There is nothing more frightening than a child making his or her way into your household cleaning supplies. It’s a parent’s worse nightmare! So, I understand how important it is as a mom to find alternative ways to clean my home without jeopardizing the health of my children and family. We are all trying to become more environmentally aware of the dangers of toxins, not only in our home but as it relates to polluting our air, waters, and landscape.

Are your household cleaners safe? If not, here are some measures you can take to make your home a healthier one.

This is what absolutely amazes me … Vinegar, Borax, Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Salt, and Baking Soda are all the ingredients you can use to clean your entire home. They are safe, non-toxic, and can do just as good a job as your more toxic household cleaners.  Simple easily purchased items that can keep your home and children healthy.

I personally struggle with products that contain bleach, I know what that can do to people and the horrible caustic side effects of breathing it in, especially for someone who may be prone to asthma.  My sis and I completely cleared our homes of it when her youngest son started having severe asthma issues.  It’s just not worth it to have such questionable substances in the home.

Let’s begin with windows. Instead of using a popular brand of glass cleaner, use water with vinegar and lemon juice to spray onto your windows. Vinegar can also be used to clean surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom; just add salt and water. If the oven needs to be cleaned, use liquid soap, Borax and warm water. Borax can also be used as a disinfectant in hot water as well as for cleaning toilets.

Polish your furniture with olive oil and lemon juice. You can also use lemon juice to polish copper kettles; just add a bit of salt. For use in the bathroom, use baking soda and warm water. This can also be used to unclog the drain by pouring the baking soda down the drain with a cup of vinegar.

I’d also like to point out that many stores are carrying a wide variety of organic and safe cleaners in it’s own section and I HIGHLY recomment Mrs. Meyer’s products!!!!!

At a time when pollutants are contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer; while gas and oil fumes are literally killing our natural resources; it is time to take a hard look at what we can do as individuals to decrease the toxins from our air and water. Perhaps if we begin to use alternative methods to using brand named household cleaners, we can send a clear and definitive message to these companies that toxins are no longer an acceptable form to be used in any capacity. It all begins with us taking a stand; it all begins at home.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 28th, 2008 at 11:33 pm and is filed under Family, Going Green, House & Home, Life As A Mom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. If this post blessed, encouraged or inspired you, please feel free to "Stumble It" or submit it to kirtsy - Thank you! You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.