Why it’s time to ‘Go Green’ with your household cleaning:
By The Eco-Pawprints Team, Naturalpaw
In addition to the consideration of the amount of harmful chemicals we wash down the drain into our water system, ponder the amount that stays in our homes. Residue from cleaning products can be found everywhere inside the house and the office. It lingers on surfaces and floats around in the air we and our pets breathe. This results in almost constantly absorbing these chemicals through our skin and lungs. This residue of chemicals is harmful to our health, our pet’s health and the environment.
You Can Clean Up Your Environment
According to the Canadian Lung Association, Canadians spend 90% of their time indoors. Why directly pollute your personal environment? Many common manufactured cleaners contain alcohol, ammonia, bleach, formaldehyde and lye; these substances cause nausea, burning of the eyes, skin and throat and may contribute to chemical allergies and asthma. Just because you have not experienced any of these symptoms does not mean you have not been affected. We are exposed to these chemical residues in small amounts, almost constantly over time. Toxins accumulate in the body as it’s built in filtration systems can only handle a portion of what we are exposed to. Your pet’s body volume is more than likely less than yours which means that substances accumulate more quickly in their bodies. Their fur does not protect their skin from absorbing, it catches more of any given substance and each strand of hair leads to their skin.
Solutions:
Green Cleaning Products
There is a multitude of options in cleaning products popping up all over the place. But, navigating our way through the choices is a daunting task. What’s really in them? Are they really that much safer or healthier? If they have an ingredient listing and you can recognize what’s listed, great! They make for a convenient option. Many will come with a biodegradable mark on their label but, just because it is going to break down in the water or earth does not mean that it is not a toxin that we just don’t need. Save yourself the guesswork and the expense! What did we use to clean before all these chemical concoctions were developed? Natural soap, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon were the options. Ammonia and borax were also commonly used; read here why Greenpeace does not recommend their use.
Micro Fibre Cloths
Invest in a few micro fibre cloths. They don’t wear out so you won’t be contributing to the landfill. The micro fibre cloth collects an amazing amount of dirt without releasing it as you clean yet, rinses really well under running water or in a basin of warm water. Wash in the washing machine as you wish but, do not use fabric softener. We don’t recommend the cheap ones for a dollar; they don’t clean as well as the good ones. They also shouldn’t cost $25! You should be able to find them for $5-10. Buy a few so you can dedicate them to specific jobs and rooms so they are always handy. They truly are amazing!
Cleaning Your Floors
Your pet spends a lot of time on the floor (when they’re not on the couch or bed!). Go chemical free on your floors. There are micro fibre mops available as well. They work well without chemicals like the cloths. Here is a link to just one brand available, Live Euroclean. Also, see links to natural cleaning recipes below.
Cleaning the Bathroom
Clean glass and mirrors with just water and your micro fibre cloth. We know you don’t believe it, we didn’t either! We tried the messiest of mirrors, used a spray bottle to spray the water on and it cleaned up easily. Not lint, no chemicals and no waste. Counters, taps and sinks all come out sparkling. Need to scrub the bathtub? Sprinkle baking soda into a damp tub, use any reusable cloth, scrub like you would with any other cleaner and watch it come clean without any extra effort.
Cleaning the Kitchen
Mix some vinegar and water in a spray bottle for cutting grease in the kitchen. Need to scrub residue out of your kitchen sink? Sprinkle baking soda into a damp or dry sink, use any cloth, scrub like you would with any other cleaner. It rinses away beautifully. We tested this on stainless steel and porcelain sinks. If you can use an abrasive cleaner on the surface you want to clean, you can use baking soda.
Picking up Pet Hair
Those sticky rollers are wonderful but, not environmentally-friendly. Use a damp cloth, vacuum or get yourself a reusable roller. Here’s a link to just one type that is available on the market, Mr. Sticky.
Reusable Options
It only makes sense to use reusable cloths for all of your cleaning. Forget all these ‘use once and throw out’ options for dusting, floors and toilets. What a waste! Use a separate cloth for your toilet and put it in the wash. Remember to be environmentally friendly with your laundry too. We could go on forever with more ideas and options…so, here are some links for you to browse for more info.
CTV.ca Article with Cleaning Recipes
Greenpeace Recipes for Green Cleaning