How to wash the yard?
To wash the yard, use homemade cleaning products and as little water as possible.
Image: Daniele Levis Pelusi in Unsplash
There are many ingredients available in your home to make homemade cleaning products that don't harm health and the environment like industrialized ones. Discover two recipes for homemade cleaning products and tips on how to save water that will help you wash your yard in a natural and sustainable way.
Vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and essential oils are the most suitable ingredients to prepare homemade and sustainable cleaning solutions. They have bactericidal, abrasive and acidic properties as efficient as industrialized products, but with the advantage of not causing harm to health and the environment. In addition, these substances eliminate mold, grease stains, clogging and strong odors.
Despite facilitating the removal of grease, the multipurpose and detergent contain phosphate in their formulas. In excess, phosphate causes the eutrophication of water, a process that leads to the exaggerated growth of algae and microorganisms and, consequently, to ecological imbalance. In addition to the environmental impacts, these products can also cause skin allergies, intoxication by the strong odor and even poisoning of pets.
Homemade cleaning product with baking soda
- 4 tablespoons of baking soda;
- 4 tablespoons of vinegar;
- 4 drops of lemon;
- 1 pinch of salt;
- 1 liter of water.
In a bucket, add the baking soda and vinegar. Then add the lemon drops and salt. Finally, add water. This mixture can be used both to wash the yard and to sanitize countertops, tables, cabinets and other objects in the house.
Homemade cleaning product with tea tree oil and Sicilian lemon oil
- ½ cup of baking soda
- ½ cup of vegetable soap
- 10 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 10 drops of Sicilian lemon essential oil
- vegetable glycerin
Add the baking soda, vegetable soap, tea tree essential oil and lemon oil. Add a little vegetable glycerin to provide a more homogeneous mixture. Mix well until your homemade cleanser is consistent. Apply with a vegetable sponge or cloth in the yard.
Use a cistern and save water when washing the yard
In addition to using natural cleaning products, saving water is a very important habit, as it helps to prevent water crises and save the planet's natural resources. By using a cistern to collect rainwater or reuse water, it is possible to clean the yard, water plants or flush without using additional water. The cistern is a reservoir that serves to capture, store and conserve water, and can be used for drinking water, rainwater or reuse water.
It enables the use of rainwater and gray water, which is a type of reuse water from baths, washing machines and bathroom sinks. With this, the cistern allows water savings of up to 50% on the bill. Another good option to save water and cleaning products is to change the paved area for a garden, so the area becomes permeable and can be watered by rainwater.
Check out other tips on how to wash your yard without waste:
- Why waste clean water washing the sidewalk in your house? Sweeping is enough. If washing is really necessary, reuse the water used to wash clothes;
- Your yard and your little plants do not require treated water. Collect rainwater at the exit of the gutters and have a sustainable attitude;
- The plants in your yard don't like waste because they may run out of water in the future. So don't water them with a hose. Use buckets and watering cans and avoid times of strong sun, as high evaporation will make the water yield less. If possible, only water the base of the plant.
Consult the Store eCycle and purchase your cistern and the ingredients needed to make a homemade cleaning product to wash your yard. There you can also find low impact cleaning products.
