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Zero Waste Cleaning - Tips for plastic-free cleaning and cleaning

Zero Waste Cleaning - 10 Tips for Plastic-Free Cleaning and Sanitizing

Want to find out more about zero waste cleaning and clean your home as plastic-free as possible? Then you have a great attitude! There are people who like cleaning - I'm definitely not one of them. But whether it's glass cleaner, oven cleaner, cleaning sponges or scouring milk - I don't like the high chemical content and all the plastic waste. Of course, there are more environmentally friendly and sustainable ways! Fortunately, we have a cornucopia of options in the household to produce significantly less or even no more waste.

In this article, I would like to give you the most valuable tips for cleaning and cleaning in the spirit of the Zero Waste Lifestyle from cleaning products to helpful items. Use them to clean up your home quickly, naturally, waste-free and cheaply. Let's go!

  1. Make yourself aware of why!
  2. Use reusable cloths
  3. Try a few, but versatile home remedies
  4. Make your own cleaning products
  5. Set on reusable cleaning utensils
  6. Prefer bar soaps for the right purpose
  7. Also take care of your cleaning utensils
  8. Use ecological bin liners
  9. Get a long lasting vacuum cleaner
  10. Choose all your utensils wisely

1. make yourself aware of why!

We clean our home, for example, to prevent the proliferation of bacteria or household accidentsto prevent allergies or simply to brighten our mood. Ultimately, cleaning improves our well-being and our health. Not everyone feels this during the cleaning routine, but definitely afterwards 🙂

However, by using chemical cleaning agents, we are also constantly flushing vast quantities of chemicals into the groundwater via the wastewater - the endangers the environment and our health. In addition, there is all the waste from plastic bottles and packaging, which often cannot be recycled at all or only in a very costly and energy-intensive way. Finally, harsh, chemical cleaners also contribute to many of the biggest environmental problems of our time with. But a clean home should not be based on the expense of the environment and our health.

Only twelve percent of Germans pay attention to environmentally friendly cleaning products when buying them. These reasons should motivate you to ensure that this statistical value continues to grow in the future.

2. use reusable cloths

Use reusable rags for plastic-free cleaning

On average, every German consumes about 18 to 19 kilograms of kitchen roll paper. Although it is very convenient, but steadily consumes the natural resource wood and ends up in the trash immediately after brief use.₁

Instead, prefer to use washable, reusable Cleaning cloths made of fabric or cellulose. They are biodegradable and last a long time. You can rinse the so-called Swedish cloths or simply throw them in the washing machine and use them for months if handled well. Also Microfiber cloths are washable, last a very long time and clean extremely effectively. Finally, by replacing disposable products with reusable products, you can also Save money sustainably.

Tip: You can also use eternally reusable cloth towels for drying off. Ideally, you should have cut them out of old T-shirts, towels or bed sheets and recycled them once again.

3. try few but versatile home remedies

There are a few classic home remedies that will give you save the purchase of many, expensive, different cleaning products become. Of course, there may be a little plastic waste here and there - but basically you save a lot of packaging, chemicals and money!

Here are some Natural home remedies for inspiration, which should help you:

  • Curd soap (e.g. against stubborn stains on surfaces or in clothing)
  • Citrus fruits (e.g. orange and lemon peels against lime deposits)
  • Citric acid (e.g. as a descaling agent, fabric softener or pot cleaner)
  • Washing soda (e.g. against blocked drains or as a toilet and upholstery cleaner)
  • Vinegar/vinegar essence (e.g. as descaling or to remove fly dirt).
  • Baking soda (e.g. as window, drain and toilet cleaner or odor remover).
  • Coconut oil (e.g. for removing stickers or as furniture polish)
  • Fresh air (e.g. to remove unpleasant rumors)

Important: Please do not throw away anything you already have. Use up the respective cleaning agent so that it was not produced in vain. Simply make your cleaning routine calmly but steadily more plastic-free.

4. make your own cleaning products

How to make dishwashing liquid from ivy

If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that it's much easier to plastic free living when you make everyday items yourself and have full control over the ingredients. Here are some cleaning utensils that are relatively easy to make yourself from natural ingredients:

  • Washing-up liquid: You can conjure up a foaming dishwashing liquid from ivy leaves in just a few minutes. Below Make your own ivy dishwashing liquid you can find out how!
  • Glass Cleaner: Citrus peel, baking soda and vinegar can be used to make a really effective Make your own glass cleaner. You can find out how easy it is in the linked article.
  • Oven Cleaner: From sodium bicarbonate, table salt and vinegar you can make a Own creation brand oven cleaner make. You can see what you need to do in the linked article.

