A linen armchair with a green throw, a lamp just lit, a book and a mug on a stool, slippers on the rug at golden hour

Maison · 15 min

A gentler cleaning kit

A few simple products and a cloth that does most jobs can be easier on skin, lungs and the budget.

15 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps

Many homes have a cupboard full of sprays for every surface, and many of them are stronger than everyday cleaning needs. For people with sensitive skin or asthma, homes with a baby, and anyone on a tight budget, a smaller, simpler kit can do most of the work.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Gather everything you clean with in one place, and read the labels. Set aside anything you rarely use, and anything that makes you cough or stings your skin.

  2. Choose a short everyday kit: mild dish soap in warm water, a few washable cloths, one product for the bathroom, and one for germs where they matter most, such as the toilet and the surfaces where raw meat is prepared.

  3. Open a window while you clean, wear gloves, and use one product at a time.

  4. Store the rest safely, high up and in their original containers, and use them up rather than buying more.

The reason

Why it helps

Warm soapy water and a damp cloth remove most everyday dirt. Fewer, milder products can mean less to breathe in and less to dry out the skin, and a small kit is easier to carry and use on a tired day. Keeping the stronger products for the places that need them saves money too.

A gentle variation

If you live with someone with asthma, a damp cloth instead of a spray for dusting can mean less in the air. If cleaning is hard on your body, do one room or one surface a day instead of everything at once.

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WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

If you share a home, agree on the short kit together, so nobody brings back a cupboard full of sprays. Children can help with a damp cloth and warm water, which is safe for small hands.

Try it today

Today, put all your cleaning products in one place and choose the four you will use every day.

Add it to your day

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