When it comes to cleaning, waste reduction, saving water and saving energy are the three of the main ways to be more sustainable and help protect the earth.

While product packaging is critical in allowing your cleaning product to be safely transported and stored in your home, improperly disposing of the packaging could cause it to end up in a landfill. In order to reduce waste when cleaning, it’s important to know whether you are recycling cleaning product packaging correctly. That is why the American Cleaning Institute put together an easy guide on the subject. Find peace of mind when disposing of unused cleaning products by using our disposal FAQ. If you have more questions on recycling cleaning product packaging, visit how2recycle.info.

Other ways to reduce waste when cleaning include choosing products in post-consumer recycled packaging, trying concentrated refills or reusable packages, using every drop of the product before disposing of it and considering cloth options when wiping down surfaces.

Saving water is another way to clean sustainably. You can save water by using your dishwasher or washing machine instead of handwashing dishes and clothes. Thanks to newer energy efficient models, running your washing machine and dishwasher uses less water than washing by hand. To mitigate having to re-wash clothes, pretreat stains before tossing them into the washer. When using your dishwasher, avoid pre-rinsing and ensure that the dishwasher is full before running. Finally, turn off the tap when it’s not in use.

Energy efficient washing machines and dishwashers also save energy, which helps to reduce your energy footprint. One of the easiest ways to save energy (and money) is to wash your clothes on cold. Another benefit of washing on cold is it makes your clothes last longer. Once your clothes are clean, line-dry them for even more energy savings. Other ways to save energy include using cloth to clean surfaces, avoiding re-washing and reducing the need to iron by hanging your clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer.

It’s up to all of us to ensure a vibrant future, through big and small choices alike. This Earth Day, take the next step in your sustainably journey with these small changes in your cleaning habits.