Natural Cleaning Products…It Is The Wave Of The Future

Did you know that chemical manufacturers do not have to disclose all of the ingredients on their labels, so as a consumer we are at a large disadvantage. Household products with labels that read ‘organic’, ‘non-toxic’, and ‘eco-safe’ are not regulated by the Food and Drug Association – this means anyone can use terms that are not necessarily true.  These products that we use in our homes enter our bodies by breathing the air, through our skin and the water we drink.

5 million household product poisonings reported and most of them Children!!!  

There is something wrong if the chemical manufacturers can continue not disclosing the ingredients of there products and it is effecting us like this.  Do you know someone who had been poisoned?

It is so important for everyone to adapt natural cleaning techniques, as mentioned in the Natural Cleaning Tips Article on the Wellness Mama website.  One technique that is also mentioned in this article is the use of the Microfiber clothes.  I believe the Microfiber is the wave of the future and let me tell you why.

Have you ever tried using a Microfiber cloth or mop?  Did you notice a difference?

Do you know what chemicals are in your cleaning products?

We all get caught up in the commercials on TV and the print ads showing how great specific cleaning products are – how great they smell and how quick they can do the job, but did you know that you have eco friendly and effective methods in your home right now?

This is why I decided to digg an article that was posted on Digg…How to Clean Everything in Your Kitchen Using Stuff From Your Kitchen.   I found this article informative and interesting.  I knew that we could use household items to clean, but I had no idea as to how many.

Then when I found an article in “The Daily Green” called “7 Smart Uses for Vinegar” I submitted it to Digg.  Unfortunately it hasn’t been posted yet, but hopefully it will be found on the site shortly.

We often forget about what we have in our kitchen that is effective cleaning products and more environmentally friendly than most everything that you can purchase on any store self.  Having said that you will notice that your local grocery and drug stores are getting better…there are eco friendly choices.  But at a cost, why is it that eco friendly products are so much more expensive?

Did you know that Vinegar is effective at killing most mild, bacteria and germs due to it’s level of acidity.  It doesn’t just make your mouth pucker…it makes mold shrivel.

Vinegar can be used in:

• Refrigerator
• Oven
• Garbage
• Dishwasher
• Coffee Maker
• Glassware
• Metal
• Aluminum
• Brass & Copper
• Plus so much more

Vinegar can be considered a Super Product in your cupboard.

I have to say that while doing this blog I learned a lot about household cleaning products and how toxic the cleaners that we use at home are.  Did you know that toxic products are found in your cleaning products?  

“More than 56 per cent of all nonylphenols used in Canada are found in cleaning products, notably in toilet cleaners and certain liquid laundry soap”

“Another highly toxic product is 2-butoxyethanol, used in some popular spray cleaners, which has been linked to low sperm counts in men, and learning disorders in children.”

Some of the worst offenders are:

• Phosphorus is usually found in common laundry detergents
• Ammonia found in multipurpose household cleaners
• Nitrogen found in glass and surface cleaning products

Just think when you clean with these products they end up rinsed down the drains.  Do you know where this goes? The correct answer is into our waste treatment plants, and if it isn’t caught it will continue it’s travels into our waterways.  The above named chemicals will cause excessive plant growth, which will clog the waterways and in turn crowd out animal life.

Also consider this…Over 100 chemicals commonly found in homes have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, psychological abnormalities, skin reactions, headaches, depression, joint pain, chronic fatigue, chest pains, dizziness, loss of sleep, asthma. . .the list goes on.  Housewives have a 55% higher risk of getting cancer than do women working outside the home. This most likely has to do with the products they use on a daily basis. Nervous disorders and respiratory problems have also been linked to hazardous substances in the home.

I always thought that having a lemon scent after I cleaned was the most rewarding smell ever…but after my research I now feel that there is no smell to green clean.

There is an alternative to using toxic or non-green products, will you do your part for your household and your environment???  Will you join me in a commitment to Green Cleaning?

What household chemicals do you use?

The Cleaning Competition

Women vs. Men

Do you find yourself constantly battling with your significant other about who’s turn it is to change the sheets, take out the garbage or vacuum the living room.  You are not alone.

According to a survey conducted by The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), housework can cause major frictions with both married and couples living together.  Take a look at the SDA survey results…

Who is Really Doing all the Cleaning?

• Women claim they do 79% of the cleaning in their households
• Men, have acknowledged that they are responsible for only 35% of the cleaning in their households 

Clean and Mean: Couples Clash Over Cleaning

• 46% of couples who live together argue about cleaning
• 27% of these couples argue about who should do the cleaning
• 24% argue about how often the cleaning should be done
• 17% argue about the best way to clean

Task by Task- Who’s the Better Cleaner?

• Four times as many women as men claim they do the laundry better than their partners
• Women claim they clean the bathroom and kitchen better than their male partners
• Men feel they’ve got vacuuming under control. 22% of men say they vacuum better than their partners, and 14% believe they do a better job of washing dishes
• Bottom line: 25% of men say they can’t clean better than their mate, no matter what the task  

Your Partner’s Cleaning Shortcomings: What Pushes Your Buttons?

• Almost 2/3 of individuals surveyed felt their partner’s cleaning abilities were below average
• 51% of people say that not cleaning often enough is their partner’s biggest shortcoming
• 41% of people believe that their partners vacuum around things instead of moving them
• Almost 50% of women and 24% of men complained about their partners leaving a mess behind in the kitchen
• About 50% of women and 16% of men were unhappy with the way their partners cleaned the bathroom

Can we make cleaning fun?

Let’s share our experiences, thoughts and time saving tips.  Who knows what we will learn from each other.  I can’t wait to hear from you!