The shift that much of society are making towards green living practices, is in line with the need to better preserve the planet, and safeguard its resources for the next generation. And many people are now choosing to be more environmentally-conscious during their daily lives, including when they clean their homes. Many professional home cleaning services even use biodegradable cleaning products, in an effort to help reduce their carbon footprint.
But what exactly are biodegradable cleaning products?
Traditional cleaning products are often comprised of harsh chemicals that can be extremely harmful to both our health, and that of the environment. Biodegradable products on the other hand, don’t contain any harmful ingredients, and break down safely and swiftly when used (through microbial action), minimizing their toxic impact and significantly reducing pollution.
Made from sources which can be found naturally, such as minerals, enzymes and plants, biodegradable cleaning products can be categorized as such only when its components are broken down in a quick and complete manner. A truly biodegradable cleaning product will leave no harmful residues behind, and hence not contribute towards toxicity or pollution in either soil or water.
Most products of this nature are only labeled as being eco-friendly once they’ve passed the rigorous regulatory standards of organizations representing environmental certification.
And why should more of us be using them?
Even if you don’t care about the environment or have concerns about preserving it for future generations, you will likely care about your own health and wellbeing, and that of anyone you share your home with, which should be reason enough to change your home cleaning habits for the better.
Here are the main reasons why more of us should adopt eco-friendly cleaning solutions:
To protect the environment
The most important and immediate advantage of cleaning products that are biodegradable, is the lack of negative impact they have on the environment. With regular cleaning products chock full of chemicals such as parabens and phosphates, the harm they can cause to ecosystems and wildlife is immeasurable once they’ve entered waterways. Products that are ecologically sound, on the other hand, pose no threat to soil or water once they leave the home, and simply break down quickly into harmless substances.
To be healthier and safer
In general, a product that has been labeled as biodegradable is safe for use around humans, since they contain only natural ingredients. When used, conventional cleaning products release what are known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which can exacerbate problems with breathing, induce headaches, and contribute to a range of other health issues. If you share your home with pets or children, this should be of significant importance.
To clean more effectively
With modern advances in green technology, biodegradable cleaning products are just as effective as their chemical-based alternatives, and in some cases, they perform even better. A good example of this would be enzymes, which have exceptional stain and odor-removing qualities.
To support sustainable business practices
It’s not perhaps one of the most commonly thought about benefits of swapping to biodegradable cleaning products, but when you do, you’re helping to support businesses who make green practices and sustainability, a priority. And when you support them, you’re encouraging other companies to take an active lead in adopting environmentally friendly practices, too, which can only ever have positive consequences for the planet as a whole.
You can also make your own biodegradable cleaning products using household items such as baking soda, white vinegar, and lemons. And if your cleaning service hasn’t adopted eco-friendly practices yet, perhaps you should encourage them to!
