Baking soda makes for an effective cleaner
Wellness isn’t just about what we put into our bodies or sticking to an exercise plan; it’s also about making sure our homes are free of chemical toxins and remaining vigilant about keeping them that way.
Baking soda makes for an effective cleaner
People in the modern world take the advances of technology for granted. And that includes the host of home cleaners the chemical industry has provided. We think nothing of using four or five different cleaning products—counter wipes; disinfectants; floor, tub, and tile cleaners; spot removers; degreasers—in the course of a day. But what many of us don’t realize is that these cleaners all contain different chemicals, and that by using four or five of them each day we expose ourselves to high levels of toxins.
HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH
There are a number of cleaning-related chemicals and compounds that should be avoided in the home. Be aware that many of them never make it onto the labels of cleaning products.
VOCs: Volatile organic compounds are used as performance enhancers. Released as gases from certain liquids or solids, they can affect neurological function.
Phthalates: These compounds, which distribute dyes and fragrances in cleaners, may cause harmful hormonal effects.
Phospates: Used to disperse dirt and grease in laundry and dish detergents, these chemicals deplete oxygen in rivers and lakes when they enter the water supply.
To begin your wellness revamp, assess each room in the house, looking for questionable products. Check the kitchen for counter cleaners; glass cleaners; bottles or containers made of #3, #6, or #7 plastics; and flaking Teflon pans. Check the bathroom for harsh cleansers, liquid soap, air fresheners, and cosmetics with parabens. Scope out the laundry area for detergents and dryer sheets. In all cases, consider replacing risky products with safe, green alternatives. Also watch out for polyurethane foam (found in many mattresses), which emits VOCs, and fabrics treated with flame-retardants, which may cause nervous system disorders and cancer.
Baking soda and vinegar
PANTRY PRIDE
There are multiple benefits to using the following time-tested natural cleaners: they are safe, effective, inexpensive, and probably already right in your home.
Vinegar: The wellness and green communities have rediscovered this age-old body tonic and employ it as a disinfectant, a deodorizer, and a surface cleaner that makes stainless steel gleam.
Lemon: The naturally acidic juice of lemons provides a powerful cleaning and disinfecting agent that also provides a bright citrus scent.
Baking Soda: This stomach settler and deodorizer also makes a great kitchen and bath scrub. Use it on porcelain, tile, and metal surfaces to remove grease and grime.
Salts: These abrasive crystals can be used as scouring agents, and to clear gummy sink drains, polish tarnished metal, remove water rings on wood, and degrease pots and pans.
Pest Controls: There are plenty of herbs and botanicals, such as neem and geranium oil, pennyroyal, lavender, and peppermint, that will repel moths, fleas, ticks, roaches, mosquitoes, mice, and other crawling and flying nuisances in the home and garden.
SAFE ALTERNATIVES
Air fresheners that produce VOCs can be replaced by herbal options—potpourris, sachets, essential oil diffusers, but not by scented candles, which leave chemicals and soot behind. Dryer sheets also give off VOCs and can be replaced by felt dryer balls, which prevent static and fluff laundry as it dries.