Since the COVID19 pandemic turned up in our lives, cleaning and disinfecting has become a popular topic of conversation.
Over the last few months we have seen how bleach has been used willy-nilly , even in green spaces, such as our beaches. In our homes too, disinfecting products are starting to accumulate. These products are not only potentially detrimental to our health and the environment (as they are often toxic), they are also sold in disposable plastic packaging.
Biology specialists have been warning us for some time that: using toxic disinfectants can be ineffective and even counter-productive. The increase in the use of plastics as a result of the coronavirus crisis is evident (even though plastic is the material in which the pathogen survives the longest).
Therefore: to stop the excessive use of toxic chemicals and plastics in the war against this virus, in this article we would like to share some ideas with you about how to clean and disinfect your home without using bleach or plastic.
Let’s get to it:
1. Marseille olive oil bar of soap, an alternative to bleach
According to this article by National Geographic, bleach is not necessary for disinfecting. Cleaning with soap and water is enough to make sure we get rid of this virus.
So, it is not necessary that you clean your house with bleach and alcohol in order to fight the coronavirus. A mix of water and a basic oil based soap like this bar of soap from Marseille is more than adequate for cleaning your house.
Also, if you would like to learn a few tricks and tips of how to clean your house without toxic chemicals, including homemade recipes, check out our post “10 eco-friendly products you can make from scratch at home (because the environment needs less stuff)”.
2. Eco-friendly cellulose & cotton household wipes, say goodbye to those plastic ones
There is nothing better to clean a smooth surface with than a sponge cleaning cloth, like those we have always used, right?
The truth is that traditional sponge wipes contain synthetic fibres that get washed down our drains and end up in the sea contaminating our delicate ecosystems and being taken up by the food chain.
But don’t you worry, because we have all bases covered, you just have to switch over to these biodegradable sponge cloths made from cotton and cellulose. At the end of their useful lives they breakdown when exposed to the elements.
You will find them sold individually, in extra large sizes, and in packs of 12, so that whilst taking care of the environment you can also save yourself a few Euros.
3. Natural plant-based scourers made of Esparto or Loofah, the essentials
For difficult to remove stains on delicate or non-stick surfaces, these plant-based scourers are the answer.
Forget about synthetic sponges and scourers that release microplastics with the very first wipe, because scourers made from plants such as Esparto grass and Loofah fruit are just as effective as well as being eco-friendly. They are also some of the cheapest products available in our e-shop.
Grown in Spain, they only cost a few Euros but they deliver such good results that they are worth their weight in gold.
4. Copper scourers, that will last forever
Stubborn stains on all types of surfaces (including the most delicate such as marble and glass) cannot stand up to a good old copper scourer.
Copper is a non-toxic material, that is long-lasting (if you take care of it, it will last for years) and it’s 100% recyclable. All this, while at the same time it doesn’t mark or scratch surfaces but it does a thorough job.
At less than €3 each, copper scourers are the best option for an environmentally friendly plastic-free deep clean.
5. Wooden brushes, and not just for the washing-up
Does your bath, shower or basin need a once over? Wooden handled brushes to the rescue! Their plant-based bristles and their long handles help you to apply enough pressure to each movement that the dirt and grime disappear with nearly no effort.
Clean them and leave them to air dry after each use and you will have a very useful brush for ages.
6. Wooden toothbrushes, for a super effective clean
“But, what is a wooden toothbrush doing on this list?”, I hear you ask.
Well it’s simple, toothbrushes are the perfect tool for getting rid of dirt hiding in hard to reach nooks and crannies, like the spot behind the taps or in between the tiles.
As you can probably guess, we are not recommending you use a new toothbrush for this, but instead one that you have already used, just disinfect it in boiling water and you are good to go cleaning all the tricky spots at your place.
Clean your house without bleach or toxic chemicals but instead with the cleaning basics from Sinplástico
P.S. What did you think of our list of tips for cleaning and disinfecting without needing bleach and plastic? Do you have any questions? Share them in the comments and we will try to answer as best we can.
Thank you for posting your article about “6 BLEACH-FREE & PLASTIC-FREE PRODUCTS FOR CLEANING AND DISINFECTING YOUR HOME”. Keep up the amazing work and ideas. May God shower you with His blessings.
I love these eco-friendly and plastic-free cleaning alternatives! It’s refreshing to see that we can protect both our health and the environment without resorting to toxic chemicals or plastic products. Making these simple switches can make a significant impact.
Hey what a brilliant post I have come across and believe me I have been searching out for this similar kind of post for past a week and hardly came across this. Thank you very much and will look for more postings from you.