Guest Author - Barbara Gibson

Did you know that many common household cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to people and the environment? For example, mixing bleach and ammonia releases a toxic gas and may cause respiratory problems. Ammonia alone can cause irritation to the eyes and lungs. Chemicals in disinfectants can cause diarrhea and dizziness. Toilet bowl cleaners can cause skin burning. Many carpet cleaners are carcinogenic.

The danger isn’t only in the chemicals used to clean our homes but in our fabric and furniture as well. Common sources of unsafe chemicals include carpets, wrinkle resistant sheets and clothing, and furniture made of pressed wood products.

What you can do:
We all want to conduct our lives and daily activities in ways that minimize our impact on the environment. Making deliberate choices about the things we buy and bring into our homes is one way of doing that. Cleaning and buying simply make sense when living simply.

Examine the labels on all household products. In addition to cleaning products, look for harmful chemicals in personal care products like shampoo and deodorant.

Check your garage, bathroom, hobby studio and deck for other products that can be replaced by safer alternatives.

Common harmful items include: charcoal lighter fluid, mineral spirits in oil based paints, ceramic glazes (which may contain lead) and pesticides. You may want to tackle one room at a time until the task is done. It is important to pace yourself rather than allow yourself to become overwhelmed and abandon your safer home project.

Another strategy may be to examine labels and manufacturing details on everything you buy from this point forward. Eventually, all the harmful products will be used and replaced by safer alternatives.

Safer Alternatives:
Look for soap, instead of chemical based, pesticides.
Don’t forget about baking soda, which is appropriate for a wide range of household tasks. Baking soda can be used to clean, deodorize, remove stains, polish aluminum and other metals, clean teeth and even help you relax in a nice bath.

Cornstarch is useful as a window cleaner or metal polisher.

You can use lemon juice to remove stains from aluminum or clean glass and even as a mild lightener in lieu of bleach.

Need an all purpose cleaner? Combine vinegar and salt or baking soda and water to get just about any household job done.

What about personal care substitutes. Use olive oil to smooth and soften dry skin and hair. Witch hazel is an effective and economical alternative to commercial astringents. Olive oil based soap is great for cleansing.

What about pests? Dried peppermint or powdered red chill pepper gets rid of ants. Feeding your pet Brewer’s yeast combats fleas.

With a little creativity you can find replacements for many of the products you use everyday. Making a commitment to change creates a win-win scenario for your health, your environment and your wallet.