Healthy Parenting

Cleaning

A clean house equals a clean mind but are you doing more harm than good when you clean? The toxic load we are all exposed to goes through the roof when you add in the chemicals from conventional cleaning products. These so called "cleaning" chemicals are the most hazardous of all the chemicals you'll find in your home. Below is an article I wrote a few years ago on the subject. But first, some words that everyone should know.

One thing that everyone with conventional cleaning products and/or pesticides in their home should understand are the "SIGNAL" words that the EPA has required for labeling. These signal words can help you understand the severity of the repercussions these poisons can have.

DANGER signals that the pesticide is highly toxic. A taste to a teaspoonful taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult. Any product which is highly toxic orally, dermally, or through inhalation or causes severe eye and skin burning will be labeled "DANGER." In addition, all pesticides which are highly toxic orally, dermally, or through inhalation will also carry the word "POISON" printed in red and the skull and crossbones symbol.

WARNING signals that the product is moderately toxic. As little as a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful by mouth could kill the average sized adult. Any product which is moderately toxic orally, dermally, or through inhalation or causes moderate eye and skin irritation will be labeled "WARNING."

CAUTION signals that the product is slightly toxic. An ounce to more than a pint taken by mouth could kill the average adult. Any product which is slightly toxic orally, dermally, or through inhalation or causes slight eye and skin irritation will be labeled "CAUTION."
From:http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1994/1-12-1994/undpest.html

CLEAN SOLUTIONS ®

For a better environment, a better mind, and a better future.

What are the risks of the commercial cleaning products you use in your home and around your family? Are you familiar with the toxins in them?

Aside from having a negative impact on the environment, many toxins in these products are absorbed through the skin or through inhalation. What if you could easily and inexpensively clean your home the NON TOXIC way? Would you choose to do so?

FIRST...SOME FACTS

Commercial cleaning products and their ingredients;

Complex phosphates, chlorinated phosphates, morpholine, naphtha, butyl cellusolve, sodium nitrate, stoddard solvent;

these are common ingredients found in all-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, and glass cleaners.

Stoddard solvent, naphtha and very toxic materials such as morpholine are considered hazardous waste.

Chlorinated materials can form organo-chlorine compounds which in turn are stored in fat cells and can enter mothers' milk.

Butyl cellusolve is highly toxic.

Many of these ingredients are neurotoxins and central nervous system depressants which can cause headaches, lack of concentration, confusion and symptoms of mental illness.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

THROW OUT THE TOXINS IN YOUR CABINETS - THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO CLEAN YOUR HOME.

Here are some products to purchase to help keep your home clean AND safe;

ESSENTIAL OILS
BAKING SODA
WHITE VINEGAR
CASTILE SOAP
GSE (grapefruit seed extract) **

SAFE INGREDIENTS

Essential Oils are the volatile liquids derived from plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. They are the life force of the plants, much like blood is to us. Some of the qualities of Essential Oils are known to be:

Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-microbial, Anti-infectious, Antiseptic, Anti-parasitic, Anti-viral, etc.

Baking Soda is derived from a naturally occurring mineral left behind after the evaporation of an inland lake in Wyoming. The mineral is converted into sodium bicarbonate - baking soda. It is a mild abrasive and absorbs odors well.

White Vinegar is a food grade product that everyone probably already has in his or her cabinets. Vinegar cuts grease, inhibits mold growth, dissolves mineral accumulation and freshens the air.

Castille Soap is a mild liquid soap derived from olive oil.

**GSE or grapefruit seed extract is a product that is said to destroy over 800 varieties of viruses, fungi, and bacteria. There is a contraversy over this product as there are 2 studies that indicate the anti bacterial action is causes by a preservative. The GSE companies claim it is not so and that the product is natural with a constituent that is similar in profile to some of the anti bacterial agents. So far, there doesn't seem to be any 3rd party/non associated claims on this subject (ie..from unaffiliated parties who have nothing to gain from claims). I have continued my use of this product and suggest you research it yourself before making your own decision. As a note, there are dozens upon dozens of studies touting the proof of the anti viral, fungal and bacterial properties of GSE and none of the authors of these studies seemed to discover any constituents in GSE that the studies mentioned above did.

