"Are they more expensive?"
"Is it really worth switching?"
"I'll probably spend more time scrubbing because they won't work as well."
You may be considering making the switch to green cleaning but have heard some things which cause you to hesitate. Perhaps you've heard nothing negative but have formulated your own ideas which hold you back. Today we debunk the myths!
1. Green cleaning products don't work. While there are a lot of green products on the market, there is also a lot of green washing. As individuals, we need to be aware of what's on the market. As well, there are some products which are truly eco-friendly but don't deliver the punch needed for cleaning. Sometimes, you may find a product that you love but the other products in that brand's range don't deliver. It can be a trial and error situation. For the most part, I like to stick with the basics from my cupboard. I'm never disappointed.
2. Modern products are more effective than natural cleaners. I have found this to be completely untrue. In fact, in cleaning homes for 8 years as a green service and countless years of cleaning prior to "going green", I can honestly say, my job is easier because of natural cleaning products. Tubs that took 5 hours (yes..we get those types of homes) take me 5 minutes now. A home which originally took 3-4 hours to clean takes only 45-60 minutes. By using natural cleaning products, I eliminate most of the time and physical effort. I've tested this out several times. I hope to post videos of the difference soon.
3. Bleach is necessary for disinfecting. Wrong. Bleach is needed for nothing. Health dangers aside, bleach is ineffective as a cleaner and disinfectant. Bleach can kill mold on hard, non-porous surfaces but is far less effective on porous surfaces. It simply cannot penetrate into porous surfaces. The EPA doesn't even have bleach listed as a disinfectant against mold.
Also, bleach becomes ineffective when it comes into contact with organic material. What this means that in order for bleach to work at all, you must first completely clean the surface before applying the bleach because once it touches dirt, food or any other organic matter, it ceases to work. (Also, you must leave the bleach on the surface for 10 minutes in order for it to kill germs.) Tea tree oil and other essential oils, on the other hand, clean and disinfect regardless of organic matter. There is no need to clean before you clean. Vinegar is a much better bet and Hydrogen Peroxide is mold's mortal enemy.
4. Green cleaning is expensive. Making your own cleaners using vinegar, water and a few drops of essential oil cost pennies per bottle to make and is an effective all-purpose cleaner. Don't have essential oils? Just use vinegar and water. Sprinkling some baking soda followed by vinegar in the bath or toilet costs only pennies, too.
There are plenty of green products on the market that may, at first, seem expensive. They're usually concentrated, which means they last longer and cost less per use than toxic cleaners.. Even so, many of the green companies have been able to set competitive prices due to the higher demand for natural products we're seeing nowadays. Method and Seventh Generation, for instance offer products in the same price range as their toxic counterparts. Bon Ami costs less than other powder scrubbing cleaners (and I never have to actually scrub!). Also, these products last longer than the bottles of toxic cleaners which require more product per use and more elbow grease. They're real money and time savers!
All in all, it has been my personal experience from use and comparison, that green cleaning is far less expensive, requires less physical effort, requires less time and they work better than conventional cleaners.
Work smarter not harder.
Naturally Yours,
