Warmer weather means it's time for... a major spring clean!
There is nothing more pleasant than seeing your home clean, clutter-free and ready for a new season. What if, this year, we went further than just cleaning? By combining eco-friendliness and well-being, let's adopt an approach inspired by the Marie Kondo method for a home that is healthy, eco-responsible and joyful at the same time!
Lighten your home
Before even taking out the white vinegar and cloths, clear the way. The Marie Kondo method is based on a simple principle: only keep what brings you joy. So start by sorting through your closets, shelves, and cleaning utensils. Do you really need five types of brooms or yet another half-empty bottle of glass cleaner? A good decluttering is the first step towards an efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable clean. Donate what can be donated, recycle what can no longer be used, and say goodbye to the superfluous.
An eco-friendly clean
Once the space is cleared, move on to cleaning. But not just any way: favor homemade, non-toxic products that are pleasant to use. Here are a few recommendations for maintaining your home in an eco-responsible way:
Distilled from cereals, white vinegar cleans, disinfects and makes all surfaces shine. Combine it with a few drops of lavender, lemon or eucalyptus essential oil to soften its smell and add a touch of sensory freshness. It is a real zero-waste ally not to be overlooked!
To make your own all-purpose cleaner, nothing is simpler: Fill a spray bottle with one liter or 75cl of water (roughly up to half), top up with white vinegar, add 15 to 20 drops of essential oil of your choice to counteract the sometimes too strong smell of vinegar, and voilà! A multi-surface spray bottle, at a lower cost.
Another star ingredient? Black soap. Made mainly of olive oil and black olives, this 100% natural and biodegradable product can be dissolved in water for an ultra-efficient clean: sanitizing, it is ideal for surfaces and floors, and leaves a super pleasant smell!
Plus, it is practical to always keep a little baking soda in your cupboard: mixed with water or added to the preparations mentioned above, it is extremely powerful for removing stubborn stains. Form a paste by mixing baking soda and a little water and apply it to the stubborn (greasy) stains in your oven or on your bathroom joints. Leave it for 1 hour then wipe with a damp cloth, a real miracle remedy!
Photo by KINN Living
Utensils aligned with your values
Sponges, mops, paper towels, plastic brooms... We easily accumulate different cleaning utensils for each surface. We therefore offer you a few tips that are easy to incorporate into everyday life:
Favor wood or reclaimed materials: Banning plastic in the home also means refusing plastic in cleaning utensils. After all, why not go back to wooden brooms? The image is picturesque and yet not so bad: brooms and other wooden objects intended for cleaning are more durable than their plastic cousins and can be composted at the end of their life. The same goes for sponges, which can easily be replaced by natural bristle brushes with wooden handles. They are also more aesthetic!
For cloths, paper towels and other all-surface materials, favor washable and reusable materials. Rather than throwing away an old t-shirt that you cannot give away, you can cut it into squares and make hand cloths out of it. Most reusable cloths, if they are made of cotton, will also be compostable at the end of their life.
And if you have worn-out socks that you want to give a second life to, come make your own zero-waste and sustainable sponge in the store during a "Tawashi" (Japanese sponge) workshop.
For vacuum cleaner fans, no problem, after all, we also have to live with our time. But favor higher quality vacuum cleaners (either with a reusable bag or bagless) that offer lifetime guarantees and are therefore less likely to end up in a landfill. Although generally more expensive at first, the investment is quickly amortized.
Photo by Svitlana
And there you have it! Every time you replace household products, from a simple sponge to your dishwashing liquid, ask yourself about your habits and try little by little to incorporate elements that are more respectful of the planet. Simple replacements, like this 100% eco-friendly sustainable toilet brush can make a real difference!
And then if you want to receive other eco-friendly inspirations and tips all year round, don't hesitate to subscribe to our newsletter!
