Keep the green in clean

Margaret Durrand says
goodbye to all those
chemical cleaners

There’s a certain element of pride attached to having a clean house. Your home reflects on you and can be seen as an extension of your own style. Nobody wants a dirty home, but did you know that common household cleaning products are causing untold damage to the environment?

Cleaning agents, such as phosphates and chlorine found in detergents, formaldehyde and phthalates found in furniture polish and solvents found in many cleaning products, make their way into the soil, earth and water through the sink and toilet drains. Alarmingly, the packaging from these products also contains traces of these toxins that make their way into the environment during the waste disposal process. The toxins proceed to pollute water and air, killing aquatic life and causing damage to humans, animals and plants that come into contact with the affected elements. Similarly, pesticides used in the treatment of wooden furniture and in domestic gardening can damage water and soil. Frighteningly, there is also evidence to suggest that the very use of common household products can damage health. For example, disinfectant products containing amine-based ingredients, such as ammonium chloride, in addition to products with limonene or pinene used to create lemon and pine scents, can all aggravate asthma.

Luckily, there is a growing number of cleaning products available on the market that can help you to clean with confidence and a clear conscience. Some reputable brands include Bio Logic, Ecover and Natural House whose product ranges include kitchen cleaner, hand soap and laundry detergent. Ecover is available from all major supermarkets and health food stores as well as selling direct. You can order a wide variety of proven products online from a variety of manufacturers such as www.soorganic.com and www.sonett.co.uk and have them delivered direct to your home. As all the ingredients for these products are natural and readily available, you could very easily and quickly make your own. Seems like hard work? It’s actually easier than you could imagine, just take a look at the boxes for a shopping list and recipes for natural cleaners… even products that have been around long before the green movement are getting in on the act. Persil has produced Small & Mighty, which uses less carbon, and OxiClean stain remover is 100% chlorine and dye-free.

Furniture is not exactly an everyday expense, but the decisions you make can affect your life. Pesticides and chemicals used to treat wood and make glue for furniture are potentially hazardous to humans and some chemicals such as formaldehyde have even been found to have carcinogenic effects. So, the next time you go shopping for anything for your home, from a sofa to a bed to home furnishings, it is worth taking the time to buy organic. Untreated wood and pieces manufactured in a traditional way using sustainable material are the best options. There is a wide range of organic home furniture available from www.chestofdrawers.co.uk while www.organicfurniture.co.uk provides bespoke pieces of garden furniture made in the traditional way from solid Sussex oak.

While organic wood is good, bamboo is emerging as a wise and sustainable choice for your home and garden. Bamboo is one of the world’s most prolific and fastest-growing plants and is able to reach maturity in about four years, compared to the typical 25 to 70 years for commercial tree species. Why choose bamboo? It is nature’s most sustainable resource, is grown without pesticides or chemicals, is 100% biodegradeable, and naturally regenerative, and with the latest innovations for fashioning it into furniture, it looks pretty good too!

So, whether you’re polishing the coffee table or replacing the sofa, have a think about the difference a natural choice can make.

Recipes for natural cleaners

• For kitchen floors: Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with 1-gallon hot water in a bucket. This is safe for hardwood, linoleum, tile, and any washable surface.
• Washing dishes? Put 3/4 with water and 1/4 with lemon juice in a small spray bottle. Lemon juice is the main ingredient in dishwashing detergent because it is an excellent grease fighter.
• For an effective glass cleaner, go old school… Put 1-2 tablespoons of white vinegar mixed with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle.
Trouble seeing yourself in the mirror? Dab on a little rubbing alcohol and wipe with a linen rag.
• For clean, bright carpets sprinkle 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cornstarch (depending on the size of your rug or carpet), let it sit for 15-30 minutes, and then vacuum.
• Cutting board worries? Wipe them with vinegar, baking soda or lemon slices. This also works on countertops.
• For clean ovens mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon salt, and add 1/2 cup hot water. Make a gritty paste, apply to the oven, heat slightly, cool and then wipe away with a damp rag.