It’s not just “trendy” these days to adopt a more environmentally conscious lifestyle—it’s actually better for our health and our diets, cleaner for our food and water supplies, less invasive of our planet’s oceans and lands. But it can also be expensive! Sure, a hybrid car cuts down on emissions and gas use, but the cost of a whole new vehicle? Organic foodstuffs contain fewer chemicals and toxins, but the price tags rise with the health benefits. And who has the time to clean cloth diapers, the resources to purchase only all-natural cosmetics, or the convenience of finding recycled-only goods?

Some eco-friendly measures are easier to commit to than others, like reusable grocery bags, glass water bottles, and cloth dishtowels over paper towels. And luckily for the average consumer, going greener when it comes to your housecleaning is another area where you can easily make great strides without breaking the bank. At all.

Three back-to-basics staples, in particular, should be stocked in every home—not only because they’re cheap, pure, and environmentally responsible, but because they’ve been doing the trick for centuries and show no signs of losing their effectiveness! Go greener today in your home and your life by making your own cleaning products out of these tried-and-true ingredients:

1. VINEGAR: The active ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid, which can be a strong cleaning agent that dissolves dirt buildup, grease, and grime. It also kills germs, mold, and bacteria. To make an all-natural spray that can be used all over your kitchen and bathrooms—on the stovetop, appliances, and countertops … on tile floors, tubs, showers, sinks, and toilets—simply mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle that you can buy at any discount or dollar store. Opt for white vinegar to eliminate the possibility of any staining or discoloration.
2. LEMONS: Lemon juice is another natural ingredient that can be used for cleaning, either concentrated or diluted with water. The citric acid in lemons, with its low pH and high antibacterial properties, dissolves mineral deposits and soap scum. It also shines stainless steel, brass, and copper fixtures; it sanitizes cutting boards; it can be nuked in half a cup of water to clean your microwave; it’s a terrific scrubbing and de-griming agent (frying pans, coffeepots, etc.); and with a little help from an old toothbrush, it can be used to clean grout. The applications are virtually endless. And of course there’s the added benefit of the fresh smell that will infuse your home!
3. BAKING SODA: Look in any refrigerator in America. Chances are, there’s an open box of baking soda tucked in the back somewhere. That’s because baking soda is a known deodorizer that absorbs unwanted scents and smells. But it’s not just for sitting on a shelf! On its own or combined with water, dish soap, and/or vinegar, baking soda can be used as a non-abrasive cleanser on hard surfaces in the home—walls, furniture, floors, you name it. It gets the smell out of drains and garbage disposals. It cleans sponges, batteries, grills. It can even be used as a fruit and veggie wash.

Check out any number of DIY listings online to find out how to use these three products most beneficially, effectively, and harmlessly—on their own or in combination. Then, if you want more ideas on how to “greenify” your home, consult the experts at Home Services Enterprise for more tips or to undertake the tasks for you. We’re an eco-friendly company that uses natural products upon request, such as microfiber cloths to keep dust from becoming airborne for allergy and asthma sufferers.

301-674-9564  |  www.homeservicesenterprise.com

If you work from a home-based office, then you’re already contributing to the environment by reducing your carbon footprint via telecommuting. Way to go! But did you know you can do even more to be eco-conscious, right from the comfort of your own desk? Regardless of how large or small your workspace, there are ways to make it more eco-friendly and productive.

“Going green” doesn’t have to be as difficult or intimidating as some people think; in fact, it’s quite easy and convenient. Not only that, but it will benefit your wallet as well, since a home office — outfitted with computers, technology, printers, chargers, adapters, and other electronics — typically uses more energy and resources than any other room in your house. These simple steps that anyone can take will help both you and your surroundings.

