In an effort to avoid toxins in commercial home-cleaning products, consumers are switching to natural cleaners, whether homemade or store-bought. In February 2010, The Natural Products Association released a set of guidelines for products labeled as "natural," ensuring that 95 percent of ingredients are derived from natural sources. Some people take a step further and make their own natural cleaning products from basic kitchen ingredients that pose no potential harm to their health.
Benefits
Many household cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs, which are emitted at room temperature. A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found indoor levels of VOCs to be up to 10 times higher than outdoor levels, even in locations that had significant outdoor air pollution. VOCs can cause multiple health problems, including nose and throat discomfort, headaches, allergic reactions, nausea, fatigue and dizziness. Switching to natural products can reduce or eliminate these health risks.
Switching to natural cleaning products also benefits the environment, as it reduces toxins in the air, water and ground.
Natural Substitutions
You might be surprised to learn that with just seven basic household items, you can make your house sparkle. The sanitary seven are: baking soda, washing soda, soap flakes, oil soap, vinegar, borax and ammonia. Baking soda cleans, deodorizes and scours, while washing soda cuts grease and removes stains. Borax (sodium borate) disinfects and deodorizes, and vinegar cuts grease and removes mildew and odors. Soap, in any form, does just what you expect it to do--clean practically anything. Another handy household ingredient is lemon--its acids kill most household bacteria.
Cleaning Formulas
Create general-purpose cleaners or air fresheners from natural, nontoxic ingredients. For an all-purpose cleaner, mix 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda--or 2 tsp. borax--into a 1/2 gallon of water. This can be stored and kept for later. All-purpose cleaner can remove water deposit stains on showers, grime from windows and spots on mirrors and chrome fixtures.
Make your house smell good without breathing in chemicals by mixing baking soda with lemon juice and setting small dishes of the mixture around the house. This absorbs odors around the home. You can also prevent cooking odors by simmering 1 tbsp. of vinegar in 1 cup of water on the stove while cooking. This also works with cinnamon or other spices instead of vinegar.
Cleaning Implements
It's not just the sprays, creams and liquids that can cause problems for the environment--household sponges can, too. Most of these sponges are made from polyester or plastic that not only break down slowly in landfills, they are also treated with triclosan. This chemical produces chloroform, which is suspected to be a carcinogen, when it mixes with the chlorine in tap water.
Skip regular sponges in favor of cellulose sponges. These are biodegradable. They are also more effective because they are more absorbent than regular sponges. For other types of cleaning, use microfiber clothes. They can clean without any type of cleaning solution, plus they are nontoxic, reusable and biodegradable.
Risks
While some natural cleaning products are nontoxic, they are not always safe. Ammonia is dangerous in its concentrated form if it comes into contact with your skin or your breathe its fumes. If you use ammonia, use it with care and store it in a safe place out of reach of children. Additionally, washing soda can irritate mucous membranes.
Member Comments