The typical American home contains about three to 10 gallons
of toxic materials in the form of household cleaning
products. Even "green" alternatives can contain harmful
ingredients
Ingredients in common household cleaners and detergents that
can create a toxic indoor environment include glycol ethers,
phosphates, volatile organic compounds, phthalates, and more
Common household items such as white vinegar, baking soda,
lemon juice, coconut oil, and vodka can usually cut through
dirt and sanitize just as well as their toxic counterparts
Coconut oil is a household staple that can replace countless
commercial products. It’s particularly useful for cleaning,
sanitizing, and conditioning wood, leather, and metal items
DIY recipes are included for kitchen, bath, laundry, and
multi-purpose use
By Dr. Mercola
Spring is right around the corner, and as the weather warms
up, it’s the perfect time for the age old ritual of spring
cleaning your home. The featured video also gives several
pointers for “dusting off” your health and fitness routines, to
demarcate a fresh start.
In this article, I’ll focus on spring cleaning your home, as
this is an area where many unwittingly introduce more
unnecessary toxins into their lives.
The typical American home contains about three to 10 gallons
of toxic materials1
in the form of household cleaning products. Indeed, the very
things you use to clean your house are actually among
the primary sources of toxins and indoor air pollution you
expose yourself to on a regular basis.
Even "green" alternatives can contain harmful ingredients.
It’s unfortunate, but the terms “green” and “natural” are really
nothing more than marketing terms, and they do not
automatically equate to safety.
Moreover, many ingredients do not even have to be listed on
the label in the first place, which makes it even more difficult
to discern what you’re being exposed to. The manufacturers have
conveniently lobbied the government to exempt them from this
requirement, so they can purposely omit any ingredient
that is considered a secret formula from its label. Not
surprisingly, many of these non-disclosed ingredients are
actually toxic.
Which Are the Worst Offenders?
Of particular concern are chemicals known or suspected to be
carcinogenic. Others can disrupt your endocrine system and/or
may cause reproductive harm—both of which are serious concerns
if you have young children in your house.
When the chemicals in common household products such as
cleaning sprays and laundry detergents hit your skin and lungs,
they go directly into your bloodstream, bypassing your liver and
kidneys, which are your body's natural defense system against
toxins. Just one application of a typical household
cleaner can leave dangerous chemicals lingering in your indoor
air for hours on end.
Ammonia is perhaps the most well-known offender when it comes
to making your home “unlivable” during and for several hours
after its use. It’s extremely irritating to your skin, eyes, and
lungs by itself, and can be lethal if haphazardly mixed with
other chemicals.
Please beware that you should NEVER mix ammonia with any
product containing bleach. Mixing ammonia and bleach
together will cause extremely toxic vapors capable of
rendering you unconscious. More than a few people have had to
hang their heads out the window, gasping for air, after making
this mistake...
Other ingredients in common household cleaners, laundry
detergents, and even "green" cleaners that can create a toxic
indoor environment include but are not limited to the following.
For additional hazardous chemicals found in common household
products, please see PureZing’s harmful ingredients list:2
Glycol ethers3
– Widespread use in paints, perfumes, soaps, cosmetics,
and foods. Cause fatigue, lethargy, nausea, and possible
liver and kidney damage
Phosphates - Manufacturers have reduced
eliminated phosphates from laundry products, but no
action has ever been taken on dishwasher detergents.
Causes widespread environmental damage4
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs),5
including 1,4-dichlorobenzene – Cause nose and throat
irritation, dizziness, and asthma
Phthalates6
– Cause reproductive harm, endocrine disruption, cancer,
and organ damage
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a common
ingredient in laundry detergents and all-purpose
cleaners, is banned in Europe, and known to be a potent
endocrine disrupter,7
causing male fish to transform into females
Petroleum solvents in floor cleaners
may damage mucous membranes
Perfumes8
– Cause headaches, sinus problems, and asthma
Formaldehyde,9
found in spray and wick deodorizers, is a suspected
carcinogen
Butyl cellosolve, found in many
all-purpose and window cleaners, may damage your
kidneys, bone marrow, liver, and nervous system10
Chlorine – irritating to your skin,
eyes, and lungs
Ethanolamines11
– irritating to the skin, eyes, and lungs
Sodium lauryl sulfate: skin irritant,
eye irritant, and potentially carcinogenic
Spring Clean Your Home the Non-Toxic Way
Common household items such as vinegar and baking soda can
usually cut through dirt and sanitize just as well as their
toxic counterparts. In some instances, you may need to use a bit
more elbow-grease, but all things considered, I believe it’s
well worth it. Other times, you may be shocked to discover that
such simple ingredients will do an even better job...