THREE WAYS TO GO GREEN:

1. Save on resources: Be conscious of how you use your office equipment, turning it off, shutting it down, putting it to sleep, unplugging it, or making use of screen savers whenever possible to conserve energy. This will preserve the life of your technology while also decreasing your energy bill.
2. Recycle: Adding another bin next to your trash can in your office will remind you to separate items that can be recycled, like batteries and printer cartridges, instead of just throwing them away. When we take measures to reuse, less is added to trash heaps and more is renewed and refurbished.
3. Cut down on your printing: Before sending something to your printer, ask yourself if a hard copy is absolutely necessary. It’s much more cost-effective and environmentally conscientious to reduce waste and save ink — and your paper supply and printer cartridges will last much longer to boot!

Start practicing these eco-friendly habits around your home today to create a cleaner environment for you and your family and to impact the future environment as well. Both you and your world will be better for it.

Home Services Enterprise is committed to protecting our environment by using ecologically responsible products to clean your home and office. To set up a cleaning, call 301-674-9564 or go to: www.homeservicesenterprise.com

Many cleaning products can be found just about everywhere in our homes and offices: on furniture, clothing, floors, windows, doors, and basically every single surface we come into contact with. Waging a war on dirt and germs may actually be making things worse instead of better!

Most conventional cleaning products we use every day contain petroleum-based substances that can be harmful to both our health and our environment. Cleaning products are meant to kill germs, but they don’t necessarily have to be made from strong and toxic ingredients. There are many good options for using natural products and cleaning methods available to us.

Four Tips for Green Cleaning:

• Begin using green cleaning products
  As we are starting to realize the impact conventional cleaning products have on our health and the environment, more and more brands are now offering healthy and effective green cleaning products. It’s also easy to make your own: vinegar and baking soda mixed with water can also be used to clean almost anything.
• Improve your indoor air quality
  Keeping the windows open and airing out your rooms is one way to freshen up the air to remove any indoor toxins present, leaving the air you breathe healthier and fresher. This is especially important while you are cleaning your home or office.
• Be careful not to overuse antibacterial cleaners
  Antibacterial cleaners and overuse of them don’t necessarily make things any cleaner but do run the risk of breeding “super germs”, which are bacteria that can survive most cleaners. It has been proven that antibacterial soaps do not work any better than plain soap and water.

Employ a green cleaning service today. Hire a cleaning service that uses only green cleaning products and practices green cleaning methods to keep your home naturally clean and healthy.

These days, most people are at least somewhat concerned about all of the chemicals that can be found in our food, cleaning products, clothing, and just about everything else. The good news is that it’s getting easier and easier to find natural products. The bad news is that these products are typically quite expensive.

The great news is that making your own cleaning products with the supplies most of us already have at home will be less costly and much healthier for both you and our planet. You may even have memories from childhood of our mothers and grandmothers using these methods. There are three natural ingredients found in most homes – vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda – that are used not only for cooking and baking, but also for cleaning your home.

How Vinegar Works as a Cleaning Agent: Vinegar’s active ingredient, acetic acid, is a strong cleaning agent that dissolves dirt, grease, and grime build-up. It also kills germs, mold, and bacteria. Use white vinegar because it’s less harsh and will not stain light surfaces.

Using Vinegar in the Kitchen: Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then pour it into a spray bottle. Spray this on your stove top, appliances, and countertops, then wipe them down. Using vinegar and water to clean tile floors in kitchens will leave them shiny and clean.   

Using Vinegar in the Bath: Using straight vinegar, wipe down the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use equal parts vinegar and water to mop the bathroom floor.

Lemon Juice and its Uses: Lemon juice is a natural ingredient that can be used to clean certain items in your home. Lemon juice can dissolve mineral deposits and soap scum. It’s also a good for cleaning and shining stainless steel, copper, and brass fixtures throughout your home. Lemon juice has the added benefit of keeping your home smelling fresh and clean.

Baking Soda: Baking soda is a great deodorizer for your home. Place an opened box in your refrigerator to absorb odors from food.  Baking soda also acts as a mildly abrasive cleanser that can be used to scrub surfaces throughout your home.  It will keep odors away and your home smelling clean.

Want to clean your home with eco-friendly natural products but don’t have the time in your busy schedule? You can count on Home Services Enterprise to use ecologically responsible cleaning products throughout your home. Give us a call today. 301-674-9564