.uk on things you can do to make your routine more eco-friendly.

“Why not opt for some natural (and affordable) alternatives instead? For example, instead of using a carpet cleaner to remove stains from your carpet, spray some white vinegar on the stains and use a clean cloth and warm water to gently lift the stain.

“Or, instead of using bleach to clean your sink, try 1 cup of soda crystals down the drain followed by 1 cup of white vinegar, then gently wash it down using some hot water.”

White vinegar can be purchased from any supermarket and also retails for as little as £1.

Use washing and cleaning tools less frequently

Deyan says: “During lockdown, people have become accustomed to do a clothes wash and hoover at least once per day, sometimes more.

“Why not try limiting your use of electric cleaning tools whenever possible? For example, instead of doing small amounts of laundry per day, try doing a bulk wash every three to four days, at 30 degrees.

“Hoover your carpets every 3 days as opposed to once per day. Small changes like this will benefit the environment and your bank balance.”

Swap household names for more eco-friendly brands

The expert says: “We’re all used to returning to our favourite brands every time we shop, but there are lots of new eco-friendly brands on the market that work just as well and don’t contain the harsh chemicals that regular brands do.”

“There are some great eco-friendly innovations too. For example, laundry eggs can be used for up to three years without any powder or detergent.

“Have a browse around your local shop and online to see what eco-friendly alternatives there are for your everyday household products.”

The eco brand Neat has released aluminium trigger spray bottles which are lightweight, plastic free and come in a variety of different scents including grapefruit and seagrass.

You can then also buy refill scents which you mix with water. This cleaning spray can then be used on surfaces including, wood, glass, stainless steel, tile, laminates, sealed stone, granite and marble.

These items can be purchased direct or via Farmdrop who have now started selling them.

Invest in a pedal-powered washing machine

Deyan says: “Fulfil your sustainability and fitness goals this summer by foot pedalling your way to cleaner clothes and a cleaner planet.

“Manually powered washing machines use only the power from a foot pedal to spin clothes clean in just 5 minutes – requiring little water and no electricity!

“Most designs cost around £50-100, a far cry from the hundreds spent on polluting electric alternatives.”

source: express.co.uk