25th July 2019 / Prue Fletcher: Healthy Cleaning Alternatives

Winter is nearly over, (well, not quite, just wishful thinking), and with it comes that time of the year when everyone gets ready to give their home a good old fashioned Spring clean.

With more and more information surfacing about the harmful effects that indoor pollutants have on our bodies, I urge you to think twice before 'reaching for the bleach'. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists indoor air pollution as one of the leading environmental hazards, with much of this pollution being a direct result of household cleaning products.

The immediate effects of exposure to indoor pollutants vary but are known to include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as an increase in reporting of respiratory related illnesses such as asthma symptoms.

It's the longterm effects that are more concerning, with Fortune.com reporting a '20-year longitudinal study conducted by scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway found that the use of cleaning products can be as harmful as smoking 20 cigarettes a day'.

With more studies like this surfacing more regularly, the EPA strongly recommends that 'every household works towards improving the air quality in their home, regardless of whether symptoms are currently present'.

I encourage you to start small and start somewhere; so to help, here is a list of some natural alternatives which will get you on your way to cleaner homes and a healthier future.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a pantry staple with proven virus-killing abilities that also effectively cleans and deodorises, brightens, and cuts through grease and grime. Mixed with vinegar, it's a force on even the toughest appliances (dishwashers, drains, washing machines).

Vinegar

My favourite! Thanks to its acidity, vinegar is nothing short of a cleaning wizard, and does so both gently and effectively! This powerful liquid eliminates grease, soap scum, dirt and grime, leaving a fresh smell in its wake.

Castile Soap

Castile soap is a style of soap that's made from 100 percent plant oils (meaning it uses no animal products or chemical detergents). Popularised by the Dr. Bronner's line of products, Castile Soap can be used on the body, in the home (think rinsing pesticides off vegetables) and for pets!

Lemon Juice

Natural lemon juice is a great household cleaner. Highly acidic, it can cut through both mildew and mould, yet still remaining gentle on most surfaces. A great shiner of stainless steel and a powerful microwave cleaner; it is the perfect natural inclusion to any kitchen.

Olive Oil

This good-for-you cooking oil also works as a cleaner and is perfect for polishing wooden chopping boards or knife blocks.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have gained huge popularity thanks to the do TERRA craze. These naturally occurring plant compounds also make great scent additions to homemade cleaning products (particularly if you're not into the smell of vinegar).

Essential oils are generally considered safe, but can trigger allergies and other reactions if not used correctly, so always follow their guidelines and keep this in mind when choosing your scents.

• Lemon - antiviral, antibacterial
• Tea Tree - a great disinfectant; helps fights germs, bacteria and viruses
• Rosemary - antibacterial, antiseptic
• Wild Orange - great against grease
• Lavender - a great scent, also naturally antibacterial
• Eucalyptus - a great toilet disinfectant and floor cleaner, as well as the more common use as an expectorant (it helps coughs by loosening phlegm)

With an increasing awareness of the connection between cleaning product use and direct health related issues, ensuring we teach the next generation to choose wisely when it comes to healthy cleaning alternatives is a space we should all invest some time in.

Happy, and healthy, Spring cleaning to you all!