The featured article by Greatist.com offers no less than 27
non-toxic recipes for do-it-yourself cleaning,12
proving there’s no shortage of alternatives for tackling
household dirt and grime. Here’s a simple starter list of 12
items, which will allow you to make a wide variety of your own
all-natural, non-toxic cleaning products, either individually or
in various combinations. For example, vinegar combined with
hydrogen peroxide works exceptionally well as a disinfectant and
sanitizer:
Baking soda
White vinegar
Lemon juice
Hydrogen peroxide
Olive oil
Liquid castile soap
Organic essential oils (optional)
Mixing bowl/bucket
Coconut oil
Spray bottles
Vodka
Microfiber cloths
Baking Soda—An Age-Old Champion of Cleaners
Here are some examples of how plain and simple baking soda
can replace dangerous commercial cleaning products in your home:
Use as a safe non-scratch scrub for
metals and porcelain.
To clean your oven, simply sprinkle a
cup or more of baking soda over the bottom of the oven, then
cover the baking soda with enough water to make a thick
paste. Let the mixture set overnight. The next morning, the
grease will be easy to wipe up because the grime will have
loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess,
dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash
the remaining residue from the oven.
To unclog a drain, pour 1/2 to one cup
of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 to one
cup of vinegar in after it. Cover the drain and let it sit
for 15 minutes. If it bubbles like a volcano, it means it's
working as planned. Flush with a gallon of boiling water.
Deodorize dry carpets by sprinkling
liberally with baking soda. Wait at least 15 minutes, then
vacuum.
To clean your silver, boil two to three
inches of water in a shallow pan with one teaspoon of salt,
one teaspoon of baking soda, and a sheet of aluminum foil.
Totally submerge silver and boil for two to three minutes
more. Remove silver from the pan and wipe away the tarnish
with a clean cotton cloth.
Easy-Breezy DIY Cleaning Recipes
Greatist.com’s recipe list13
is well worth printing out or bookmarking for future reference,
as it covers virtually every cleaning situation you can think
of. Here are a few of my favorite tips from that list. For the
rest, please refer to the original article:
Bathroom
Kitchen
Laundry
Multi-purpose
Deodorizing toilet scrub: Pour ½ cup of
baking soda and about 10 drops of tea tree essential oil
into the toilet bowl, followed by ¼ cup of vinegar.
Scrub with toilet brush.
All-purpose countertop cleaner: Mix
equal parts vinegar and water. Spray on and wipe off.
For stone counters, use rubbing alcohol or vodka with
water instead, as the acidity may harm certain surfaces
like marble and granite.
Homemade laundry detergent: My Healthy
Green Family14
offers a borax- and chemical-free laundry detergent
recipe using just five non-toxic ingredients: glycerine
soap, washing soda, baking soda, citric acid, and coarse
salt.
For full instructions, please see the original source.15
Non-toxic tile floor cleaner: For tile
floors, mix one part white vinegar with two parts warm
water in a bucket.
Scrub as usual, using either a mop or rag. No need to
rinse.
Beware that vinegar is not recommended for either
varnished wood or other wood flooring.
Tub and shower scrub: Combat mildew by
spraying straight white vinegar onto the area. Let sit
for 30 minutes. Scrub with sponge if needed, and rinse
with warm water.
For more heavy-duty grime, mix baking soda with a small
amount of liquid castile soap. Scrub and rinse.
Soap scum can also be cleaned using a small dollop of
coconut oil on a damp cloth. Spray the area with white
vinegar and wipe dry with a lint-free cloth.
Cutting board sanitizer (wood or
plastic): Cut a fresh lemon in half and rub it across
the surface in question. Let the juice sit for 10
minutes, then rinse.
You can also use
coconut oil to clean, sanitize, and condition your
wooden cutting board. Use whenever the wood starts to
look dry.
