FXSTD – Alternative Energy Center

By: Markus Skupeika
A typical home or office always have products like air freshener, dishwashers, laundry detergents, many more to mention, not knowing that these products contains harmful chemicals. Recent studies showed that over 50 cleaning products contain hazardous chemicals, chemicals that is slowly doing a great harm for you and your family (even your pets and plants). Labels of these products always says that they should be used with cautions.

Cases of children that accidentally ingested these chemicals and being exposed are rapidly growing, U.S. Poison Control Center estimated that there are almost or over 1.5 million cases are reported to them, a disturbing report that may happen to all of us.

We can avoid this situation and take the toxic out in our home or office and natural cleaning products is the best solution for all of that.

Natural solution products offer a non-toxic, chemical free home. That is possible because we will just use organic materials that are eco friendly yet effective.

Here is some info on how to use natural cleaning products. Most of the items that we will use are found right there in your home.

1. You might be using ammonia for cutting out grease, but for your info these product contains chemicals that are dangerous to you health, for alternative just use a spray bottle filled with ½ water and ¼ white vinegar, vinegars is a good grease cutters and can leave your dishes sparkling like new.

2. Fragrance is a great factor of a clean home, but we usually rely on commercial air fresheners not knowing that these products consist of phthalates( petroleum-base hormone disruptors) you might not see this on their labels because manufacturers are hiding the fact that they are using these, for fresh scent just use citrus or natural herbs, these will naturally clean and freshen your air.

3. An effective alternative to harmful chlorines are borax.

4. Killing bacteria another way of living healthy, but do you know that triclosan from your favorite disinfectant boost the growth of some resistant bacteria, worst thing is this bacteria can turn into carcinogenic, to avoid it from happening use vinegars instead ( another fact is that not all bacteria are harmful).

5. You should be informed that some of natural, non-toxic and biodegradable products that does not have proper or actual certification from the Food and Drugs Authority sometimes keeps their ingredients secret, check first if it passed the standards and the ingredients itself.

6. Bugs are great problems for us, instead of using those sprays, using essential oils, tea tree, lemongrass and rosemary can take the bugs out in your home.

7. Using monoethanolamine(MEA) on principles causes irritations and cases like asthma, adding the fact that it's a petroleum product, water is much more better, simply water.

8. Tea can be a natural cleanser, yes it can be! simply because its has acid contents. (but I still prefer drinking hot tea).

9. All you need for a change are natural cleaning products, to make a DIY version all you need in your cupboard are lemons, bicarbonate soda, white wine and some cheap oils and there you go.

10. Finally, and the most simple are the power of elbow grease with just cloth itself and a little hot water can get the job done, but be sure to exert some energy for those cleaning task.

We always thought that all bacteria are harmful and should be taken out on our homes, but with these kind of studies, it shows that using germ killers (commercial cleaners) are More harmful to us and our environment because of the toxins that they releases, for cleaning those spills and dust a good swipe of damp towel is all we need less effective against bacteria but a non-toxic way and much more safer, we should be aware and smart to maintain a healthy living.