Did you know that the average American uses almost 40 pounds of cleaning products each year? Many of these cleaning products are very toxic and sometimes lethal. After usage, manmade cleaning products are absorbed by the earth or released into the air via sinks and toilets, trash, and dumping grounds. As a result, more people are turning to natural cleaning products to protect their family’s health and the environment. Not only are they much more cost efficient than toxic and synthesized chemicals, natural cleaning products do an extremely thorough and effective job. The following list of natural cleaning products and natural ingredients will help you do your part to protect the earth, your family and health.
Natural Cleaning Products
Manufacturers such as Johnson and Johnson have jumped on the natural cleaning products’ bandwagon and are creating natural, biodegradable products to help clean your home. Johnson and Johnson have products such as laundry stain remover, bathroom cleaner and glass cleaner with natural formulas. In fact, there is a bevy of natural cleaning product manufacturers coming out with new products on a regular basis. Check out the following websites to learn more:
• www.seasdienaturals.com
• www.naturessourcecleaners.com
• www.TomsofMaine.com
• www.GreenWorksCleaner.com
In addition, the following companies produce natural cleaning products and tools: Blue Ridge Vacuum Bags, Cleanaide (microfiber cloths), Ecosumo, Ediblenature.com, Greener Country, Naturally Good.net, and Good Earth Retail.
If you choose to create your own cleaning products, then the following list of natural ingredients will be key in your “recipes”. Go to www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/natural-cleaning-products.htm for some homemade cleaning products you can make.
Vinegar
Vinegar means “sour wine” and is thought to have been discovered by accident over 10,000 years ago. Vinegar is the end product that results from wine going bad, or fruit juice that is allowed to ferment into alcohol and then into vinegar. The ancient Romans and Egyptians used vinegar for medicinal purposes, as a food preservative and for food flavoring. The acid in vinegar is a wonderful cleaning agent and allows you to cut through grease, dirt, remove mildew, tackle some odors and destroy wax buildup.
Baking soda is also known as bicarbonate of soda and is typically used in baking for leavening purposes. Baking soda contains a low level of alkali which helps to neutralize acid. If you want to use baking soda for cleaning purposes, it’s great for general cleaning of dirt and grime, deodorizing (many use it in laundry, litter boxes, refrigerators and freezers, etc.), scouring surfaces and softening water.
Borax
Borax is a mineral that when struck against another material, leaves a white streak. It is a chemical compound of the element boron, and has been used for thousands of years. Borax and other salts were used to preserve food and mummies, make pottery glazes in China and as a cleaning material. You may have heard of boric acid which is when borax is missed with sulfuric acid. Boric acid can be used as an insecticide or even a mild antiseptic.
For cleaning, borax is great for cleaning wallpaper and pained walls and floors. It also cleans, disinfects, softens water and deodorizes.
Lemon
Lemon can be used for so much more than food and drink preparation. It is an outstanding cleaner that is acidic and leaves behind a clean, fresh odor. Lemon is great for removing stains, and can be combined with baking soda to create a paste that has scouring power to it. Additionally, shoes can be whitened by spraying them with a little juice and leaving out in the sun to dry. Lemon can also remove rust. Simply cut a lemon in half, place salt on it and scrub.
Sources: www.earthyeasy.com/live_notoxic_solutions.htm, www.ecomall.com/biz/cleaning.htm, www.wisegeek.com, en.wikipedia.com
