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15 of the Worst Green Cleaning Mistakes Most People Make
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6. Using Paper Towels or Disposable Wipes
Although they seem really convenient, they are also a nightmare when it comes to landfills. They are also more expensive and are no safer than using washable sponges, rags, and cleaning cloths. Use cleaning cloths or rags that you can wash after cleaning to really go green and save some serious bucks. If you have a really disgusting or super dirty job, use some old, threadbare rags that you were probably about ready to throw out anyway. Save a tree, wash some rags!
7. Doing Unsafe Acrobatics
What are we talking about here? We mean climbing up on chairs, stepping on the top step of ladders, or balancing yourself on the back of the sofa to reach or clean something. If you have tall ceilings or windows that are high up, buy some taller ladders or cleaning tools with extra-long handles so you can reach those areas safely, without falling and needing to call 911.
8. Sweeping Up After Rodents
No matter how clean we keep our houses, those darn mice, rats, sometimes even raccoons and possums find their ways into our basements, attics, garages, and sheds, and use these places as their own personal bathroom. Although you need to clean up after them to limit exposure to ugly parasites, germs, and downright deadly diseases such as the bubonic plaque and the Hantavirus, the last thing you want to do is to sweep that poop away. Sweeping will kick up dust that can contain those deadly germs and you can breathe those in pretty easily. Instead, put on some rubber gloves and mix 10 parts of water with 1 part of bleach. Soak the area with this mixture for about 5 minutes, then wipe it up with rags or paper towels and seal in a trash bag. Be sure you wash your clothes, the gloves, your shoes, and wash your hands afterwards.
9. Believing Those Labels
If you think that buying a product with the words “green,” “natural,” or “ecofriendly” on the label means that the product is any of those things, think again. There are no real regulations on those words, so companies are pretty much free to say what the like. If the ingredients on the label aren’t clear about what is inside that bottle, make another choice, or make your own. Find out how food labels trick you into eating GMO foods.
10. Mixing Products
Although mixing a couple of cleaners might sound good; it’s actually a good way to create dangerously toxic gasses. Sometimes, such as the previous example of soap and vinegar, you neutralize the cleaning power entirely. Use one product and follow the instructions for best results.
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