CLEAN SOLUTIONS (TM)

Now some ways to use the above ingredients to help clean your home...naturally!

ALL PURPOSE CLEANER

1 Quart Spray Bottle
1-3 cups White Vinegar (the stronger the job, the more vinegar)
1 Teaspoon Castille Soap
25-30 drops Essential Oil
35-40 drops GSE

** You can try different combinations of EOs. I prefer Lavender most of the time but have gone with Pine, Orange, Lavender/Lemon, Pine/Lemon, etc. All work wonderfully!

MOPPING FLOORS

Use the above ingredients in a bucket of hot water!

WINDOW CLEANER

1 Quart Spray Bottle
White Vinegar
10-15 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

Fill bottle half way with Vinegar. Fill balance of bottle with water and add Essential Oil. Shake and use. **It may be advisable to clean windows/mirrors with alcohol first to eliminate build up from commercial window cleaners.

AIR FRESHENER

Diffuse essential oils in a nebulizing diffuser or make room spritzers by filling a spritzer bottle with water and adding EOs. Remember to shake well.

OVEN CLEANER

It's easiest to care for your oven if you clean it regularly. Wet the tough spots with water, cover in baking soda and let sit for at least an hour. Scrub with a sponge and sponge rinse as well.

ANTI BACTERIAL SOAP

Fill pump dispensers with Castile Soap, add GSE and EOs (lavender, melaleuca to name 2).

More recipes to follow as I try/use them. Currently, we use some store bought natural cleaning products, as well.

DishWashing liquid: Ecover
I tried all the natural brands and this is the one I liked the best. It lasts much longer than the other ones and does a good job cutting grease. For the soap filled scrubber I have, I usually put in half of the Ecover and half lavender castille soap.

DishWasher liquid: Mrs. Meyers (lavender is my fav right now). Others brands work well but I found this lasts the longest. We only use the dish liquid and dishwasher liquid from Mrs. Meyers as most of the other products contain "fragrance".

Laundry Soap: Earth Friendly Ecos
I have been using this laundry soap for well over 10 years now. I have allergies to most conventional laundry soaps and love that you can still have a nice, clean, fresh laundry smell with this. It also is concentrated and lasts a long while.

Bleaching, Stains and odors: Oxyclean
This is one area where I don't have a lot of choices . I had grey, dingey whites before oxyclean came along. I prefer not to so use Oxyclean. I haven't done extensive research on it but I'm sure it's not "natural" in a way that I think is healthy for us or our planet. But right now, it's my only option.

I've tried some laundry soap recipes without any luck but haven't given up hope.

Articles

Chlorine in Household Cleaners
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/101

Hazards of Commercial Household Cleaners
http://leas.ca/Hazards-of-Commercial-Household-Cleaners.htm

If You Can't Pronounce it, Should You Use it?
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/home/cleaners/index2.html

Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products
http://www.kidsorganics.com/Chemicals%20to%20Avoid.htm

Borax: What you Should Know
http://www.magicalchildhood.com/index2.htm

Recommended Reading

• Books to come very soon!

Resources

Greenpeace - Eliminating Toxins page
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics

TESTICULAR DEVELOPMENT IMPAIRED BY A CHEMICAL IN DETERGENT
http://www.med.harvard.edu/chge/Solomonfull-v3n2.htm

Care2's Non Toxic Cleaning Page
http://www.care2.com/channels/lifestyle/home/#55

Center for Children's Health and the Environment
Neurotoxins and Children's Health
http://www.childenvironment.org/factsheets/neurotoxins.htm

Washington Toxics Coalition
A great Washington organization helping people be aware of the toxins around and the alternatives.
http://www.watoxics.org/pages/root.aspx

Center for Children's Health and the Environment
Neurotoxins and Children's Health
http://www.childenvironment.org/factsheets/neurotoxins.htm

Shopping

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