Switching to eco-friendly cleaning practices can be good for your health and your wallet.
Green or natural cleaning products are also gentler than chemicals, meaning less wear and tear on surfaces and plumbing systems.
Our 3 favourite DIY natural cleaning recipes
There are many homemade cleaning detergent recipes on the internet, but we like these three because they’re simple and cost-effective.
Homemade surface cleaner
An easy-to-make surface cleaner and sanitiser is equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. A few drops of your favourite essential oil will make it smell amazing.
Use the mixture to mist surfaces and wipe them down with a clean, absorbent cloth. The mixture will last a few weeks in the cupboard.
Homemade floor cleaner
Liquid Castile soap is an excellent, non-toxic floor cleaner made from vegetable oils. To mop your hardwood or tile floors, mix two tablespoons of Castile soap and four litres of hot water. Add a few drops of zesty essential oil to give it a natural fragrance.
If you don’t have Castile, equal parts white vinegar and water will do the trick, though it’s not quite as powerful. Use a spray bottle to spritz the floor with the vinegar mixture and then mop it with hot rinsing water.
Don’t mix vinegar and Castile soap. They cancel each other out, and the vinegar makes the soap separate into an oily mess.
Homemade liquid laundry detergent
A non-toxic laundry liquid can be made at home by mixing the following ingredients:
- 1 cup borax
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup of liquid Castile soap
- 13 cups of water.
To prepare the detergent, boil six cups of the water and mix with the first three ingredients in a bucket, stirring to dissolve. Add another seven cups of cold water and stir to combine. Transfer to a suitable container for dispensing and let it rest for 24 hours so it becomes a gel.
This mixture will make about four litres of laundry liquid. Use about a quarter cup (62 ml) per load. Adjust this amount to suit the size of your machine and the amount of laundry.
Where to find “green” cleaning products in the Cape
The best place to find eco-friendly cleaning products is your own pantry. Natural cleaning solutions are based on everyday household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and salt. These ingredients have been used to clean and disinfect for generations.
That said, the number of “green” cleaning products on the shelves has grown significantly in recent years. You can find a selection of natural cleaning products in most grocery stores.
These local retailers specialise in eco-friendly cleaning products (with online and in store options):
- Wellness Warehouse
- Faithful to Nature
- Evolve Biodegradable
- EarthHero
- Greenworx
- Nu-Eco
- Mrs Martin’s
- Triple Orange
- Green Bee
- Better Earth.
Using less water when cleaning
South Africa is a water-scarce country. Cape Town’s brush with Day Zero made it clear that water is a finite resource. Saving water is always a good and responsible thing to do.
Being mindful about wastage when cleaning can make a significant difference to your water consumption. Follow these tips.
- Use a bucket to catch the water when a shower is heating up to clean with.
- Buy energy-efficient appliances, especially washing machines.
- Don’t leave the water running when washing dishes.
- Catch grey water from your washing machine to water the garden.
- Only wash full loads of clothing.
- Pack your dishwasher efficiently.
- Choose washing machine cycles that use less water.
- Wash your car using grey water or a waterless system.
Tips for reducing household waste
There are lots of ways to reduce water usage around the house, not just when cleaning. Follow these tips for reducing water consumption in your home.
- Get a timer to reduce your shower time or use a song to limit your showers.
- Don’t overfill the kettle – only boil as much as you need.
- Put low-flow aerators on all taps.
- Avoid the hose – using the hose to water the garden or wash your car can be very wasteful (and illegal in some circumstances).
- Keep water from cooking veggies to water your garden (let it cool first).
- And… if it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.
How Chelsea Cleaning incorporates sustainability
Our carpet, upholstery and mattress cleaning processes rely on hot water extraction, which uses hot water rather than harmful chemicals to deep-clean and sanitise materials.
Naturally, this uses water. However, the water is not contaminated afterwards and the process is 100% safe for children and pets.
Hot water extraction eliminates allergens without using harsh or perfumed detergents, so it’s ideal for allergy sufferers in the Cape.
