How to Clean Green: Products & Tips (Part 2)

1. Opt for reusable paper towels and cleaning cloths.

I’ve written before about our reusable paper towels (see “Three Changes in the Kitchen”). This eliminates the need to use (and throw away) paper towels for every spill, though regular paper towels still make an appearance at our house for some larger messes (the reusable paper towels are small) and some of our more gross messes (we have a toddler and three animals).

Overall, though, we use regular paper towels far less now that the reusable ones are in circulation.

You can also make the switch to reusable cleaning cloths. Personally, I ordered the collection of Assorted Recycled Microfiber Cloths from Rosey, but there are many options on the market. What’s great about the assortment I purchased is the tags that tell you exactly how/where to use each one (tub & tile vs. grease vs. glass, etc.).

Rosey, a Thrive Market brand, offers several mineral- and plant-based cleaning products along with their recycled cleaning cloths.

And—bonus—when it comes to some of these microfiber towels, you won’t need to pair them with cleaning product in many cases. When cleaning a mirror or polishing stainless steel, you can likely get away with using water only. And the dust cloth doesn’t need any kind of cleaner or water to do its job.

Bottom line: Begin shifting away from using disposable paper towels and chemical cleaners for every spill and mess in the house. One change at a time, switch to more and more products that you can use/wash/reuse at home, and favor products that reduce your need to purchase separate cleaners altogether.

2. Choose natural (plant- or mineral-based) cleaners rather than chemicals.

Speaking of sprays and chemical cleaners, another tip for cleaning green is to shop for nature-based products as much as possible. This is for your health as much as it is for the environment. Let me allow the American Lung Association (ALA) to explain:

Many cleaning supplies or household products can irritate the eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other health problems. Some products release dangerous chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) … [which] contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions and headaches.

The products the ALA particularly point out as culprits include aerosol cleaning products, chlorine bleach, detergent and dishwashing liquid, furniture and floor polish, and air fresheners, among others. (Brands like Rosey offer alternatives; I've also had luck with The Good Fill for replacing many of these products. See "How to Clean Green (Part 1)" for more information.)

Look for this label on U.S. EPA certified products.

Also helpful on the ALA's website is a link to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Safer Choice” page, which offers a guide to a wide range of products that “perform and contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment.” A guide like this is helpful because, as we know, something saying it’s “green” doesn’t necessarily make it so.

The U.S. EPA's Safer Choice certification, like trusted certifications for food, allows you to know you’re getting a quality product without having to sift through ingredients’ lists and labels.

Bottom line: Just because you’ve used a product for years and just because it’s highly available on store shelves doesn’t mean it’s good for you, your family, or the environment. Plant-based products are biodegradable, renewable, and safe for human consumption (not that you’re drinking these items, but you’re certainly taking them in). And if cost is deterring you, then I’d kindly ask you to also keep in mind the long-term costs to your health.

3. For consumables (like toilet paper and tissues), favor sustainable and biodegradable options.

Some items, when it comes to hygiene, just don’t make sense to use again. Toilet paper and tissues are some of them. So when it comes to those items you plan to use only once, do a little research and see if there might be an option that’s kinder to our planet.  

In our own home, we’ve made the switch to Who Gives a Crap toilet paper and tissues. You may not like the name, but it’s hard not to like what this company is doing for the environment and people in need. According to their “About Us” page, “Every day, 1 million trees are cut down to make traditional toilet paper.” Who Gives a Crap set out to make a change in this industry, and they now provide the “softest, strongest, most delightful eco-friendly products at an affordable price,” if they do say so themselves.

Look for this certification on products that "come from responsibly managed forests." See FSC.org for more info.

From personal experience, let me just say that you’re not getting Charmin Ultra Soft. But you are getting a quality product that you can feel good about.

B Corp certified. FSC certified. Mission oriented. These are a few of the descriptors Who Gives a Crap provides on their website, and what this boils down to is high standards for the “environmental and social impact” of their products, a “dedication to ensuring the proper management of our planet’s forests,” and “donating 50% of [their] profits” to ensure access to clean water for everyone around the globe.

I don’t know about you, but for a product I have to buy anyway, I like knowing that my money is being spent with a company that cares.

Bottom line: Some purchases have to happen; you’re going to spend the money one way or another.  So consider whether your money can be better spent. Can you find a product that’s easily renewable—made from bamboo, for example, instead of paper or plastic? Can you spend your money with companies that are not only thinking about what you need or want short term, but that also share a vision for our planet’s future?

Options are out there. If you want to make a difference, you can. One day, one change, one dollar better spent at a time. 💛

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