How to Really Clean Up

Published on July 2016 | Categories: Types, Instruction manuals | Downloads: 119 | Comments: 0 | Views: 1074
of 4
Download PDF   Embed   Report

The easiest, lowest cost, & most effective way to make your home and office sustainable is to eliminate toxic cleaners. Learn what is lurking in your cleaners, how to identify & avoid the chemicals. Then try my favorite recipes for healthy, inexpensive, effective cleaners.

Comments

Content

HOW TO REALLY CLEAN UP!
I admit that I do not enjoy cleaning my home, though I truly love it when it’s spotless! So let’s lighten the cleaning load by using products that don’t mess up our health or our environment.

HARMFUL HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS from Green Goes With Everything by Sloan Barnett
This list will scare you. And what’s even more frightening is how common these are! Ammonia Fatal if swallowed; skin, lung, throat irritant; can cause blindness. Butyl Cellosolve Irritation and tissue damage from inhalation Formaldehyde Known carcinogen Hydrochloric Acid Fatal if swallowed; concentrated fumes harmful. Naphtha Depresses the central nervous system. Perchloroethylene Damages liver, kidney, nervous system. Petroleum Distillates Highly flammable; can damage lung tissue and nerve cells. Phenols Extremely dangerous; suspected carcinogen Propylene Glycol Ingestion can damage kidneys, lungs, heart and nervous system. Sodium Hydroxide Highly caustic. Contact can cause severe damage to eyes, skin, mouth, and throat. Lye Can cause liver and kidney damage. Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Sulfuric Acid Trichloroethane Phthalates Xenoestrogens Contact can cause severe damage to eyes, skin, mouth, and throat; can cause liver & kidney damage; causes more poisoning exposures than any household chemical. Skin irritant Dangerous. Can burn skin. Exposure to concentrated fumes can be carcinogenic. Damages liver and kidney Used to stabilize synthetic fragrances and make plastics flexible and soft. Suspected as ‘probable carcinogens’. Banned in Europe. Suspected of interfering with natural reproductive systems

Copyright 2014 ImaginEco Design ImaginEcoDesign.com find us on

WHERE THESE HAZARDS ARE LURKING: Antibacterial Cleaners Many contain triclosan which may increase the resistance of some bacteria to antibiotics. Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Typically contain complex phosphates (banned in laundry detergent) which pollute waterways by fostering oxygen-depleting algae blooms, and contain chlorine which can become harmful vapor during the drying cycle. Many common rinse aids are banned by the EU. Carpet Cleaners Toxic fumes, principally naphthalene (carcinogen), are especially dangerous to children (and pets) who play on carpets after they are cleaned. The majority of poison exposures from carpet and upholstery cleaners were for children under age six. Fumes can cause kidney and liver damage. Chlorine Bleach Can cause severe irritation to eyes and skin, and its vapor or mist can cause damage to the respiratory tract and aggravate asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory conditions. Degreasers Many contain butyl cellosolve, a chemical that irritates mucous membranes. May also cause kidney or liver damage or depress the nervous system. Industrial degreasers are often diluted with kerosene which damages lungs and dissolve essential fatty tissue around cells. Dishwashing Liquid Most include petroleum-based surfactants that stay in the environment and fragrances stabilized with phthalates. Disinfectants May contain any of several toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde, cresols, ammonia, phenols and chlorine bleach, all of which should be kept away from skin and some of which can be hazardous to internal organs and central nervous system. May also contain triclosan which may create resistant bacteria. Drain cleaner One of the most dangerous products in the home because ingredients often include lye and sulfuric acid, both of which are severely caustic and corrosive to skin, airways and eyes. Floor and Furniture Polish Usually contain cresols and petroleum distillates causing skin and eye irritation, along with damage to the central nervous system. Fragrance includes phthalates. Vapors can contaminate indoor air for days after use. Glass Cleaner Some contain ammonia, a poison that can irritate skin, eyes and the respiratory system. Some also contain butyl cellosolve. Laundry Detergent Many contain synthetic surfactants; fragrances can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions and often contain phthalates. Mold and Mildew Removers Many are essentially a mix of water and bleach and other chemicals such as butyl cellosolve, with their inherent danger to the respiratory system. Some even contain pesticides.

