Christmas is just around the corner, and with that comes a week of non-stop parties, family gatherings and time away from home.
With so much going on, it can be difficult to keep on top of the cleaning at home, whilst being eco-friendly in the process. In fact, a survey by kitchen roll brand Regina found that 21% of people name keeping the house tidy during the festive season as one of their top Christmas worries!
That’s why we’ve put together a list of some simple eco-cleaning tips that will help you stick to being environmentally friendly over the Christmas period.
Save cleaning time – and the planet, with multi-purpose products
If your Christmas is anything like ours there will be little time to put your feet up, let alone clean! Keep things simple with a quick wipe around whenever you get the chance. A multi-purpose cleaner saves time, space in the cupboard, and money that would otherwise be spent on a range of different cleaning products. It also avoids unnecessary single-use plastics.
Our Multi-Surface Cleaner works wonders on sinks, baths, cookers, floors, tiles, work surfaces and even paintwork, and is the perfect partner for quick cleaning.
Recycle your Christmas tree
If you’re opting for the real deal rather than a plastic tree this Christmas, you can easily recycle them once the festivities are over. Many local authorities even arrange drop-off points or organise collections in January, before shredding the trees into chippings that can be used in the local area.
Recycle Now has created a handy Recycling Locator Tool which should help you to find out details for your region.
Avoid chemical-filled Christmas scents
There’s nothing like the scent of woody pine and winter spice at home on a cold day. Supermarkets are full of products that emulate festive smells, from candles to air fresheners, and even cleaning products.
However, it’s often the case that these festive scents result from chemicals that can potentially harm the environment. That’s why it’s important to take a look at what’s going into the products you buy. Opt for items that are naturally scented with essential oils to do your bit to save the planet.
Treat your senses with the heady scent of our Rosemary and Thyme Cleansing Hand Wash for a fresh festive scent.
Recycle your wrapping paper
There’s always someone armed with a black bin bag on Christmas day, ready to scoop up torn wrapping paper. But some wrapping paper can actually be recycled.
Why not introduce a second bin bag this year, separating what can and can’t be recycled? Just make sure to remove and any sticky tape and other decorations like ribbon.
A good tip from Recycle Now is to try the scrunch test: ‘Simple paper wrap can be scrunched and recycled, but foil or glitter-decorated paper cannot and needs to go in the general waste.’
Another good idea is to re-use gift bags next year.
Utilise Christmas dinner waste
It rings true that we always over prepare when it comes to Christmas dinner. Cooking for a table full of family and friends is no easy feat, and there’s nothing worse than the thought of running out of food when you’re the host.
This often means that there’s always lots left over that could potentially go to waste. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of tasty meals you can make from leftovers!
When you’ve had enough of turkey and stuffing sandwiches, you can also put any leftover food in a home composter to create a natural nutrient rich food for your garden plants.
It also prevents your food from potentially ending up in landfill, where it would contribute to harmful greenhouse gas emissions!
