Have you ever thought about all the chemical cleaning products you allow in your home? Really - try and do this - you will be amazed at what you come up with. Here's my list I found after thinking this through (and this in only the list for inside the house - I haven't made it to the garage yet):
- Windex Glass Cleaner
- Kirkland Countertop Cleaner
- Kirkland Dishwashing Detergent
- Kirkland Laundry Detergent
- Comet Abrasive Cleaner
- Leather Cleaner
- Pledge Wood Polish
- Kirkland Antibacterial Dish Soap
- Kirkland Antibacterial Hand Soap
- Pinesol Floor and Tile Cleaner
- Bissel Carpet Cleaner
- Clorox Bleach
- Tilex Mildew and Mold Cleaner
- Tilex Soap Scum Cleaner
- Scrubbing Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- Tons of Clorox Sanitizing Wipes
- Drop in Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- Draino Drain Cleaner
I know my New Year's resolution centers around becoming more green, and I am going to get to that, but just analyzing this from a simplicity point of view leads me to the question - "Why so many cleaners?". Do I really have seventeen different types of grime to clean up in my home? The quantity of chemical products is shocking.
I am guessing that most families (who have not made it through a green revolution yet) have a similar spread of cleaners in their cabinets as well. Why so many? The answer is remarkably simple: we are slaves to marketing. The TV, magazine, computer, etc. promotes a product as having the capability to make our home more desirable, so we purchase it. We all want to have a lovely, fresh, clean home and the media sells the easy solution. But, is it easy? Is having to use seven different chemicals to clean my bathroom an easy task?
Elevated concern arises when you look at this issue from a health perspective. Ask yourself: "Do I know what chemicals I am bringing in my house? Am I aware of the effects these items could have on my family?" Most individuals would answer these questions "no". There is a general confidence in cleaning products and the promotional claims they tout. The average consumer believes that if the product was deemed unsafe companies wouldn't be able to sell it. Sadly, this is usually not the case. Many of the chemicals we allow in our homes are classified as volatile, caustic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic. Some of these cleaners can have deleterious effects to individuals in your home, as well the environment, as they do not simply disappear from the ecosystem when you wash them down the drain.
So, what to do? Go green and feel better about your home. Below I have detailed how to make a change from those nasty, dangerous cleaners to more healthy, environmentally sound alternatives.
First, simplify.
Get all your chemicals out and set them on the counter for review. Save the dishwashing detergent and laundry detergent (if they are chlorine-free). Dispose of the rest. Notice I said "dispose", not trash. You cannot throw these things in the normal garbage, otherwise they will leech into the soil. Take them to a chemical depository site in your neighborhood. You will begin to feel better about your home environment by just removing these items.
Second, replenish.
You really only need a few products to have a clean, green, and healthy home. Go to the store and purchase a gallon jug of white grain vinegar, a large box of baking soda, Murphy's Oil Soap, and Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap. The great thing about these items are they are really inexpensive. The largest sizes of vinegar and baking soda only cost a couple dollars each. Murphy's oil is about average for a soap product. Dr. Bronner's is more expensive, but you end up diluting the soap, so a little goes a long way.
Third, mix and clean.
These three items in different combinations, quantities, etc. can be used to clean almost your entire home. Purchase a couple spray bottles, a bucket, and you are ready to go. Follow the recipes below to mix up your own healthy, natural cleaners.
Multi Purpose Cleaner1 ½ ts. castile soap
3 ts. white vinegar
4 c. water
Drain Cleaner
½ c. baking soda
1 c. vinegar
allow to sit in drain until bubbling stops
follow with one kettle of boiling water
Mopping Solution
1 bucket of hot water
1 drop of Murphy's Oil Soap
1 c. vinegar
optional: 1 pinch of borax (if you have ants that enter the home)
Sink and Countertop Scrubbing Cleaner (Comet replacement)
Rub baking soda on surface with a wet cloth
Mineral Deposit Removal/Soap Scum
Spray surface with vinegar, let sit, then remove with scrub brush and water
Toilet Cleaner (removing deposits)
Plunge water from bowl
Fill with vinegar and allow to sit for a few hours
Scrub with brush and flush
Dusting Formula
3-5 drops of olive oil
1/4 c. vinegar
Dusting and Cleaning Formula
1 gallon water
1/4 c. Murphy's Oil Soap
Try it out and let me know what you think. Happy Eco-Cleaning!
