Does the household products section of supermarkets impresses you? Us too. The list of references that can be found in supermarkets is long. New products are added regularly. So how do you make the right choices among these hundreds of products when you have an ecological conscience and want products that really work?
If you too want to make better choices, several possibilities are available for you:
Some people prefer to make their own cleaning products.
Making your own cleaning products is undoubtedly the new trend for protecting your health and the environment. If you have adopted it, we take our hats off to you! All the advantages are combined, such as the reduction of packaging waste, the choice of composition, a potential economic advantage, respect for your health and the environment, etc.
But be careful, it's better not to play chemists when you don't know what you're handling. Mixing certain substances could be dangerous and improper handling could compromise your safety. It is better to prevent incidents from multiplying and combine the ingredients carefully. In most cases, you just need to know the right ingredients and the right dosages to incorporate. However, be careful with what you read on the Internet, they are not always professionals.
Black soap, white vinegar, lemon, baking soda, soda crystals,… Are you lost? For many people, making your own cleaning products is restrictive. It takes time, organization, knowledge, reading and obviously motivation. Unfortunately, this cannot be improvised. Is your schedule busy and you have little time to spare? No problem, you can still make wiser and more responsible choices and change your habits. Here are a few tips :
Read the ingredient list of your cleaning products
Nothing better than focusing on the composition of the product. The latter must appear on the label.
Note, however, that this industry is not all white and that some voluntarily omit to affix mandatory information on the back of their bottles. As with everything, you have to keep an open mind and be careful!
Go to specialized stores
In order to receive more appropriate advice on product selection, specialized stores (organic stores, bulk stores, local grocery stores, etc.) are an interesting recourse. Due to their sometimes lower number of references and their stricter selection criteria, the professionals in these stores are more available and able to help you select the product that best meets your expectations. You can also find products there that you cannot find elsewhere.
These stores allow you to find certified organic, vegan, higher quality products, local products, etc.
This is an effective way to more conscientiously select the product that suits you. Always remember to turn the bottle upside down to read the composition.
You can rely on environmental and quality labels
Indeed, environmental labels are quality labels which are used to ensure that a product has a reduced impact on the environment in accordance with certain criteria or standards. Among the official labels, we find for example Ecocert, Ecolabel, Nature & Progrès, Nordic Swan, etc. These labels make purchasing easier and quickly identify cleaning products that are more respectful of the environment and health. Note that a label does not mean perfection, you should always be sure to check the composition on the product label. Also, the labeling processes being quite expensive for manufacturers, a product which does not have a label is not necessarily worse.
You must still be careful not to confuse official labels and logos created from scratch by manufacturers as a marketing tool.
You can opt for zero waste
Some stores offer bulk or others even specialize in bulk.
We notice that bulk has many advantages. It allows you to manage the quantity of product needed and thus avoid waste, it also allows you not to be influenced by packaging and convincing speeches. The fact of bringing your own containers and the absence of packaging are obviously among the biggest advantages. We also notice a saving in the purchase of cleaning products.
Bulk can, however, prove restrictive because these stores have a narrower range of products. It is therefore necessary to anticipate and check the availability of products in store. Also, bulk does not mean that the solution is impeccable although the stores have strict selection criteria. Once again, it is better to ask questions to the specialist and read the labeling.
Beyond these solutions, a few daily habits help keep your homes healthy and optimize indoor air quality.
Ventilate your spaces daily for 10 to 15 minutes;
Clean the air inlets and ventilation systems regularly to promote good air circulation;
Vacuum and collect dust;
Leave a space between the doors and the floor to let air pass through.
So, ready to change your habits?
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