A Cleaner Home with Eco Cleaners

A couple of years ago, we decided to detoxify our home. By this I mean we stopped using chemicals as much as possible. While it is virtually impossible to eliminate chemicals in the home altogether, you can reduce your exposure to them significantly.

The average person is exposed to hundreds if not thousands of chemicals a day. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside our home can be more polluted than the air outside, even if you live in a busy urban area.

If you think that these chemicals are safe (they wouldn’t be allowed to manufacture and sell them, right?), think again. Many chemicals in our everyday products have been found to be harmful, yet they are still allowed in the products we buy, and tens of thousands of other chemicals that we commonly use everyday have never been tested.

Chemicals in our everyday products are linked to over 200 health problems including asthma, depression, anxiety, various cancers (including breast, ovarian and brain), birth defects and developmental disabilities, infertility, as well as reproductive, cardiovascular and immune system disorders. Many of these chemicals are stored in our bodies and accumulate over time to cause health problems after years of gradual exposure. Young children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.

And then there is the impact on the health of the environment. Not only do household chemicals get washed down the drain and into our waterways, but there is the manufacturing process to consider: air pollution during manufacture, the disposal of chemical by-products during manufacture, the pollution caused by manufacturing the plastic (chemical laden) packaging and its subsequent disposal into landfill.

Buying "green" products can be problematic though. On the one hand there is little regulation when it comes to labelling and the use of words such as "natural," "organic" or "green," and many products marketed as so called “green” products are just chemicals with fancy marketing.

On the other hand, true commercial "green" products tend to cost more than their more toxic counterparts. It can be expensive buying green.

And lets not forget that the main ingredient in nearly all cleaners is water. With often over 50% water, what you’re paying for is expensive water, with a few toxic chemicals thrown in.

The good news is that there is a natural, cost effective alternative to chemical cleaners. Last year I spent less than $10 on cleaning products for our home and less than $15 on laundry powder. This was for the whole year.

Eco Cleaning Products

• Bicarb soda is a little miracle cleaner, in my opinion. There are few cleaning jobs that bicarb can’t handle. From removing rust stains in my kitchen sink, to cutting through months of built up soap scum on the shower screen, bicarb soda takes pride of place in my cleaning kit. For more hints on bicarb soda, click here. I keep my bicarb in a cheap food shaker.
• White Vinegar is also a useful cleaning product. It is very cheap and as an acid can help cut through grease and kill bacteria. In the frugal tips section, you will find a recipe for an all purpose cleaner. I mix my cleaner in a spray bottle – one bottle lasts for years.
• Essential Oils are good for deodorising and many have strong anti-bacterial properties. My favourite is tea tree oil for its strong anti-bacterial properties.
• Washing Soda is sodium carbonate. It is caustic and is an effective cleaner for oil, dirt and grease. It is also a water softener. Washing soda forms the basis of laundry detergent. It is found in the laundry section of the supermarket.
• Borax is crystalline sodium borate. It has antiseptic, anti-fungal, deodorising and disinfecting properties. It can help combat mould and mildew and can be used as a fabric softener. While it’s natural, it is toxic, so care should be taken when handling and should be kept out of reach of children. Borax is also found in the supermarket laundry section.
• Vegetable based soaps We still buy commercial liquid detergent for the washing up. Mostly because I have yet to find a homemade alternative that I really like. We buy a vegetable based, biodegradable detergent from the health food store. It is a little more expensive than supermarket brands but I think that it is worth it. It is a concentrate and a little goes a long way. Vegetable based soaps and detergents are not made with petroleum bi-products and other chemicals or animal fats. They are better on the environment, and better on the hands. Vegetable soaps can be used in the laundry and showering and are much gentler on the skin. Click here for an excellent vegetable soap recipe and tutorial.

I wouldn’t ever go back to using chemical cleaners, not when I have such a cheap and effective alternative that is better on the environment. I have been using these natural alternatives for a few years now. If you haven’t tried natural, homemade cleaners give them a go. You may be surprised by the results.

Resources, Organisations and Projects

• Frugal Cleaning Tips
• Book: Stop the 21st Century Killing You (aff link)
• Book: Speed Cleaning
• Environmental Working Group
• Greenpeace on chemicals in the home
• Human Toxome Project

Research and Related Articles

• Chemicals linked to autism, ADHD and brain disorders in children
• How toxic is your body?
• Home toxic home. Common products can make living in your home hazardous to your health
• Are Household Chemicals Connected To The Rise In Asthma?
• Household chemicals may be linked to infertility
• Maternal levels of perfluorinated chemicals and subfecundity
• War on Bacteria is Wrongheaded 
• Antibacterial Chemical Disrupts Hormone Activities, Study Finds
• Avoid Antibacterial liquids, soaps, kill good and bad bacteria
• ENVIRONMENT: Household Chemicals Wreaking Havoc in Fish 

Please feel free to leave any comments and questions you have below. Hope you have a great day.

Have you read these posts?

1. Chemical Cleaners In Our Homes. Do We Really Want Them?
2. homemade all purpose cleaner
3. tip tuesday–make your own cleaner using rubbing alcohol
4. Seven Good Reasons For Making Your Own Household Products
5. 10 easy tips to save water and money in your home