A clean home is both a pleasure to live in and essential for healthy living. Maintaining a regular cleaning routine helps make a clean home possible, even if you think that you're too busy to clean. Plus, cleaning little but often is the key to being greener when you clean — if you catch dust and spills before they turn to grime, you won't need harsh chemical cleaners.
- Stop the dirt before it comes inside. Place good-quality dirt-absorbing mats at all entrances to your home. Your carpets will stay cleaner and last longer.
- Initiate a shoe-free policy in your household to avoid the problem of tracking in oil and dirt from outside. Provide a shoe rack at the door and a chair nearby, to encourage people to oblige.
- Try to tidy up as you go. If you haven't the time, clear up small messes as they occur and you won't have a big job to deal with at the end of the day.
- Instead of reaching for the strongest chemical cleaner first, look for environmentally responsible cleaning alternatives. For the most part, they will work just as well.
- Act fast on spills and stains. You'll not only find your cleaning is more effective, you'll also need fewer chemicals to do the job.
- Give cleaners time to work and you'll find you need less of them. Leave mould and oven cleaners to work overnight, for example.
- See how little you can get away with. Use less when applying household cleaners, whether they're commercial brands or more natural alternatives. You may find a wipe with a damp cloth is all you need.
- Use elbow grease. Brushes, scourers and cloths are the first line of defense against dirt and reduce the need for harsh, fast-acting chemicals.
- Use recycled materials to clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Old cotton T-shirts and towels are perfect. They're economical and longer-lasting than disposable wipes and paper towels.
- Work out a minimum cleaning routine to keep your home functioning efficiently. That way, even if you're extra busy, at least you know you've covered the basics each week.
