Environmentally friendly spring cleaning

Choose packaged products carefully
Shopping for green products can be overwhelming, especially with so many brands vying for our attention. Your best bet is to look for all-natural ingredients, clearly listed on the label and keep an eye out for the EcoLogo certification, which indicates environmentally preferable products.

Eco Mist Solutions (available at Home Depot) was developed in Woodbridge, ONT., and offers nine, unscented cleaning sprays made from all-natural, plant-based ingredients. They work wonders in all rooms of the house and are gentle on the skin.

Small Planet cleaning products, created by Calgary-based Jennifer Vanderland, are made from essential oils such as clove, tea tree and lemongrass, which combine powerful disinfectant properties with pleasurable scents. “I would never use anything toxic in the tub where I bathe my kids,” says this mother of two who has been in business for about six years.  “I feel much better knowing that there are no poisonous chemicals under my sink and no toxic fumes lingering in our air.”

Reuse, reuse, reuse!
After a day of intense cleaning, it’s not uncommon to be left with overflowing bags of garbage. To reduce the waste produced during the cleaning process, simply avoid using disposable supplies. Lauren suggests using reusable rags, which can be made easily by ripping up old clothing or using old towels of face- or dishcloths. Also, for a greener clean, replace paper towels with microfiber cloths, which can be used for dusting, scrubbing and cleaning glass. Unlike paper towels, these machine-washable cloths are lint-free and highly absorbent.

“We also use newspapers along with a vinegar-and-water solution to wash windows and mirrors,” says Emmanuel Rey, founder of EnviroMaid, a Toronto-based cleaning service provider. “That’s an effective way to reuse something that will enter the recycling system anyway and they work really well.”

If backup is needed, call in the troops
If you don’t have time for a do-it-yourself spring cleaning project, there are plenty of environmentally friendly professional cleaning services across the country, which pride themselves on their eco-conscious approach. For Emmanuel, running an eco cleaning service means using natural, locally sourced products, offering recycling solutions to clients (they’ll pick up old batteries and broken bulbs) and paying staff fair wages. “Our staff take public transit or ride their bikes to the job,” says Emmanuel. “We train them on how to be environmentally aware and they pass those suggestions on to our clients.”

In the Vancouver area, Green Maids Canada offers a full range of home-cleaning services, including a green approach to carpet cleaning. Their eco-safe method uses a natural line of manufactured products combined with baking soda for spot treatments and leaves carpets smelling fresh without any traces of lingering chemicals.

Read more in Decorating & Design and Green Living