Chemical-free answers to everyday housekeeping needs

Chemicals play a more important role in our daily lives than many people realize. They are used in a variety of house maintenance and renovation tasks, helping us keep our homes clean, safe, and functional. However, there is a growing concern about the way that some chemicals can persist and build up in the environment, which could lead to adverse environmental and health effects.

There are many ways to minimize your use of chemicals. Here are some of our top tips for tackling everyday housekeeping needs in a chemical-free way.

A house clean-up is needed

A bright and clean home always has a more peaceful and comfortable atmosphere, making it a pleasant place for you, your family and your guests to spend time. Best of all, you don’t need to use products with a large concentration of chemicals for high cleaning efficiency.

There are a variety of cleaning products which contain fewer and safer chemicals that you can use for effective household cleaning. With our ECO program, you can easily identify these products and help keep household germs away without reducing your indoor air quality.

The drain is clogged

Drains can get clogged up with all sorts of gunk and debris over time, such as hair and soap scum. If your drains are acting sluggish, you'll have to clean them out. Unfortunately, the chemicals commonly used to unclog household drains, ultimately end up in the environment, as not all such contaminants are removed at water treatment plants.

The good news is that there are many alternatives to chemical cleaners for unclogging sinks, showers, bathtub drains, and toilets. Discover our selection of drain tools and plungers mechanical action that will help you solve your household drainage problems in an effective manner and without polluting the water. It might take a little more elbow grease, but you'll be able to clear your drains without the use of chemicals

A mouse in the house

It's important not to let small rodents take up residence in your home. If you have a mouse problem but you also have children or pets in the house, then you should avoid rodent-control solutions that contain rodenticide pellets. These products contain toxic substances that can be dangerous if ingested and must be kept out of reach of children at all times.

Our selection of rodenticides using mechanical actioncontains many chemical-free alternatives that minimize the risk to pet and human health. Additionally, there are non-fatal solutions such as live-catch mouse traps and ultrasonic rodent repellents that are not only pet- and child-safe but that won't cause harm or injury to the mouse either.

An infestation of insects

An insect infestation definitely requires a quick and effective solution. While most people turn to strong chemical insecticides, there are also many more eco-friendly solutions available.

Some more eco-friendly and chemical-free options for dealing with insects include an electric lamp and a trusty manual fly swatter. When it comes to wasps, a great way to keep them from infesting your property in the first place is with a wasp deterrent that simulates a wasp nest. This is because wasps will instinctively leave an area that already contains an unfamiliar nest.

An invasive weeds problem

No one wants weed growth to take over their lawn or garden, but traditional methods of dealing with pesky weeds have heavily involved the use of chemicals that may be harmful to the ecosystem and to human health. Today, it is possible to deal with weeds in a more eco-friendly manner.

One way to help prevent weeds from even taking root is with the application of polymeric sand your paver joints. The sand will not only inhibit weed growth but it will deter ants and other insects from burrowing and nesting under your pavers as well.

Of course, even with good prevention, a few weeds are inevitable. An effective way to control invasive weeds without the use of chemicals is with a weed extractor tool. It will take a bit of physical effort on your part to manually remove the weeds, but newer models are designed for easy use and a comfortable grip.

The stairs are slippery

Slippery stairs can pose a significant safety hazard during the winter, so you need to take precautions to keep your family and visitors safe. However, using a de-icing abrasive can have harmful effects on the ecosystem and may damage your lawn and garden as well. One way to reduce your need for de-icing abrasives is to use traction sand or gravel on snowy or icy surfaces for extra grip.

Using stair treads is another great option for increasing traction and reducing your need for de-icing abrasives. Not only will this prevent chemicals from leaching into the ecosystem, but stair treads are often made from recycled rubber which helps to cut down on the production of virgin plastic.

PRO TIP

Discover the products in our ECO Program! You could enjoy their many benefits for your family and the environment, such as a reduction of your energy consumption and better air quality.