Are you taking advantage of the unseasonably bright autumn weather to take care of some ‘spring’ cleaning? If so, you may also be wondering how you can minimise your impact on the environment; especially while climate change is such a major issue and as COP26 continues in Glasgow.
After all, you can find a huge array of cleaning products both online and in physical stores these days. But how many of them contain harsh and potentially harmful chemicals which may not even be that effective? The other issue with chemical products is that they can cause adverse reactions such as skin rashes in those with allergies. At the same time, there is the ultimate risk of soil and water solution.
Apple cider vinegar
This is one of the best home-cleaning products around! Adding it to water can be a highly effective way of cleaning stain marks on, say, a flooring surface. Its antibacterial properties reduce bacterial growth which may otherwise thrive on an uncleaned floor. And it’s very safe to use, even on natural stone such as marble and granite, and for blitzing tiles. You can even use an apple cider vinegar solution to clean utensils. What’s more, it’s fast-acting as well as effective in removing accumulated grime, and can act as a bleaching agent.
Try some baking soda
Baking soda is a mild abrasive and a natural disinfectant. It’s also inexpensive and without harsh chemicals. And you can use it on surfaces including marble and granite. Use a damp, soft cloth but don’t scrub – that risks damaging the surface. You could also try missing it with water to form a paste. Once you’re done, rinse with water to neutralise the pH, and dry thoroughly, again using a soft cloth.
Use an eco-friendly detergent
A non-acidic dishwashing detergent is another ‘green’ idea. Mix with warm water and gently wipe your countertop using a soft sponge or cloth. You’ll get that ‘just cleaned’ fresh smell as well, especially if you mis the detergent with some rubbing alcohol, which again is inexpensive, environmentally friendly and an effective yet gentle disinfectant.
Some final tips …
Whether you’re cleaning marble countertops or granite floors or anything else, there are things you can do to reduce the environmental impact of your cleaning. Use multi-purpose products wherever you can. Reuse old toothbrushes, for example to clean between tiles, and reuse plastic bottles. Finally, try and cut down on your use of kitchen towel, which obviously can’t be reused.
Here to help
At Royal Stone Care, we specialise in marble polishing and repair in London. But we also do marble cleaning and work with other natural stone such as quartz and limestone countertops. Equally, for example, we offer granite cleaning. And we take our environmental duties seriously. We’ve achieved the ISO:9001 standard. That means we don’t use any harmful chemicals in our stone cleaning work. Talk to us today, wherever you are in London and whether you’re a private or business customer.
