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This week we are moving on from the kitchen and food to another plastic-infested category. Let’s tackle your cleaning supplies and get you set up for easy, non-toxic cleaning. First off, it is time to figure out what you already have hiding in your house.
Today’s challenge: Clean out under your sinks or wherever you keep your cleaning supplies. Work quickly and don’t get too caught up in the details. Here are the steps:
- Set a timer for 15 minutes and pull everything out from under your bathroom and kitchen sinks.
- Separate into one of five categories
- Plungers, cleaning brushes, and other non-cleaner items, like garbage bags.
- Toxic cleaners
- Partial/whole bottles of non-toxic cleaners
- Empty bottles (yes, I know you have those hiding there!)
- Things that don’t belong under the sink
- Anything that is broken or no longer usable should be thrown away or recycled.
- Get rid of any toxic cleaners. It is not worth it to put you or your family at risk for adverse effects. Dump the contents and see below about how to deal with the empty bottles. You can read more here about what I consider to be safe and unsafe cleaning agents. We’ll be touching on a few of the suggestions from this article throughout the week.
- Any non-toxic cleaners that you will not use in the future should be removed for donation or dump the contents and see below for empty bottles.
- Examine your empty bottles for reuse. Test the spray and if there is one with a particularly good spritzing ability than rinse it out with water and hold on to that for future use. You can also hold on to any empty toilet bowel cleaner bottles. These bottles are nicely designed to spray under the toilet rim and they can be used again and again with your own solution. Anything you won’t use should go into the recycling bin.
- Give the bottom of your cupboards a quick wipe down, then neatly replace your plungers, scrubbers, empty bottles you plan to reuse, and other essential items that you store under your sinks. If you have cleaners that are still usable, place those in the front so that you ensure you actually use them.
- After the timer goes off, you need to stop. Put away any items that you found that should not be under the sink.
- Sit back and be proud that by the end of this 90 day challenge, you not only will have reduced plastic, but your house will be cleaner too!
Want to find out more about what you really need to clean? Check it out here:
What You Really Need to Clean→ Back to the Plastic Challenge Homepage