Over Cleaners Like drain cleaners, extremely dangerous because they can contain lye which can cause severe damage to eyes, skin, mucous membranes, mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach. Aerosol versions are easily inhaled. Can be fatal if swallowed. Scouring Cleaners Many contain butyl cellosolve which irritates mucous membranes and causes liver and kidney damage. Many brands also contain chlorine bleach and silica, an abrasive that can be dangerous if inhaled.

Copyright 2014 ImaginEco Design ImaginEcoDesign.com find us on

HOW TO REALLY CLEAN UP!
Now let’s save some time and money. Our moms and grandmothers used these common ingredients and they’ve proven effective over many many years. Added bonuses; they’re super inexpensive and it’s super easy to make your own cleaners. COMMON, NATURAL, INEXPENSIVE INREDIENTS:
Baking soda is made out of soda ash and its slightly alkaline ph neutralizes acid-based odors in water and absorbs odors from the air. Detergents are non-soap (synthetic) cleaning agents that can emulsify oils. Detergents will not react with hard water minerals and cause soap scum. If you have hard water, purchase a biodegradable detergent—one that is capable of being decomposed by bacteria. Lavender oil is made by distillation of the flower spikes of certain species of lavender. It is naturally antiseptic, disinfecting, antibacterial, antiviral, and has a variety of medicinal uses from insomnia to pain relief. Lemon juice is just that—the juice of lemons. It is acidic and can eat away tarnish and remove dirt from wood surfaces. As a cleaning agent, it is similar to vinegar. Liquid soaps are required to cut grease. Natural liquid soaps are made from sugar based and vegetable based cleaners, essential oils, citric acid, and ethanol for its antiseptic properties. Peroxide is a combination of hydrogen and peroxide. This mixture in low concentrations works well as a disinfectant and antiseptic. It provides the effects of bleaching without the corrosive damage caused by chlorine bleach. Tea tree oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a native Australian tree. The oil is a strong organic solvent, antiseptic, and fungicide. Vegetable glycerin is a by-product of the production of other plant oils, made through hydrolysis. It is a clear, colorless, odorless liquid used as an agent in numerous products such as cosmetics. Vinegar is made from the oxidation of ethanol in an alcohol-containing liquid, such as wine, fermented fruit juice, or beer. Vinegar is acidic and so can neutralize alkaline substances such as hard water scale and dissolves sticky build up. Washing soda is a salt of carbonic acid and works as a solvent because of its high alkalinity. It binds to the minerals that make water hard, allowing detergents to foam properly so that clothes come clean with no residue. This is caustic so please use gloves. Don’t use on aluminum, fiberglass, or waxed floors.

Copyright 2014 ImaginEco Design ImaginEcoDesign.com find us on

INREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED: baking soda white vinegar peroxide washing soda Borax Fels Naptha, Ivory, or Zote soap olive, tea tree, or lavender oil organic liquid soap or biodegradable detergent glass jars clean spray bottles

Creamy Soft Scrub 1/2 cup baking soda—pour in to a bowl, mix with enough organic liquid soap to make a paste. Store in a sealed container. To extend the life add 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin. Window Cleaner 1/4 teaspoon organic liquid soap or detergent, 3 tablespoons white vinegar, 2 cups water Mix together in a spray bottle and use. It may take a couple of washes to remove the wax from the commercial window cleaners that you may have used in the past. All Purpose Spray Cleaner 4 teaspoons baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 quart water Mix the water with the baking soda in a large bowl, to accommodate the foaming, then add the vinegar. Pour in to a spray bottle. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or cloth. I use this daily to clean my shower. Furniture Polish 1/2 teaspoon olive oil , 1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice Mix ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag in to the solution and wipe on to wood surfaces. Cover jar and store indefinitely. Powder Laundry Detergent 2 cups Fels Naptha Soap finely grated (you could also try Ivory or Zote) 2 cups washing soda Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container. Use 2 tablespoons per full load. Laundry Brightener Add 1/2 cup baking soda to wash water per load. Safe on white and colors. Mold Killer Mix 2 teaspoons tea tree oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray on problem areas—do not rinse.

Copyright 2014 ImaginEco Design ImaginEcoDesign.com find us on

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close