Home & Garden...

So you’ve already started making greener housekeeping choices. That’s fantastic! But there’s something missing, isn’t there? You want to stay green, but clean faster, smarter and better don’t you? Adopt these 7 habits and you’ll be green cleaning like a pro!

1. Practice Daily Maintenance

If you clean a little bit every day, you will not be overwhelmed at the end of the month by your own filth and clutter, and (more importantly) you will not feel like you need to break out the toxic cleaners to get the job done.

2. Keep cleaning supplies organized

Do you have 13 spray bottles under your sink that all do basically the same thing? The list of necessary green cleaning supplies for the average house is surprisingly short. Limit your cleaning supplies and keep them clearly labeled and in one place so they are always there when you need them. Plain Jane has a great list that you can view and purchase if you need help streamlining your green cleaning stores.

3. Resist Clutter

A cluttered home is difficult and inefficient to clean. All green housekeepers understand this and resist clutter by not buying things they don’t need, returning and recycling unwanted gifts (yes, that means risking offending friends and family by getting rid those amazing things they decided you needed), and never shopping without a list. 

4. Multi-task

Being green is about being efficient. The highly effective green housekeeper is a master of doing two things at once. And sometimes the greenest way to clean something may take a little extra time. So it’s important to find tasks that work together and do them in pairs. For example, right before you hang up your laundry to line dry, put a paste of oxygenated bleach cleanser on your grout…by the time you’ve hung up the laundry, the grout will be ready to rinse. 

5. Recycle “outside the bin”

We all need to recycle. However most of us live in areas where only a limited amount of recyclables will be picked up curb-side. Another key to staying green and efficient is to have a place to sort all of those recyclables that may require a special trip. A small container under the sink for dead batteries will keep them handy for your next trip to Ikea. Did you know Ikea will recycle batteries and CFL light bulbs for you? Also, a sturdy bag in your laundry area is a good place to collect clothes you want to donate.

6. Never clean on an empty stomach

Really Liz, really? Yes, I tell you! If you start a cleaning task on an empty stomach I assure one of two things will happen. You will either get so grumpy you can’t stand what you’re doing, or you’ll get so tired you give up before you’re finished. Effective green cleaning means seeing your job through to completion, so start strong and end satisfied. 

7. Reward Yourself

You can argue that cleaning your house in a way that doesn’t harm your health or the environment is reward enough, right? Well, be that as it may, effective green housekeepers know that we work best when we have some incentive to look forward to. A fancy meal or a joyful walk in the park, any reward will work as long as it’s something you will look forward to.