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We interviewed five cleaning experts, all passionate about ecology. Here are their best tips for a spotless home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Say goodbye to cleaning products packed with chemical agents! Baking soda, lemon juice, or white vinegar\u2014our new cleaning army will be 100% natural, or it won’t exist at all! Experts share their secrets for natural cleaning…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lydie Prot, training manager for domestic staff at Shiva, a home cleaning company<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Always dust from top to bottom”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Work room by room: seeing yourself progress is very motivating. If you have an upstairs, start there. First, take a few seconds to look at the space and make sure you have all the necessary cleaning products; this will save you time later. Open the windows wide, because cleaning pollutes, even with eco-friendly detergents. Tidy up first, then dust, and finally scrub before moving on to the floors. Always clean from top to bottom (dust falls), and from cleanest to dirtiest (to avoid clogging your sponges too quickly). In the kitchen, always finish with the sink. Don’t forget the tops of doors, baseboards, exposed pipes, air vent grilles, handles, and light switches. There’s no need to use multiple detergents; white vinegar and black soap do almost everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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“Disinfecting indiscriminately is harmful to health.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a traditional daycare center, cleaning and disinfection are carried out extensively using extremely harsh chemical detergents. This impacts not only the environment but also the children’s health. In the 200 facilities participating in our initiative, hygiene practices are completely overhauled. We use the most neutral detergents possible: the longer the ingredient list, the more harmful it is! We prioritize cleaners with a plant-based cleansing agent, free of synthetic fragrances, such as Marseille soap and black soap. And we only disinfect where absolutely necessary: \u200b\u200btoilets, changing tables, door handles, and kitchen countertops. Some facilities have even acquired a steam cleaner, which is incredibly effective and eco-friendly. Finally, and crucially, the premises are regularly ventilated. The results speak for themselves: respiratory illnesses in children have completely disappeared. Parents are amazed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nicolas Chevalier, Chairman and CEO of Chevalier Conservation, a company specializing in the cleaning, conservation and restoration of carpets, tapestries and textiles<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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“My trick for removing stains from carpets”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To deep clean your rugs, have them professionally cleaned regularly: once a year for high-traffic entryway rugs, every 3 to 5 years for living room rugs, and every 5 to 7 years for bedroom rugs. After treatment, they’ll look like new! Of course, you should beat and vacuum them weekly, but that doesn’t remove the dust that accumulates inside. For carpets, the best option is to rent an injection\/extraction cleaner. Dry cleaning powders and foams available in stores aren’t effective. My trick for stains? Sprinkle Fuller’s earth all around the stain to prevent it from spreading. Pour a little warm water and a liquid detergent like Mir Wool onto the stain and rub with your fingers from the outside in. Remove the foam with a spoon and add more water until the soap disappears\u2026 and the stain is gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Microfiber cloths and a little elbow grease”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our hotel received the European Ecolabel in 2011. Since then, we have only used detergents bearing this little flower. As these cost on average 10% more than conventional cleaners, we use them sparingly and favor multi-purpose formulas. This is also part of a comprehensive waste reduction strategy. The only exception to the rule is bleach, which is used to disinfect the restrooms. But we have drastically reduced its use: once every two weeks instead of daily is more than enough! To wash windows or dust offices, our housekeepers use damp microfiber cloths, which are much more effective than traditional cloths. Overall, they spend a little more time in the rooms because the products are less aggressive, requiring a bit more scrubbing. But the results are worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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B\u00e9n\u00e9dicte Moret, illustrator and co-author of the book “Family – almost – zero waste” with J\u00e9r\u00e9mie Pichon, Thierry Souccar Editions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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“My go-to product is white vinegar.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was after the birth of my second child that I started making my own laundry detergent. It’s much more economical and, contrary to popular belief, it’s easy, effective, and doesn’t take much time. My recipe? Water, washing soda, Marseille soap, black soap, and lavender essential oil. Little by little, I played at being a chemist, and today, I make all my own cleaning products. My go-to is white vinegar (how much??): add 2\/3 water and 20 drops of your favorite essential oil, put it in a spray bottle, and you have a formidable multi-purpose cleaner! To scent the vinegar, you can infuse it beforehand with citrus peel and mint leaves. My other favorites, in no particular order: the loofah, a sponge made of gourd fibers for washing dishes; ash, for cleaning the fireplace glass; and citric acid, miraculous for descaling toilets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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