Monday, December 26, 2011

Clean up the digs safer to you, and more earth friendly!!!!!!!

 So this is the deal, I have always really made semi good choices on the cleaning product front...  But after getting pregnant with Bryten my first child I became a nut about it!!  I really feel that all the harsh chemicals in todays cleaning products could and will catch up to our overall health one day!!!  The proof is in the pudding, you can't have all those chemicals and have no side effects..  Now do I believe that my child would have had a third eye, or under developed internal organs because I was using them while pregnant?   No!!!!!  But I do think that it will catch up to us, it always does...  Not only the actual cleaner, but all the chemicals in the packaging and the bottles they come in!!!  Can you say "Hello landfill"!  How often do you make your own?  Or refill?  So,  if you say never or not much you can pretty much guarantee you are contributing to hazardous waste in our landfills... So why not make the change if you can to natural cleaners that are less harsh on your family, pets, floors, and plants! Why not try to make them at home when you need them, instead of consuming!!!  Because I can tell you one thing.... Those commercials lie my friends, those stain blasting and ultra clean 300 shiner don't really do all they say! Here is some info to chew on!!!!


 Did you know?
Dumping unused portions of household hazardous wastes in the trash or down the drain can cause safety and environmental problems. If buried in the landfill, chemicals can react and cause explosions or make their way into the groundwater. While the county strictly monitors the landfill's groundwater and gas emissions, and acts quickly to rectify any problems found, it sure is easier to prevent such problems from occurring in the first place by properly disposing of or recycling hazardous wastes.
So please act responsibly! Bring your unwanted HHW to the county's hazardous waste collection facility at the landfill.

Some sources of poor indoor air quality!!!!
Aerosol sprays
Asbestos
Radon
Lead dust from sanding lead-based paint
Art supplies, glue, correction fluid
Dry cleaning chemicals
Scented candles
Fabric deodorizers
Air fresheners: spray, solid, plug-in, powder
Shoe polish & waterproofing compounds
Pesticides
Cooking fumes
Heated, non-stick cookware and appliances such as Teflon®
Cleaning products
Furniture polish (Use lemon oil instead.)
Moth balls
Pet dander, fur, feathers
Perfume, hair spray, cosmetics
Remodeling products


Watch out for these ingredients
Look at the ingredients on your products. These ingredients have been deemed "generally safe" in small amounts by our government, that's why they can be sold in your grocery store. But under your sink they are outgassing their containers and mixing together with each other in a chemical soup. Do you really think that toxic air stays inside your cupboard? How many hours of the day do you spend standing at that sink or nearby and inhaling those fumes? (Have you ever walked by a janitor's closet? Ugh.)
Here are some common ingredients of commercial household products:
Ammonia Fatal when swallowed
Ammonium Hydroxide Corrosive, irritant
Bleach Potentially fatal if ingested
Chlorine Number one cause of poisonings in children
Formaldehyde Highly toxic; known carcinogen
Hydrochloric acid Corrosive, eye and skin irritant
Hydrochloric bleach Eye, skin and respiratory tract irritant
Lye Severe damage to stomach and esophagus if ingested
Naphtha Depresses the central nervous system
Nitrobenzene Causes skin discoloration, shallow breathing, vomiting, and death
Perchlorethylene Damages liver, kidney, nervous system
Petroleum Distillates Highly flammable; suspected carcinogen
Phenol Extremely dangerous; suspected carcinogen; fatal taken internally
Propylene Glycol Immunogen; main ingredient in antifreeze
Sodium hypochlorit Potentially fatal
Sodium laurel sulfate Carcinogen, toxin, genetic mutagen
Sodium tripolyphosphate Irritant
Trichloroethane Damages liver and kidneys
 Here is the cool info:
There are many inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of commercial household products. Here is a list of common, environmentally safe products which can be used alone or in combination for a wealth of household applications.
  • Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
  • Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
  • Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
  • Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.
  • White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
  • Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
  • Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body. See http://drclark.ch/g)
  • Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
  • Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)
 My fave homemade all purpose cleaner is this simple
All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.  I also like to change it up and instead of the borax use Dr Bronners Lavender Soap, so sub 1 tbs lavender liquid soap and 3 drops of lavender essential oils....  It smells great and works amazing!!!!
Here is some great links to homemade cleaners!! These recipes I have used and really liked!!!
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html

http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

http://simpleorganic.net/easy-recipes-for-natural-homemade-cleaners/

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