There really are an incredible number of DIY options to make zero waste cleaning even easier for you. If you're looking for quick solutions, there are also plastic free packed tabswhich you dissolve in water in a spray or glass bottle and then use as the cleaning agent for which the tab is intended.

5. set on reusable cleaning utensils

Experience has shown that avoiding waste works extremely well if you replace disposable items with reusable alternatives. For example, use a Mop with removable fabric headinstead of disposable Swiffer pads. The latter are waste immediately after use.

Wooden dishwashing brushes with replaceable heads can also be used forever and, if handled well, will not produce any waste for ages. Wood and metal broom and dustpanglass spray bottles, galvanized buckets and versatile preserving jars are other useful cleaning utensils.

6. prefer bar soaps for the right purpose

Whether curd soap or Aleppo soap - every solid soap fulfills its purpose. For example, remove Grease and dirt from dishes, pots and pans or let a battered wooden floor shine again in combination with a little olive oil. Bar soaps are Usually available plastic-free and so incredibly versatile in the home.

Tip: In another article I will introduce you to some of the Best uses for curd soap in the home before.

7. also take care of your cleaning utensils

The items that assist you with zero waste cleaning also need to be looked after so that they serve you well for as long as possible. For example, you should regularly clean cloths, the cloth attachment of your mop or sponges in the Washing machine throw. As experience has shown that cleaning items are very rich in bacteria after use, you should not wash them in the same wash cycle as your clothes.

Furthermore, it helps with many cleaning utensils, they with vinegar and water in the sink soak them to clean them properly.

Notice: Don't forget the larger appliances such as the vacuum cleaner container and filter. The better you take care of your appliances, the less waste you will end up producing.

8. use ecological bin liners

Of course, it is not possible to completely avoid creating waste. That's why cleaning as plastic-free as possible also means that you should Separate waste correctly and Biodegradable bin liners or bin liners made from recycled material use. Personally, I only use one for organic waste. homemade paper bag. Apart from that, I've said goodbye to bin liners as far as possible.

9. get a durable vacuum cleaner

Of course, brooms and hand brushes don't get rid of everything. The more durable your vacuum cleaner is, the less waste it produces and the less Natural resources are necessary for your cleaning routine. Prefer a Energy-efficient appliance that has a reusable filter. You can wash it out in the dishwasher, for example. But also remember to check and clean your vacuum cleaner regularly so that it lasts as long as possible.

10. choose your utensils wisely

If a new purchase is unavoidable, then you should at least take a closer look. Environmental seals like the "Blue Angel" or the "EU Ecolabel" will help you to quickly recognize suitable products. We recommend cleaning products that are refillable or available as Refill pack are available. This saves you a lot of plastic waste.

Also pay attention to the origin, natural quotations, organic certification and that it is vegan, free from animal suffering, palm oil-free and fairly produced was made. Ideally, the manufacturer also consciously saves on packaging waste or makes its packaging from natural and recycled materials in order to minimize waste. Avoid plastic waste.

Tip: About Sustainable laundry washing I have written you a separate post with valuable tips. Have a look at it!

Zero waste cleaning - achieve a lot with just a few resources!

Zero Waste Cleaning without plastic

Whether it's an extensive spring clean or a weekly cleaning routine, it is possible to create (almost) no waste - and to achieve great things with the cheapest, most natural and least expensive means possible! It is important to know why this is so important and what means can be used to achieve this goal. Reusable alternatives, DIY cleaning products and durable appliances will definitely help you achieve this!

I hope that I was able to help you with this article on zero waste cleaning. Do you have any questions, tips or suggestions? Then I look forward to your comment under this post.

Stay clean,

Christoph from CareElite - Plastic-free living

PS: Do you already know how you want your Bathroom design without plastic? Then read the corresponding article next. In the article Zero Waste Tips you will also get even more inspiration for a waste-free everyday life. Good luck!

References:
₁ Federal Environment Agency: Paper tissues, sanitary paper (as at: 07.01.2016), available at https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/umwelttipps-fuer-den-alltag/haushalt-wohnen/papiertaschentuecher-hygienepapiere. [16.05.2022].

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* Links with asterisks are so-called Affiliate linksIf you click on it and buy something, you automatically and actively support my work with CareElite.de, as I receive a small share of the proceeds - and of course nothing changes in the product price. Many thanks for your support and best regards, Christoph!

Christoph Schulz

Christoph Schulz

I'm Christoph, an environmental scientist and author - and here at CareElite I'm campaigning against plastic waste in the environment, climate change and all the other major environmental problems of our time. Together with other environmentally conscious bloggers, I want to give you tips & tricks for a naturally healthy, sustainable life as well as your personal development.

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