adminThe first day of Spring has recently passed and may have inspired you to do some cleaning. The winter in Toronto has been very cold and the Spring has been off to a cold, cloudy and dreary start.
The cleaning products that are available in the stores are full of chemicals. Canada does not have requirements for manufacturing companies to detail the health hazards associated with the chemicals in household cleaners.These chemicals enter our bodies through ingestion and inhaling the dust of dried chemical residue or absorption through our skin. Depending on the chemical, an individual can potentially develop reproductive problems, liver and kidney damage. Some chemicals can also induce allergies, migraines, or asthma
An alternative is to make your own homemade cleaners. This will help you avoid the chemicals found in conventional cleaners and it will save you money.
Window cleaner
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup water
1) Mix the water and vinegar together in a spray bottle. The water to vinegar ratio is 50/50 so you can make more or less depending on your needs. Spray the surface and wipe down with newspaper or old T-shirts. This mixture has a tendency to leave streaks if you wipe with a paper towel.
Floor Cleaner, adapted from this site
- 7 Liters of hot water (approximately 2 gallons)
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup washing baking soda*
- 1 tbsp liquid dish soap
- A few drops of essential oils (optional but I enjoy the smell and can have an added antibacterial effect.)
1) Sweep floors to be cleaned. Mix everything together and mop your floor. There is no need to wipe down the floors once cleaned.
*Note: I’ve had success with regular baking soda but you might want to try making it into washing baking soda by following this
Toilet Bowl cleaner
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup baking soda
1) Pour the vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit for 30 minutes.
2) Dip your toilet brush into the water in the toilet bowl and attempt to coat the bowl in the vinegar and water mixture. Using your toilet brush, dip it into the the toilet and run it along the toilet bowl in an attempt to coat the bowl in a vinegar water mixture.
3) Remove the toilet brush and sprinkle baking soda onto the brush. Scour the inside of the toilet bowl with the brush. Repeat sprinkling the brush with baking soda until you no longer have any baking soda left.
Reference:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/the-dirt-on-toxic-chemicals-in-household-cleaning-products/