In order to resolve the adverse environmental impact of commercial cleaning products, many companies and homeowners alike have begun to adopt 'green cleaning' practices. The term 'green cleaning' refers to the act of cleaning in a manner which protects the user's health, without causing environmental damage or the production of air pollutants.

Fortunately, there are multiple methods through which you can introduce green cleaning practices within your home. From making your own cleaning products to only purchasing sprays, polishes and cleaning treatments that have been manufactured using non-toxic chemicals and bio-degradable packaging, green cleaning offers a broad range of applications which you can implement within your daily life in an effortless and cost-effective manner.

Regardless of whether you are a homeowner or a landlord in charge of multiple properties, embracing green cleaning practices will undoubtedly improve your home's eco-friendly credentials and reduce your individual carbon footprint. Using eco-friendly products and practices to clean your property will substantially reduce the pollution of your local waterways, improve the air quality of the surrounding areas and minimise your personal impact on ozone depletion and global climate change. Moreover, by using non-toxic, biodegradable products you will emit less smog-producing chemical contaminants throughout your home, recycle more and create less landfill waste and litter which threatens wildlife. In this manner, switching to green cleaning can safeguard your local ecosystem, as well as the planet as a whole.

In addition to protecting the environment, switching to green cleaning practices can also leave you, your family and even your pets with significant health benefits. This is due to the fact that using non-toxic cleaning agents will improve the air quality of your home and in turn alleviate the symptoms of allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions. Furthermore, your skin will absorb fewer pollutants so you can benefit from an improved complexion, reduced skin irritation and a heightened resilience against long term health conditions such as bronchitis, cancer and heart disease. If you have children, you will also be happy to hear that the use of green cleaning products has been directly linked to preventing infants and young children from developing asthma; one of the leading chronic illnesses amongst school-age children.

The use of chemical cleaning agents has been linked with increased household air pollution. According to recent studies by the EPA, the concentration of VOCs can be up to 10 times higher on average indoors than outdoors. Moreover, after several hours of extensive cleaning or paint stripping, officials have stated that VOC air pollutant levels can be up to 1,000 times higher than background outdoor levels.

In the short term, this type of VOC air pollution can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as headaches, loss of co-ordination and nausea. However, in the long term it can have more severe health side effects including irreparable damage to your kidneys, liver and central nervous system - as well as increasing the risk of certain cancers. Using artificial anti-bacterial sprays has also been linked to humans developing a bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Anti-bacterial agents found in soaps and hand sanitisers, such as triclosan, have been shown to cause human thyroid and hormonal disruption. In this manner, switching to green cleaning can significantly safeguard the health of you and your family.

Switching to green cleaning can also offer significant financial benefits for eco-savvy families and landlords. By creating your own non-toxic cleaning products out of baking soda, vinegar, salt and other natural ingredients, you can drastically reduce the amount of money you spend on costly branded commercial cleaning products. Swapping disposable paper towels, sponges and wipes for durable, multi-purpose cloths can also save you money in the long term.

If you are a landlord, using these eco-friendly cleaning agents can improve the lifespan of your property and their appliances; thereby saving you money and improving your relationship with tenants.