Start cleaning your home more sustainably with these tips

Fragrance Concerns

Fragrances in cleaning products often consist of undisclosed chemicals, raising concerns about their impact on health and the environment. Stephanie Morham highlights that many fragrances are not plant-derived unless specified, and suggests using essential oils for a natural scent. She emphasizes the broader environmental implications, noting that these chemicals can affect water and soil quality 1.

It's so funny how we all grew up with, if it doesn't smell, it's not clean. Right? But to now, now I think it's the opposite. Like, I don't need my house to smell to know that it's clean.

--- Stephanie Morham

Additionally, Morham advises avoiding certain ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, which can be harmful to aquatic life and cause skin irritations 1.

   

Natural Solutions

Vinegar and peroxide are effective, natural alternatives for cleaning, offering both affordability and environmental benefits. Stephanie Morham shares that vinegar mixed with water serves as an excellent all-purpose cleaner, while peroxide can be used for disinfection, provided it is allowed to sit for a few minutes 2.

You could mix 50% peroxide, 50% water... Spray the peroxide on the toilet, go off and clean something else, and then come back to the toilet and then wipe it down.

--- Stephanie Morham

She cautions against mixing vinegar and peroxide, as this combination can be harmful, and suggests using baking soda with vinegar for scrubbing tasks 2.