Spring is in the air! And with it comes spring cleaning, so
here is our next blog post with Eco-friendly spring cleaning tips. This time we
will look into ways to clean our homes while staying green.
Many household cleaning supplies contribute to indoor air pollution
and can actually be quite hazardous when they come in contact with skin, are
inhaled, or are ingested. Chemicals from cleaning products can be released into
the air and linger because of the limited airflow indoors, exposing you and
your family for longer periods of time. Standard cleaning products are often petroleum-based
and have negative effects that extend even beyond indoor pollution and personal
health problems. They keep their potency long after they’ve gone down the drain,
and can potentially pollute waterways and negatively affect vegetation and
wildlife. Luckily, we have some alternatives that are natural and will help you
to avoid negative toxic side effects. Natural based cleaning products are
widely available and usually work just as well as the old standbys.
It’s Easy Being Green:
A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living by Crissy Trask is a great resource for
tips on how to clean green, from conserving water to using alternative cleaning
products. Some of her helpful suggestions are:
·
Use old towels and t-shirts as rags instead of paper towels
·
Fill a bucket with water and mix it with an
all-purpose cleaner for general scrubbing, rather than leave water running
·
Buy products in concentrate when available to
use less packaging
·
Use oxygen or hydrogen-based bleaches instead of
chlorine bleach and buy phosphate-free laundry detergent – companies that make
products that do not use harmful chemicals include Country Save, Mountain Green, Method, Mrs.Meyers, and Seventh Generation.
·
Make your own household cleaners – distilled white
vinegar, baking soda, salt, club soda, lemons, and other household products can
make effective cleaning products. The Mother Nature Network has recipes for homemade
cleaning products here.
·
Wash clothes in cold water, only using warm or hot
water for oily dirt and stains (These days, detergents are formulated to work
just as well in cold water.)
Small changes of habits and an awareness of the products we
use can make a big impact on both our household health and overall environment.
Lots of little things can add up to a big impact! For a more thorough review of
the effects of toxins cleaning products and environmentally friendly
alternatives, visit the OrganicConsumers Association website.
