Toxin-Free Cleaning

by Bianca Alexander

Still cleaning your sacred space with toxic cleaning products?

Did you know that most cleaning products are made with poisonous chemicals--like phosphates and pesticides--that are polluting our planet and contributing to global warming? The average cleaner is made with hundreds of toxic chemicals just to give it a "fresh" scent. Traditional cleaners can be lethal to our bodies, and have been linked to health problems like liver failure and even cancer. They're also responsible for between 5-10 million household poisonings per year, most of which are fatal and involve children.

There's no point in cleaning with tools that will beautify your home but dirty up the planet. Instead, spif up your space using a line of eco-friendly cleaning products like Epic, which donates 100% of proceeds to environmental conservation, education and research. Tackle dirt with die-free sponges by Twist, which are made from natural loofah and cellulose sourced from renewable tree farms. For mopping and sweeping, try Quickie's new line of mops and brooms made from sustainable bamboo and natural cotton. And to freshen your home safely, Pure Ayre's all-natural enzyme-based air fresheners break down even the worst odors and are great in your car, for pets, and even the nursery.

Or, make your own all-natural cleaning products at home with lemon, vinegar and baking soda and all-natural essential oils like lemon, tea tree, and lavender. Feel free to use the following recipes as a guide:

For All Surfaces.
Tee tree and lavender have anti-bacterial properties that are great for cleaning countertops. Just mix a few drops of either essential oil with water and spray on kitchen counters or around the bathroom. For large jobs like killing mold and mildew, add about 50 drops into a bucket of water.

For Cleaning Floors.
To clean floors, combine 15 drops of orange essential oil and 8 drops of lemon essential oils, 1 gallon hot water and 2 tablespoons liquid soap. This mixture will work on tough jobs and will leave the room smelling fresh.

To Freshen Carpets.
Here's a simple recipe for a homemade carpet freshener: Mix 4 cups of baking soda or cornstarch in a bowl with 25 drops of essential rosewood oil, 35 drops of eucalyptus oil and 30 drops of lavender oil. Stir well until baking soda clumps are broken apart. Pour into a shaker bottle and sprinkle on carpets about 15 minutes prior to vacuuming. Feel free to substitute this recipe with your favorite essential oils.

For Your Laundry.
Make your own homemade dryer sheets by placing several drops of lavender, rose or your favorite essential oil onto a towel. Add the towel into the dryer along with clothes and dry as you normally would to give your clothes a naturally fresh scent.

To Freshen the Air.
To freshen up the air inside your home, place several drops of your favorite essential oil into a pot of water and simmer the mixture on the stovetop on low heat for several hours. To ensure there's always a fresh scent in the bathroom, squeeze a few drops of essential oil onto the cardboard toilet paper roll that holds the toilet paper. The fragrance will release each time you pull a sheet of paper. Recycled the old roll, then repeat with each new one you hang.

Note: As with all household cleaning and freshening products, remember to keep all essential oils away from your eyes when mixing or cleaning. Also, properly label all products and store them in areas where children or pets won’t have access to them. Although essential oils and natural cleaners are non-toxic, ingestion of excessive quantities can cause sickness.

To watch an eco-friendly home cleaning, or for more tips on sustainable living, watch www.ConsciousLivingTV.com.