How to Create a Sustainable Home Cleaning Routine in 2024

Overall Summary

Creating a sustainable home cleaning routine in 2024 involves adopting eco-friendly practices, setting clear expectations, and maintaining consistency. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to establishing a cleaning routine that not only keeps your home tidy but also minimizes environmental impact. It covers the importance of using green cleaning products, setting up a cleaning schedule, and tips for maintaining a clean and healthy living environment.

TLDR

To create a sustainable home cleaning routine in 2024, start by defining what 'clean' means to everyone in your household. Use eco-friendly cleaning products, set a clear schedule, and hold each other accountable. Consistency is key, and don't forget to make cleaning a fun and manageable task.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Define 'Clean' for Your Household

Setting Expectations Early On

The first step in creating a sustainable cleaning routine is to define what 'clean' means to everyone in your household. Do you expect the house to be tidied daily, or is a thorough clean weekly or even monthly satisfactory? Setting these expectations early on can help reduce conflicts down the road.

Author's Thoughts

In my last apartment, cleaning became a big issue. It took us almost two years to actually sit down and determine how to keep our apartment clean. Setting clear expectations early on can save a lot of headaches later.

2. Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Health Benefits

Choosing sustainable cleaning solutions over conventional chemical-laden products can significantly improve indoor air quality and reduce exposure to harmful toxins. Traditional cleaning products often contain harsh chemicals that can trigger respiratory issues, allergies, and skin irritations. By opting for eco-friendly alternatives, such as vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils, you can create a safer and healthier home environment for your loved ones.

Environmental Impact

Conventional cleaning products contribute to water and air pollution, harming ecosystems and wildlife. Eco-friendly cleaning products, on the other hand, are biodegradable and less harmful to the environment. By using green cleaning products, you can minimize your carbon footprint and help protect our planet for future generations.

Sustainability at Its Core

Sustainable cleaning solutions focus on reducing waste, conserving resources, and promoting renewable energy. From using microfiber cloths that are washable and reusable to opting for refillable cleaning sprays, eco-friendly cleaning practices prioritize sustainability every step of the way.

Author's Tips

• Make your own cleaning products using simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice.
• Use microfiber cloths instead of disposable wipes.
• Opt for refillable cleaning sprays to reduce plastic waste.

3. Set Up a Cleaning Schedule

Determine Household Chores

Ask questions like: What needs to be done daily, weekly, monthly? How will you split the light cleaning (vacuuming, dishes) and the deep cleaning (refrigerator, windows)? A weekly schedule worked for us. We broke down what the expectations were in each of the common rooms, and each person was responsible for completing those tasks during their assigned week.

Accountability

We kept a calendar in the kitchen as a visible reminder of whose turn it was to clean, which I found was also a good way to passively enforce the schedule. For some people, a more detailed schedule works better.

Author's Thoughts

I've known households that started with what people didn’t mind doing, and then they split up what was left. If you can’t stand the thought of scrubbing the bathroom, but you enjoy doing dishes, you might be able to negotiate a deal.

4. Maintain Consistency

Be Consistent

If you decide that it’s helpful to do a quick clean-up before rest time or nap time every day, take the 5-10 minutes that it takes to do that little clean-up. Being consistent helps to build habits and makes it easier to clean up when you’re doing it regularly.

Author's Tips

• Write it down. If you feel like you get to the end of the day and didn’t get anything accomplished, start checking things off a list.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you have to order pizza because everything went south, it’s no big deal. This is why I built Fridays as a Catch-All Day into my routine.

5. Make Cleaning Fun and Manageable

Deep Cleaning Together

For deep cleaning, I’ve found it’s more manageable (and fun) when you set aside a day to tackle the big jobs together. It’s a great way to bond and ensures that no one person is overwhelmed with all the cleaning tasks.

Author's Tips

• Play some music or a podcast to make the time go by faster.
• Set a timer for each task to keep everyone focused and efficient.

6. Additional Tips for a Sustainable Home

Reduce Waste

• Compost food scraps and recycle whenever possible.
• Avoid single-use plastics and opt for reusable alternatives.

Energy Efficiency

• Use energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
• Turn off lights and unplug electronics when not in use.

Water Conservation

• Fix any leaks and install water-saving fixtures.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.

Author's Thoughts

Living sustainably is not just about cleaning; it’s about adopting practices that reduce your overall environmental impact. Small changes can make a big difference.

Good Practices and Final Thoughts

Creating a sustainable home cleaning routine is an ongoing process. It requires commitment, but the rewards are well worth the effort. By setting clear expectations, using eco-friendly products, and maintaining consistency, you can create a clean and healthy home environment that also benefits the planet.

Good Practices

• Regularly review and adjust your cleaning schedule as needed.
• Encourage everyone in the household to participate and take responsibility for keeping the home clean.
• Stay informed about new eco-friendly products and practices.

Final Thoughts

A sustainable home cleaning routine is not just about keeping your house clean; it’s about creating a healthier environment for your family and reducing your impact on the planet. With a little effort and commitment, you can make a big difference.

References

• Equal Cleaning For All: Tips For Splitting Chores With Roommates | Apartment Therapy
• 5 Reasons Why Eco-Friendly Cleaning is Important for Your Family - Sandia Green Clean
• A Manageable, Realistic Cleaning Routine for Any Schedule - Clean Mama
• How to Reduce Waste: 21 Ideas for Zero Waste Living - One Tree Planted