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11 Ways to Make your Kitchen More Eco-Friendly

These days, the importance of reducing your household’s environmental impact has never been clearer. As climate change starts to become a real concern around the world, everyone needs to do what they can to become more eco-friendly. When it comes to the typical North American kitchen, there are plenty of areas where people can make the effort to have a more eco-friendly kitchen. This is especially true when we consider the way we clean our kitchens and the materials and chemicals we use to do so. To help you start to make some eco-friendly kitchen improvements, take a look at our list of ten tips listed below.

11 Tips To Make Your Kitchen More Eco-Friendly

1. Set Up A Recycle Centre

            Recycling is a big aspect of any eco-friendly kitchen. When we cut down on the amount of waste we produce that gets put in a landfill, we are immediately having a positive impact on the environment. In addition, setting up a designated area to store your recycling until pick up day is a good way to remain organized and keep your eco-friendly kitchen looking clear and tidy. Shelving with designated bins for paper and plastic/glass/metal, or under the cupboard storage for recycling are ideal methods of setting up your own recycling centre.

2. Bring Your Own Bags

            This next tip is somewhat related to the previous one, as bringing your own bags to the supermarket can drastically cut down on the amount of plastic recycling you produce. Plastic grocery bags are already being phased out by some store chains in favour of paper bags. While that is a help to the environment, you don’t want to always rely on paper bags to carry home groceries. Getting your own bags for the groceries will make you more eco-friendly at home, and will put you ahead of the game when plastic bags are completely phased out.

3. Only Run a Full Dishwasher

            Dishwashers are really handy for those of us who have a lot of dishes to do on a regular basis. While it can be tempting to run the dishwasher whenever you feel is necessary, you can save a lot more water and energy by waiting until your dishwasher is completely full before running it. Sometimes you will want to rinse off some dishes before putting them in the dishwasher if it won’t be filled for a while. Waiting until the machine is full can go a long way towards making the kitchen more eco-friendly.

4. Use (And Reuse) Glass

            Plastic is quickly turning out to be one of the worst materials for the environment due to things like off gassing and the permanence of the material. There are more ways than one to reduce your plastic use in the kitchen. If you have plastic containers for storing foods, you might consider switching to glass. Not only will glass last longer, it is less likely to off-gas chemicals to your foods. So save those mason jars!

5. Install and Aerator

            In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency reports that by simply installing an aerator to your kitchen faucet, you can save up to 700 gallons of water each year! That kind of water conservation will definitely help enhance your eco-friendly kitchen. In addition to saving water, you will also save some money on your annual water bill.

6. Composting

            Many communities have introduced a green waste bin for organic materials into the weekly garbage service. This is a great option for lots of people, but with a little extra time you can improve your eco-friendly status in the kitchen by composting your own organic materials.

7. Upgrade Lighting

            For a true top to bottom eco-friendly transformation in the kitchen, you can replace your overhead lighting with eco-friendly LED bulbs. These bulbs use a fraction of the power that traditional or CFL bulbs use, and they last much longer!

8. Use Wood Cutting Boards

            Another way to eliminate any additional plastic in your kitchen is to start using wood cutting boards instead. There are actually some great non-stick cutting boards made entirely from recycled wood materials which are just as durable and scent resistant as any plastic board.

9. Use Natural Cleaning Products

            Bleach and other non eco-friendly cleaning products can definitely leave your kitchen looking clean and sparkling, but they can also be harmful you you and your family. This is especially true when we consider the fact that most kitchen surfaces come in direct contact with our food. By using natural cleaning products, you can eliminate harmful chemicals from your kitchen altogether. You can even make your own cleaning solution by mixing 1 part vinegar, 2 parts water, lemon juice and a few drops of lavender oil.

10. Drink Filtered Water

            You may notice that eliminating as much plastic as possible is becoming a major aspect of creating an eco-friendly kitchen. One other great way to reduce your plastic use is by opting for filtered water rather than bottled water at home.

11. Grow Some Herbs

            Adding your own herbs or greenery to the kitchen is another great way to keep up your eco-friendly trend in the kitchen. A simple window box that gets plenty of sunlight is a perfect place to keep herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary and more!

Please contact Vancouver Commercial Cleaning, if you are looking for professional kitchen cleaning service or looking for more kitchen cleaning tips.