How to make ecological cleaners at home
Most of the charming advertisements promoting the virtue of detergents and house-cleaners are deceptive, if you think about the effects these products have on your health and on the environment that surrounds you!
According to several studies conducted in the U.S. and other European centers, environmental impact of domestic pollution is an alarming danger. The toxic waste of aggressive cleaning chemicals such as sprays, deodorants, anti-scale and bleaches, contaminate land, water and the sky threatening the global ecosystem.
We must also not forget that our skin readily absorbs the substances with which it comes in contact. The chemical components of products for the domestic hygiene can affect our immune system, causing sensitization, allergies, intolerance and sometimes more serious diseases such as asthma and neoplasm. We can follow our grandmothers’ know- how on how to clean our house in an environmentally friendly manner: ecological cleaners are easy to prepare and effective enough.
FOCUS: How to clean the bathroom in an environmentally friendly manner
First of all you have to get rid of all the superfluous products; you do not need 100 different products for household cleaning. To keep a house ecologically clean, just use common products such as baking soda, vinegar, hot water with which you can dilute almost anything.
Bicarbonate is the basic ingredient and has very efficient cleansing efficiency. It can work as a disinfectant and a deodorizer. You can use it diluted in hot water, in a spray bottle. If necessary you can add a bit of vinegar to make this solution even more sanitary. Vinegar is an excellent anti-bacterial agent. It is a good cleanser and a mild disinfectant.
Strange as it may seem, hot water enhances the action of any detergent and is itself an excellent cleanser. To clean floors, you can just use hot water by itself frequently, or with a tablespoon of washing soda diluted in 5 liters of water, or with a cup of vinegar diluted in 5 liters of water.
For their antiseptic and disinfectant properties and as well as for their fragrance, essential oils are also useful. To disinfect you can use citrus oils, lavender, thyme, tea tree, sage, oregano, cinnamon, eucalyptus, clove and juniper.
The loofah sponge is a vegetable that can be grown at home – and it is renewable . It belongs to the family of cucurbits (pumpkins), excellent for cleaning every surface of furniture and your body as well. If you alternate the use of the different ingredients, the cleaning and sanitizing action will be more effective.
The use of microfiber cloths is also recommended. These cloths scrub off dirt, and are very useful and environmentally friendly for all cleaning purposes. If the stain is already dry, you can try brushing it without detergents. Otherwise, wet the stain with vinegar first, thus making it easier to remove. You can buy microfiber cloth at the supermarket in the department of sponges for domestic use. It is important to buy good quality cloth: this is a safe investment because it can easily be washed and it lasts really long. One trick is to always use protective gloves while cleaning because any substance with which we come in contact, tends to accumulate in our bodies through the skin.
Making your own ecological cleaners and detergents is a feasible practice. It is less expensive than the purchase of commercially produced chemical detergents. You don’t need to waste too much time or put too much effort. But you will get satisfaction in terms of eco-consciousness. So let’s protect our health and living environment starting from the ecology of our homes and don’t forget that also the sun has anti-bacterial properties: before you store your duvets for the winter, let them “sunbathe” on your balcony !
More from Whatagreenlife!:
