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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Spring Cleaning Workshop

In case you have not noticed from the change in weather the month of March is always associated with the season of Spring. In North America the first day of the Spring season was yesterday afternoon (March 20th).

There are two events that everyone seems to take part in at this time of the year. The first is the changing of their clocks; remember Spring Forward one hour and the second is the Spring Cleaning of their homes.

Natural, Green, Eco-friendly, Botanical… You will find these words on many product labels. But in fact, there are no legal definitions for these words. Often manufacturers of hazardous products dress up their containers with pretty pictures of flowers and fruit to play on our desire for more natural products.

Some companies will list ingredients as being derived from plants, like coconut or corn. But the plant may have gone through so many chemical processes, sometimes involving toxic solvents, that the resulting ingredient bears little resemblance to the original plant material. Natural is not always non-toxic. Some natural ingredients can have harmful effects.

It’s important to know how to read a label. Note: Ingredient lists may not contain all ingredients. On some product only the “active” ingredients, those whose primary purpose is to achieve the main objective of the product, may be listed. Other ingredients which may have harmful health effects may not be listed at all. In Canada, manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on labels of personal care products or household cleaning products.

Many ingredients in household cleaning products become airborne and become part of the air we breathe at home, at work and in schools. Any substance which is airborne can have an impact through inhalation. Some substances are volatile in any state, others become airborne when heat is applied, and still others become airborne when used as sprays. Aerosol sprays are of particular concern, as the particles they produce are very small.

Chemicals can become airborne either as tiny particles, as gases or as vapours. Inhalation of particles depends upon their size and shape; the smaller the particle, the further into the respiratory tract it can penetrate.
Many of the products used to clean homes include ingredients that are harmful to people and the environment. Choosing less toxic cleaners does not have to be expensive. Using ingredients that are in most people’s homes already can be a safe, inexpensive and effective way to clean all areas of the home; and they can be easily made.

Safe Cleaning Ingredients
• Baking soda – Is an odor absorber and a mild abrasive. Can also be sprinkled on carpets just before vacuuming to remove odors.
• Lemons or lemon juice found in most kitchens, the strong citrus scent is great at removing odors.
• Vinegar – Will remove grease, soap scum and mineral deposits and also acts as a deodorizer. Can be used effectively on windows and mirrors. Be sure to use white, distilled vinegar.

An All Purpose Cleaner
Mix ingredients in a spray bottle to clean counter tops, floors, walls or carpet.
• ½ cup of vinegar and 1 cup to 1 quart of warm water. A Litre of vinegar only costs $1.99.
• Dissolve 4 Tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of warm water.

Laundry
Instead of fabric softener, use ½ cup of baking soda in the rinse cycle. Or one to two cups of vinegar in the rinse cycle will also soften and deodorize fabrics. You can use a piece of aluminum foil in the dryer to help remove static cling. Equal Parts vinegar and water can be used to remove tough stains such as grass, perspiration, rust, coffee, wine, beer or pet stains among others.

Carpet Cleaner.
Carpet cleaners can contain perchloroethylene, a known human carcinogen which can have immediate central nervous system (CNS) effects including dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, tremors and disorientation as well as long term CNS effects. Carpet cleaners may also include butyl cellosolve, a central nervous system toxin, propylene glycol methyl ether which is an eye, skin and respiratory irritant, and they may also include detergents which can irritate skin.

A homemade alternative may include: Mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours then vacuum. You can ask commercial carpet cleaning companies to clean using only water and baking soda, steam, or club soda. Chem-Dry Cleaners in the Halifax area uses less toxic cleaning solutions for carpets and upholstery.

Note: Baking soda removes odours from your refrigerator but it will also soak up odours from your carpet. You can sprinkle a little on before vacuuming.

Air Freshener:
Far from freshening air, chemical-based air fresheners and deodorizers add dangerous chemicals to the air we breathe. Air fresheners work by using a nerve-deadening chemical that interferes with our sense of smell, by coating nasal passage with an oily film, by masking an offending odour with a different odour, or by deactivating the odour.

Some solid deodorizers include the pesticide paradichlorobenzene, a carcinogen which can also cause liver and kidney damage. Aerosol air fresheners release chemicals as tiny particles which can be inhaled deeply into lungs and transferred into the blood stream. Plug in air fresheners break chemicals into even smaller particles.The key to freshening air is to remove or dilute the offending odor (by cleaning, ventilation or absorption), not to cover it with another chemical.

Some alternatives may include:
• Baking soda in an open container will absorb odours in enclosed spaces.
• Zeolite, a mineral, will absorb odors as well as heavy metals
• Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.
• Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.
• Green leaf plants can also filter interior air

Add a little greenery. Install a living air filter—houseplants! Some of the most efficient air-cleaning houseplants include Spider plants, English ivy, rubber plants, and peace lilies. You’ll need 15 to 18 medium-sized (6 to 8-inch diameter container) houseplants for the average 1,800 square foot house. If that sounds like a lot, place a few plants in the room where you spend the most time.

Dusting:
Removing dust and dust mites is important, as they are a common trigger of allergic reactions. It's important to dust in a way that really removes dust, rather than raising it into the air where it will resettle later.
• Microfibre cloths are excellent for dusting. They are untreated and reusable.
• The soft attachment on a vacuum can be used to remove dust from hard surfaces, the small hard attachment can be used on upholstered furniture, drapes and mattresses. Make sure the vacuum you use doesn't release particle ridden air into the room.
• Dust with a damp lint-free cloth. Or mix 1 teaspoon olive oil with 1/4 cup vinegar and apply with soft cloth.

Glass Cleaners:
Most glass cleaners are made of ammonia, a strong irritant, and coal tar dyes. Aerosol products create small particles which are more likely to be inhaled or irritate eyes. Consumer Reports found plain water to be more effective than half the glass cleaners on the market.

Some home-made alternatives may include:
Eyeglass Cleaner
A microfibre eyeglass cloth and plain water does an excellent streak-free job and eliminates the need for any chemical cleaners.
Window Cleaner II
A half-and-half mixture of water and vinegar poured into a refillable non-aerosol spray bottle.Lemon juice can be substituted for vinegar for those who cannot tolerate vinegar.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl and add vinegar. Let sit for a couple of minutes before cleaning with a toilet brush.
Drain Cleaner
- 125 ml baking soda
- 1 cup white vinegar
- Boiling water
Pour baking soda down the drain and follow with vinegar. Cover the drain. A few minutes later, pour boiling water down the drain to clear.

Ditch the paper towels. Save trees, cash and landfill waste. You can buy specially-made, washable cleaning and dusting cloths (in all types of fabrics from cotton to microfiber). But better yet? Use what you already have and give an old piece of cloth (stained towels, ratty sheets and pillowcases, too-small T-shirts, etc.) a new life. Simply cut or tear your old item into smaller squares (if you want to get fancy, finish the edges with a sewing machine), and voila! Pop them in the washing machine with your laundry to clean, and use them again and again.

Cleaning up your home for spring doesn’t have to be dirty work. When you implement some of these ideas and products, you can rest assured that you’re benefiting your body, your home and the planet all at once.

In conclusion I would like to say that Vinegar and baking soda will clean almost everything. If you add warm water you will have an all purpose cleaner. Lemon juice can act as a cleanser as well. Also you should note that if you add a little red die to your vinegar and baking soda you can make a volcano for your kids.

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