• Make your own detergent
• Among them it is worth mentioning
• Professional eco-products
• Some useful tips

After many long, gloomy winter months, it's finally time to open the windows wide, sweep cobwebs out of the corners, dust and, what can I say, finally do the famous spring cleaning!

The problem is that the chemicals used to make most cleaning products on the market can be more harmful than all the dirt and dust we're trying to get rid of with them. It goes without saying that cleaning often produces huge amounts of waste (ahem, those paper towels, those sponges, those rags, and—worst of all—single-use cleaning wipes!). Fortunately, anyone who wants to clean in an environmentally conscious way can do so by making slight changes to their habits and the products they use. We have a few ideas for you to make cleaning not only spring-like, but also green!

Make your own detergent

What kind of cleaning is it if it's supposed to pollute the environment? You can prevent the release of toxic substances into the environment by replacing your usual cleaning products with some of these—really surprisingly effective!—simple, natural substances you probably already have in your home.

Among them are worth mentioning:

• Vinegar (and citric acid)
• oil
• baking powder

With these three ingredients—perhaps with a little aromatic oil if you like fresh scents—you can clean most household surfaces. How to do it? When it comes to vinegar, it's best to remember two ratios: 1:2 and 1:1 (vinegar:water). The rule is simple: the less dirty and the more delicate the surface, the more diluted (with water) the vinegar should be, and the dirtier, the more concentrated. For example, to clean floors, you can use a mixture of vinegar and oil in a 1:1 ratio. Oil, on the other hand, is used to polish wooden furniture and remove grease from kitchen cabinets (fat dissolves grease—then all you need to do is rinse off the resulting emulsion!).

Professional eco-products

If playing a little pharmacy isn't for you, don't worry: In our eco-shop, you'll find a range of ready-made products for deep cleaning your home and even washing and laundering your clothes in an environmentally friendly way. Brands like Klar, Almacabio, and Almawin are your best allies in the fight against dirt. The perfect solution for those who value convenience—and order! And if you prefer to prepare your own laundry detergents from start to finish, you'll also find large and extra-large packs of baking soda in our shop.

Some useful tips

You already know what to do and want to know how ? We have some green tricks for you:

• Avoid using paper towels. If you're one of those people who cleans everything with paper towels... stop! Cut old, unused cotton T-shirts into rags (Teter diapers are great too!) and turn them into wipes that you can use many times.
• Clothes aren't the only thing you can reuse for cleaning. If you need to polish a surface and don't want streaks, newspapers work great! Yes, plain black and white newspapers. Crush them into a ball and polish the desired surface—you'll see it take on a crystal-clear shine.
• Get rid of excess stuff: It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that the more items you have (of any kind!), the more you have to declutter. A little minimalism never hurt anyone—but remember to dispose of things responsibly by selling them, giving them to friends or those in need, or recycling them.