Archive for the ‘Green Living Ideas’ Category
Detoxifying & Disinfecting Your Home
April 12th, 2009
Spring cleaning isn’t just for attics and basements.
We all know how critical it is to detoxify and cleanse ourselves from chemicals, waste and other harmful unwelcome visitors living in our bodies. A great contributor to the detritus that sits in our systems has a lot to do with the chemicals we are exposed to in our everyday lives. Chances are, at some point during your day you will be faced with this exposure; while cleaning, while at a restaurant, or while being in a room that has just been cleaned with a harsh smelling chemical.
When we wrinkle our noses upon smelling some kind of chemical-based solution after entering a room, that’s really the result of those artificial scents tricking us into thinking that’s the way the room ’should’ smell. We have been conditioned to think that smell indicates the job has been done and our health is safe; no flu bug for us. This, coupled with ads shown by big companies reinforcing this strong connection between chemical use and optimized health makes us even more confused about what the right cleaners for our homes should be. Once we see past these ads and feel assured that we can have a clean and healthy home without the use of powerful chemicals, we can start ‘detoxing’ our home and creating a healthier, chemical-free environment under our own roof.
Luckily, there are some very simple ways to create a cleaner, less toxic home environment, just by eliminating cleaning agents and replacing them with natural alternatives.
First things first, start airing out your home. Open windows and let the fresh air in! There are likely a lot of cooped-up toxins and chemicals that need time to migrate out of your home. Second, go to your pantry, your sinks, your laundry room and your garage, placing every single cleaning product in a box. Your township or city should have a depot where you can drop off these old cleaning products that you will no longer want to use. The next time you have to drive somewhere, add this drop off to your route. If you can’t find a depot, you may donate your products to a shelter. Ideally, no one should be cleaning with chemicals, but the least eco-friendly thing we can do is throw them away. The idea is to use them up and start fresh.
Then you’ll need to pick up the basics for making eco-friendly cleaning supplies. All you’ll need is vinegar, baking soda, lemons, essential oils, microfiber cloths and castile soap (plain or scented with essential oils). Try looking for green certifications, such as EcoLogo — which is a standard trademark found on eco-friendly and reduced or no chemical content products.
For general cleaning, there are plenty of options! Try using a vegetable-based all-purpose cleaner (scent-free or natural essential oils only), vinegar, or 2 tablespoons of castile soap mixed with water in a spray bottle. For heavier stains (such as soap scum), place some baking soda on the area and agitate with a scrub brush and the all-purpose cleaner. For glass, try using vinegar and newspaper - it’s an old trick that works very well.
If you don’t fancy the smell of vinegar in your livingroom, try moistening a microfiber cloth for washing and have a dry one on standby. Wipe the glass with the wet cloth, and buff with the dry cloth. The windows will be spotless, streak-free, and shiny! Essential oils and water will do the trick for keeping your space disinfected.
For quick disinfecting or freshening up your home, try using essential oils and water instead of room deodorizers, electrical socket companions or spray cans full of artificial misty mountain air. Simply add 10 drops to a spray bottle filled with water and mist away! It’s a great counter top cleaner, post-bathroom spray, or air refresher, and keeps the germs out. Imagine smelling the real scent of tea tree oil, lavender, lemon, or cinnamon. The oils actually disinfect your home at the same time, so you get natural scents and actual health benefits from doing this.
By opting for chemical free cleaning products, the scents you remember will no longer linger, which means you may have to mist more often to produce the same effect. The extra effort is well worth it when it comes to your health.
Detoxing your home is simple, so why not give it a try!
Reducing chemicals in dishwashing
April 10th, 2009
So, what else do we have on our plate? Try a ton of chemical residue from washing detergent which contain harsh chemicals that are completely unnecessary for us to ingest and terrible for the environment. I am not a fan of giving science lessons, but I do want to explain that dish-washing detergents and rinse-aids are full of bad stuff. Chlorine, when heated, can release toxic fumes, and phosphates are very harmful to our water systems. In fact, it has been banned in laundry detergents and replaced with polycarboxylates (a synthetic substitute) and the affects of it are still unknown. Then, we are told to purchase a rinse aid, sold to us by a hyperactive talking blue bottle. After skimming the MSDS sheets online at the product’s website (Jet Dry in case you were wondering), I have found that the agent used to remove scum, residue, and improve dry time actually contains chemicals that should not be left on skin or clothing, and that is an eye irritant. Not much else was available, but from what I found, I know that I don’t want that stuff on my dishes.
So, the simple solution is as follows:
Use an eco-friendly automatic dish-washing liquid such as ATTITUDE’s (that smells like lime and tea tree - all organically pressed and natural essential oils, no chemicals there), or Ecover’s dish-washing powder. For rinse aid, good old vinegar will do just fine. Add it in where the Jet Dry used to go (once it is empty of course, no mixing). Vinegar will remove spotting beautifully. Cheap and eco-friendly, that’s what we like!
Air Fresheners: A Breath of Fresh Air?
April 10th, 2009
We all want a fresh-smelling home; it means it’s clean and under control. Some people resort to air fresheners in aerosols, plug-in pods, and a host of other creative products. Personally, I am horrified by these products and avoid them at all costs.
I have neighbors at my condo who are undoubtedly hooked on the stuff; I have to hold my breath as I walk by their door. These artificial masking scents are quite detrimental to a household; if a little consumer research was done before a purchase I am positive no one would buy them.
For people with asthma or other respiratory problems, these products exacerbate the ailments and act as a catalyst for causing such problems in children. You are welcome to research the upwards of 3,000 chemicals found in air fresheners and read the frightening details. What I will tell you is that the chemicals contained include petrochemicals such as propane and butane, which spread themselves around your room and cling to everything including your carpets, upholstery, and airways.
These nasty chemical cocktails are combustible, can cause headaches, depress the nervous system, and cause shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. No thanks! Rather than buying these products, here are some great ways to keep the house smelling fresh:
• Open a window to circulate fresh air. It sounds simple and obvious but it works like a charm.
• About 20 minutes before you vacuum carpets, sprinkle baking soda onto the carpets to eliminate the odors out of the carpet fibers. You can even add some dried lavender or sage to the baking soda beforehand, which will leave a fresh and natural aromatic scent.
• If you are craving a warm scent, simmer some mulling spices in water for awhile and enjoy the scents of your own creation.
• For the bathroom, use the simple and steadfast trick of lighting a match. It works every time and is completely safe. Of course, be sure to safely light and flush the match.
Melissa
Me on The Steven & Chris Show!
April 10th, 2009
Ironing Made Easy - The Steven & Chris Show with Clean My Space’s Melissa Maker
