Trevors Top Tips
Household cleaning
products are expensive, and concerns are rising about the chemicals
they contain, which can be harmful to the environment.
Regular cleaning products
Although they do the job, some ingredients in regular cleaning
products can cause headaches, skin rashes and respiratory problems.
A recent study found that children exposed to every day cleaning
products like air fresheners and bleach whilst in the womb or as
new born babies, had a 41 per cent risk increase of wheezing,
having asthma or low lung function.
If you are looking for alternatives to chemical household
cleaning products that can do the same job, here are some ideas.
Many are very simple solutions and chances are you’ve got half of
the ingredients in your cupboards already.
1) Surface cleaner
You can eradicate a lot of germs simply by changing their PH
level and so using an acid or an alkaline on them. A general all
purpose cleaning mix for all surfaces is:
- 4 litres of hot water
- ½ lemon juice
- ¼ cup of vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of baking powder
Simply use a cloth and wipe your surfaces clean. This mixture
will get the shine into your bathroom tiles better than any
corrosive bleach.
2) Dishwasher powder
Phosphates are found in dishwashing detergents and are more
harmful to the environment if released into it. They can cause
algae to grow in lakes and ponds which are harmful to the life
within them.
A natural dishwashing detergent is easily made:
Measure a large amount of borax (the natural mineral found
within many detergents) in a Tupperware box
Measure an equal amount of baking soda (or Bicarbonate of Soda)
and mix into the borax.
Simply fill the dishwasher compartment as you normally
would.
If you would like pleasant smell and shine to your cutlery,
simply add a little citric acid each time you put a new load
on.
You can buy great big tubs of both borax and bicarbonate of soda
at Wilkinsons or Boots. Citric acid can usually also be found at
Wilkinsons and most chemists.
3) Silver polish
Polishing your family heirlooms can be less abrasive with just a
cloth and some toothpaste.
4) Air fresheners
Air fresheners can often cause headaches and breathing problems
so they are definitely best avoided.
Spray bottles will be your best buy for a chemical-free
existence. Fill them with water and add a few drops of an essential
oil – lavender, tee tree, vanilla – and spray away.
Bicarbonate of soda is a wonderful remedy for most household
problems, and because it’s a powder it’s very absorbent. Simply try
putting a bowl of it near a whiffy area and it’ll soak it right
up.
Another home remedy you might try is simply bringing a plant
into your house. NASA research found that in 24 hours, a spider
plant can rid your room of 90 per cent of its airborne toxins, so
no more need for de-humidifiers, which are damaging to the
skin.
Chop up your favourite fruit (mangos, oranges, lemons etc.) put
them into saucepan and cover with water. Then put them on to gently
simmer while you go about your day and let the aroma wash over you.
Afterwards you can either use it to make a natural fruit tea or add
it to compost.
5) Washing powder
Eco-laundry balls mean you need neither detergent nor fabric
softener and they last up to three years. The balls work by
producing ionised oxygen into the water, which allows the water
molecules to then delve deep and lift the dirt out of your clothes.
They eliminate any allergic reactions you or your family may have
to detergents and any need for fabric softener because they soften
the water as they wash.
Prices vary between companies, and are widely available
online.
6) Stain removal
An alternative to the chemical-ridden stain removers is to
simply soak your clothes in lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda or
white vinegar.
7) Window cleaner
Simply use some vinegar and warm water with newspaper and your
windows will be gleaming.