Kolkata: One of the country’s biggest festivals, Durga Puja, is just around the corner. This festival is the time of the year when everyone in the house gathers around for a fun family time, shopping, binging on delicacies, cleaning and decorating the home to welcome Goddess Durga.
Cleaning the home during the festival is significant as it brings positivity and prosperity. However, during this process, we often forget about our planet and choose unsustainable cleaning methods. Instead, we should look for eco-friendly cleaning products and sustainable ways to clean that are both better for the environment and pocket friendly.
Here are some sustainable and pocket-friendly ways shared by homemakers to clean the house for the festive season this year:
Sushmita Ambastha, a school principal from Kolkata, said, “Durga Puja is a long-awaited festival for my entire family, but we dread cleaning the house. Previously, I spent a lot on expensive chemical-based products that were not even environment friendly. But then I switched to ITC Nimyle, a sustainable floor cleaner that has 100% natural action. Made with Neem leaves, Nimyle is like an all-in-one product which naturally kills all the germs in the house, leaving a fresh smell behind. Most importantly, post switching to Nimyle, my mother-in-law feels content, as per her traditions and believes Neem takes away the negative energy of the house.”
Anuja Sharan, a homemaker from Siliguri, said, “Neem is India’s backyard pharmacy, and you can take advantage of its anti-bacterial properties when cleaning the storage and wardrobes. One way to use it is by tying some dried neem leaves in a potli and placing them in the corners of your drawers and cabinets. This will ensure that your clothes remain germ as well as insect free. I also use Neem oil to clean to surface to keep ants and other small insects away.”
Rekha Verma, a homemaker from Patna said, “One of the most difficult processes during cleaning is to throw or discard old stuff, especially the ones we are emotionally attached to. I had cupboards full of old heavy embroidered saree; some belonged to my late mother and mother-in-law. As I could not throw them, I decided to repurpose them and made cushion covers and curtains out of them. It spruced up my living room and created a unique decor statement.”
Vatsala Sinha, who works in an IT firm, said, “My favourite way to end the festive cleaning routine is to create a homemade air freshener. For that, all you need is a stick of cinnamon and lemongrass. Boil them together and wait for the scent to waft into your home.”