Homemade fabric softener: Add 20-30
drops of essential oil to a one-gallon jug of white
vinegar.
Add 1/3 cup to each load of laundry. (Shake before use.)
All-purpose mirror and window cleaner:
Mix one part white vinegar with four parts water.
Add lemon juice for a citrusy smell. Lemon juice will
also provide extra grease-cutting power.
Spray onto the mirror or window, and scrub off with
sponge or rag.
Antibacterial disinfectant: Bathrooms
are breeding grounds for germs of all kinds, but
antibacterial products such as those containing
triclosan can do more harm than good.
For a homemade antibacterial solution, mix two cups of
water with three tablespoons of castile soap and 20-30
drops of tea tree oil.
Spray onto the surface (such as toilet seat and sink),
then wipe off.
Homemade dishwasher detergent: Mix
equal parts of liquid castile soap and water. You can
add lemon if you like.
Use about two teaspoons of lemon juice to a mixture of
one cup water and one cup soap. Store in a glass jar.
Pour the mixture into the detergent compartment in your
dishwasher, and add plain white vinegar to the rinse
compartment.
Non-toxic fabric freshener/dryer sheets:
Stuff a sachet bag with dried herbs of your choice and
use in lieu of commercial fabric fresheners sheets.
Another option is to dab a few drops of essential oil on
a lint-free rag.
Both are, of course, reusable. Simply add new herbs, or
a few more drops of essential oil when you feel it’s
losing its scent.
Conditioning furniture polish: Combine
¼ cup vinegar with ¾ cup olive oil. Distribute onto the
furniture using a soft, lint-free cloth, and wipe off.
For wood furniture, mix ¼ cup lemon juice with ½ cup
olive oil, then follow the same procedure as above.
Alternatively, you can just use straight coconut oil in
the same manner.
In all situations, test your mixture on a small area
first.
9 Ways Coconut Oil Can Help You Spruce Up Your Home
Coconut oil is another extremely useful household staple that
can replace countless commercial products. It’s particularly
useful for cleaning, sanitizing and conditioning wood items,
such as cutting boards and furniture, which I mentioned above.
But it can also be used for a number of other household tasks
typically relegated to more costly, and potentially toxic,
alternatives. Personally, I use it regularly on my wood cutting
board to keep it from drying out and warping.
Additionally, it’s one of those basic staples that can
replace many, if not most, personal care and beauty products.
For more details on this, please see my previous article “Countless
Uses for Coconut Oil – The Simple, the Strange, and the
Downright Odd.” Following are several practical uses for
this fantastic oil, which has natural antibacterial and
antiviral activity in addition to providing exceptional
hydration and conditioning to a wide variety of materials,
including wood, leather, and metals:
1. Use as a metal polish. Make sure to test a small area
first.
2. Moisturize and soften leather goods as you would
using other leather conditioners.
3. Season your cast iron pots and pans16
using coconut oil in lieu of lard or corn oil.
4. Lubricate squeaky hinges and sticky mechanisms with
coconut oil instead of WD-40.
5. Clean your hands and paint brushes with coconut oil
after using oil-based paints, in lieu of mineral
spirits.
6. Clean and condition the inside of your car by adding
a small amount to a soft lint-free cloth. Rub in and
wipe off excess.
7. Cleanse and add a glossy finish to indoor plants by
wiping the leaves with a small amount of coconut oil on
a lint-free cloth.
8. Remove chewing gum from virtually any area, including
carpets and hair.
Step Into Spring—Clean and Toxin-Free
Don't be fooled by the shady “green” marketing, or by
ingredients that are purposely left off of labels. The toxic
chemicals listed above are found in a wide variety of everyday
cleaners and detergents and pose a significant health risk. We
are starting to see that now with increased and unexplained
cancers, increased infertility and difficulty in reproduction,
exploding neurological disorders, ADHD, and autism in our
children.
These diseases are thought by many to be linked to
environmental causes. And many of the toxic ingredients in
cleaning products are among the suspected culprits. Fortunately,
as you can see there’s no shortage of alternatives, and the
basic ingredients will typically end up costing mere pennies on
the dollar compared to store-bought brands.
Copyright 1997- 2014 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.