articles - a cleaner, healthier home: here’s how!

The risks

Large amounts of cleaning products are used in the home and commercially everday and once released can cause long term damage to one’s own health, and that of the environment. This damage comes in the form of carcinogens, enodcrine disruptors and chemicals which attack the nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems of marine life and mammals. Possible consequences include inceases in the amounts of childhood asthma and allergies, reducing reproductive capacities and increasing neurological disorders. The overuse of popular anti bacterial products has also been implicated in the rise of so called ‘super bugs’. As the evidence of the danger of using these products mounts up, people are rediscovering the health and cost benefits of simple homemade cleaners.

Non toxic alternatives

It is obviously in the interest of the companies which manufacture cleaning products to encourage us to buy a different bottle for each job. However, in truth, it is possible to clean the whole home using only a few, easily obtainable non toxic items:

Baking soda

A truly multi purpose product! This mild abrasive can be used with a damp cloth or made into a paste using water, lemon juice or vinegar (it will foam with vinegar) to clean baths, tiles, toilets and sinks. Baking soda also absorbs odours and can be sprinkled on carpets before vacuuming, on the bottom of a kitty litter tray or placed in small bowls around the home with a few drops of essential oil of your choice as a natural room freshener.

White distilled vinegar

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant. A ¼ cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle dissolves hard water scale and works as a fabric softener. Use diluted with water in a spray bottle as a glass, window or aluminum cleaner. When cleaning windows, rub with scrunched up newspaper for a streak free shine.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice deodorizes and cuts though grease, as well as having mild whitening properties. A ½ cup strained juice put in the rinse cycle of the washng machine will brighten clothes. Whiten stained nails by rubbing in the flesh of a cut lemon.

Other useful items

A selection of reusable cloths is essential to have on hand. I prefer microfibre or bartender cloths, but any fabric with a little ‘grip’ will do. Dusting with a damp cloth works much better than dry.

Liquid castille soap is a non petroleum based soap that can de used well diluted to wash floors, counters, dishes, people, in fact, just about anything! It can also be mixed with baking soda and vinegar to make a powerful scourer for tiles.

Benefits

A reduction in the amount of chemicals released as a result of cleaning, is better for your long-term health and the future of our planet.

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