Happy!
by Minty LaVendy
Safe cleaning products
In the average home one can count between 20 and 40 household cleaners containing dozens of toxic chemicals like amonia, chlorine bleach, Naphtalene. formalehide and other additives like fragrances and phtalates, all those products emit V.O.C. ( Volatile Organic Compounds) which are responsible for the poor indoor air quality. Indoor air is indeed 10 to 15 times more polluted than outdoor air. Chemical cleaners leave behind residues and fumes that are toxic to human being as it is warned on their own labels, this is not a risk we should accept to take in our own homes or with our precious children. Consumers have been fooled into thinking that chemical products are more effective than natural products, this page will give you the tools to know how to buy healthy alternative and even create your own natural cleaning products.
In order to choose the right cleaning product it is important to read product labels, the problem is that, by law, manufacturers are not required to list their ingredients, as a rule of thumb you can asssume that if the ingredients are not listed it is because they are not safe for you or for the environment. Companies which sell natural products are happy to list their natural ingredients on their labels as a selling point. If the name of the ingredients are not easy to read and if you don't know what they are there is a good chance that they are not good for you.
Artificial perfume or fragrance are another ingredient to avoid as they often contain toxic phtalate, instead look for essential oils. Some products are called natural and advertise that they do not use such or such chemicals but replace it with other chemicals, be wise and go beyond the sell pitch, nothing replaces the actual list of ingredients. Since the products with natural ingredients can be more expensive than the conventional ones and since deciphering ingredient lists can be tricky, nothing is cheaper and safer than making your own cleaning products.
Be a wise consumer.
Safe ingredients.
Castille soap
It is an eco friendly soap. To protect your kitchen, bathroom and family from harmful bacteria nothing is more effective than soap and water. Antibacterial soap containing antibiotics like triclosan are ineffective in killing bacteria because hand washing time is never enough to actually kill the bacteria but exposing them to these antibiotics allows them to build resistance against the common antibiotics used to treat infections.
Vodka
Yes, Vodka! its alcohol content makes it perfect for sanitizing and disinfecting, it is an ethyl alcohol and will not leave any residues behind like rubbing alcohol, it is streak fee and will do a great job in cleaning windows and mirrors.
Hydrogen peroxide
This totally green product has great bleaching properties for laundry and it is also a good weapon against germs and bacterias. It can safely be used to clean and sanitize cutting boards
Vinegar
Vinegar is a very economical product that can be used to kill most molds, bacteria, and germs, due to its high level of acidity. It also helps in removing lime and soap buildup and it naturally neutralizes odors in the house. Its only drawback would be the strong smell but it dissipates rapidly, it also can be combined with essential oils.
Baking soda
Baking soda contains alkaline minerals, it is great to lift soil from textiles and carpets, cut grime and deodorizes, it is a little abrasive and will help into scrubbing sinks, tubs and toilets without scratching their surface.
Essential oils
Essential oils are used both for fragrance and for their antiseptic properties, here is a list of the ones that fulfill both functions: basil, bergamot, clary sage, clove, eucalyptus, fennel, lavender, lemon, pine needle, rosemary, Spanish sage, tea tree, thyme.
Cleaning product recipes.
Kitchen sparkle:
great to cut grease and sanitize the kitchen counter:
for a 28 oz spray bottle
1 cup white distilled vinegar
2 tbs Citra-Solv cleaner and degreaser concentrate ( orange based cleaner)
1 tsp castille soap
3 cups warm water
1 tsp antiseptic essential oils of your choice.
Roseanne's formula:
It works for all counters, floors, and is absolutely the best at getting rid of animal odors.
In 24 oz spray bottle filled with water add:
18 drops lavender
8 drops lemon
8 drops orange
8 drops cedarwood atlas
6 drops citronella
8 drops thyme e's formula:
Shower sparkle:
This bathroom cleaner works great for removing calcium deposit from hard water as well as soap buildup, it is also great for preventing and removing all types of molds and mildews:
for a 28 oz spray bottle
2 cups filtered water
2 cups white distilled vinegar
1/2 tsp tea tree oil ( to eradicate mildew)
1/2 tsp essential oil of your choice for fragrance. Lavender, lemon, peppermint and tea tree are some popular choices.
BYE,BUGS,BYE:
To repels bugs, mainly roaches,
a clean smelling spray, ideal to
spray around the trash cans:
for a 3 ounces spray bottle
5 drops eucalyptus oil,
5 drops peppermint oil,
5 drops cedarwood oil,
fill the rest of the bottle
with equal parts water and
white vinegar.
this is just me! Trying to feed my family organic food, detoxify our home and teach our children simple, spiritual values. Well...it sounds beautiful, doesn'it?, it is not always the picture perfect family one can imagine, it is a crazy bunch, but we take it one day at a time and try to have fun in the process......
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