Green Cleaning Twitter Party

Did you miss Healthy Child, Health World’s Green Cleaning Twitter party? This important discussion focused on educating the public on the important topic of non-toxic cleaning and included many resources, tips and recipes for natural cleaning products.

Did you know that many conventional cleaning products contain harsh and toxic chemicals which have been linked respiratory, reproductive, behavioral and development problems and many contain carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals? Did you know that these harsh chemicals also contribute to poor indoor air quality? The Environmental Protection Agency, estimates the air inside your home to be 2-5 times worse than the air outside of your home. That’s a scary thought, especially for those of you who are pregnant or have little ones in your home.

How is it possible that companies are allowed to use such toxic chemicals in our everyday cleaning products? Unfortunately, the regulations here in the US are so lax that some of the products even use ingredients that have been banned in other countries for many years. Many products have phthalate-containing synthetic fragrances and have a warning label with “KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN” affixed to it. Yet these are the same products that many are using to clean areas where children eat, drink, play, sleep and bathe.

Thankfully, there are things that we can do to protect our families and our planet. By purchasing safe, natural cleaners or better yet, making your own, you will help to reduce exposures to these everyday toxins. It is important to note, however, that not all “Natural” cleaners are safe and just because a product or ingredient is biodegradable, natural or fragrance-free doesn’t mean it is healthy or safe for you or the environment. Some companies disclose the ingredients they use in their products, but many do not. Even if ingredients are listed, it doesn’t mean that the ingredient(s) is a safe one. So how is the average person to know which ingredient is safe and which is not? Here are some tools available:

• Consumer Reports helps you decipher labels and search for products in their Eco-Labels Center.

• The US Department of Health and Human Services also has adatabase to look up household products.

• Seventh Generation provides a downloadable Label Reading Guide.

Making your own natural cleaning products is easy and cost effective. Here are some recipes and links to making your own non-toxic cleaning products:

Cleaning with Vinegar:

• Did you know that vinegar is a natural disinfectant? (via @Healthy_Child)

• Vinegar can be used to remove pet odors, laundry odors, in the dishwasher as a rinse agent, to clean dishwasher, to clean tubs and so much more. (via @YourOrganicLife)

• Use vinegar to clean your kitchen floors and to clean coffee pot. (via @DeepBSeaDolphin)

• Clean your humidifier with vinegar to help prevent mold (via @ premierbabyplan).

• Mix vinegar and salt together for a good surface cleaner. This combination will remove grease if vinegar is at full strength. (via @LivingGreenOR)

• Worried about germs? Spray surface with vinegar and water, wipe, then spray with peroxide and wipe. (via @premierbabyplan)

Cleaning Tubs, Toilets and Sinks:

• Soft Scrub: Mix hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and lemon juice to make a paste (via @Babies411).

• Make a paste of borax and castile soap to clean tubs and toilets (via @ SiMPLiciTYnLiFe).

• Use baking soda to scour sinks, scrub baked on goo and to deodorize trash cans. (via @Healthy_Child)

• Study has found that a microfiber cloth and water is nearly as effective as conventional cleaner for urinals. (via @that_danielle)

Household Cleaners:

• Mix together lemon essential oil, tea tree oil, vinegar and water (via @YourOrganicLife)

• Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 cup to 1 quart of warm water (via @LivingGreenOR).

• 100% peppermint soap is a wonderful cleaner (via @momtodanielle).

• Mix 1 teaspoon borax, 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 2 cups hot water, 1/4 teaspoon Lavender essential oil and 3 drops Tea Tree essential oil (via @DeepSeaDolphin)

• Dishsoap: Add 1 cup liquid castile soap, 1/4 cup water, 2 tablespoons vinegar and a few drops of essential oil (via @LivingGreenOR)

Laundry

• How to make powdered laundry soap (via @ShoutLaughLove)

• Dryer sheet alternatives: Use dryer sachets or dryer balls (via @premierbabyplan).

• Vinegar is also a great fabric softener (via @LivingGreenOR)

• Easy recipe for starch alternative: Combine 2-3 teaspoons of cornstarch with 1 cup water in a spray bottle and shake well. (via @LivingGreenOR)

Chlorine is a respiratory irritant. Here are some bleach alternatives:

• Use 1 cup of vinegar per load of laundry (via @Healthy_Child)

• For hard water, use vinegar to soften laundry (via @YourOrganicLife)

• The sun is a great bleach alternative. Also try adding 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle and 1/2 cup of baking soda to warm water wash cycle. (via @LivingGreenOR).

• Lemon juice can remove stains on clothes (via @Beverly1975)

For Mold & Mildew:

• Keep a spray bottle of peroxide in the shower and give it a good spritz after showering to keep mold away. And, it’s safe for the septic tank! (via @MamaMelinda)

• Vinegar also works great on mildew (via @LivingGreenOR)

Glass Cleaner:

• For streak-free glass cleaning, put seltzer water (flat works well, too) into a spray bottle. Spray and clean and voilà…no streaks! (via @kosheronabudget)

For Drains:

• Involve kids by making a drain-clearing volcano. Pour 3/4 cup baking soda down drain and then pour 1 cup vinegar. (via @Healthy_Child)

• When the drain volcano doesn’t work, use a snake rather than dangerous chemicals (via @ YourOrganicLife )

Hand Sanitizer:

• Skip chemical-filled hand sanitizers and make your own. Combine distilled water and the following essential oils: lemon, cinnamon, tea tree, clove, thyme, lavender and rosemary. (via @Babies411)

• Oregano, lavender and lemongrass essential oils also good at killing germs. (via @YourOrganicLife)

• Did you know that essential oils like thyme, lemon, tea tree, and niaouli are antibacterial and anti fungal? (via @AromaticHealth)

Improving Indoor Air Quality:

• Open bathroom window while showering to improve indoor air quality and reduce risk of mold growth (via @Healthy_Child).

• Use your exhaust fan in the bath (via @Greenereveryday).

• Dry cleaning can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Air out clothes outside, if possible (via @TheSFile).

• Candles can damage indoor air quality. Check out this article on making safe candles.  Certain houseplants can remove harmful indoor gases (via @cuckoomushu).

• Open windows every day for 10 minutes (via @LivingGreenOR).

• Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality Part 1 and Part 2 (via @ YourOrganicLife)

• Freshen the air in your home with essential oils, not sprays. Mix 4 drops Pine Needle, 1 drop Mandarin, 2 drops Cinnamon Leaf and dilute in purified water in a 2 ounce spray bottle (via @ DeepBSeaDolphin).

• Pour vanilla extract on a cotton ball and place in a small dish. Use in your car, home or refrigerator (via LivingGreenOR).

• Bake a pie (via @ABCGP).

• Simmer pine, cinnamon, peppermint or lemon in water (via @thesmartmama).

• Simmer 1 cut lemon and cinnamon sticks on the stove (via @gtgt).

• Throw citrus peels down the garbage disposal now and then to freshen things up naturally. (via @Healthy_Child)

Pest Control:

• Use a cup of borax (via @DeepBSeaDolphin)

• Be careful using borax if you have pets or babies (via @YourOrganicLife).

• Add six to ten drops of lemon essential oil to 1 cup water to keep spiders away (via @mandalynns78).

Appliances and Accessories

• Clean your cutting board with tea tree oil. (via @DeepBSeaDolphin). Do not use mineral oil (a petroleum product) to clean surfaces such as cutting boards. (via @YourOrganicLife)

• Tip for cleaning the microwave: boil a cup of water for 2 minutes and wipe with dry cloth (via @katladyu18). Place a half of lemon in the microwave for 1 minute (via @beeacutie2_jail)

• To clean stainless steel pots, mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste and use a lemon wedge as a scrubby. (via @Babies411)

• Baking soda and vinegar are great at getting rid of odors on cloth diapers. (via @YourOrganicLife)

• Natural ways to get red wine out of your carpet (via @YourOrganicLife)

• Recipe for cleaning your oven (via @ LivingGreenOR)

• Cleaning is Getting Healthier and Cleaner (via @MomsRising)

For more information on green cleaning and avoiding common household hazards be sure to read the following:

• Environmental Health Resources by Moms Rising

• Healthy Child, Healthy World’s Fragrances in Cleaning Products, Fabric Softeners and Laundry Detergents, Clean with 5 Basic Tools, The Wonders of White Vinegar, 10 Ways to Clean with Salt, Top 10 Toxic Products You Don’t Need, 5 Secrets Most Conventional Cleaning Product Makers Don’t Want You to Know

• Household Hazardous Products: Serious Business by North American Hazardous Materials Management Association

• FEMA Online Course: Household Hazardous Materials – A Guide for Citizens

• Simple Recipe for Cleaning Disinfectant, Greening Your Cleaning: Vinegar and Greening Your Cleaning: Liquid Castile Soap by The Living Green Solution

• Non Toxic Solutions to Clean Your Toilet by The Smart Mama

• “That was Then, This is Now”

• Green Cleaners: Simple Cleaning Recipes for a Safer Home

• How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit

• The Smart Mama’s Green Guide

• Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home

Green cleaning is one way to help reduce exposure to daily hazardous chemicals. By making your own cleaners, you decide what is best for your home and your family. Educating yourself will help you as a consumer (and parent) to make wiser decisions in the products that you choose to use in your home.

Author : Diba Tillery RN, BSN, IBCLC, CPST

Related posts:

1. There’s No Party Like a Twitter Party
2. Let’s Go Green Together!
3. Do You Dapple, Baby?
4. That Was Then This is Now

Tagged as: Cleaning with Vinegar, Green Cleaners, Green Cleaning, Green Cleaning Twitter Party, Greening Your Cleaning, Improving Indoor Air Quality, Natural cleaning products