| |
| |
|
WebsiteAlways |
|
Spring Cleaning with Nontoxic Cleaners
Spring cleaning goes beyond normal everyday cleaning. It's a major project of home revitalization: to make everything new by removing dust and dirt, to make sure everything is in good repair, and to put things in order, so that you will have everything in your household in working condition for the coming year. Here are some tasks that are traditionally included in a major spring cleaning: * Put away winter clothes and take out spring and summer clothing. * Sweep and vacuum floors, walls, and corners. * Wash floors and carpets? * Clean window panes, sills, and frames. Replace thick winter curtains that keep heat in with light summer curtains that allow breezes through. Remove storm windows, hang up screens. * Brush or vacuum stuffed furniture and remove spots. * Wash every surface in every room that has accumulated dust or grime. I like to finish a spring cleaning by bringing in loads of spring flowers and placing them in vases in every room. USE NONTOXIC & NATURAL CLEANERS With so much cleaning going on, I always make sure to use cleaning products that are simple, safe, and eco-friendly. When choosing a cleaning product for a specific job, I use the least-toxic, most-effective product, in the smallest effective amount. Cleaning products are the only household products regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission under the 1960 Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act, which requires products that contain hazardous chemicals to carry warning labels. In general, it is best to avoid using products that say "Danger," "Poison," or "Warning," on the label. Many safer products carry the "Caution" label, even though they are acceptable to use. Fortunately, the least toxic products voluntarily disclose their complete ingredients on the label, so you can determine for yourself the safety of the product. There are even cleaning products now made with organically-grown ingredients. Nontoxic cleaning actually requires very few specialized ingredients. I do all of my cleaning with a squirt bottle of fifty-fifty distilled white vinegar and water, liquid soap, and baking soda. For laundry I use a natural soap powder and chlorine-free oxygen bleach. Other substances I have on hand for occasional cleaning needs are salt, lemon juice, borax, and chlorine-free Bon Ami scouring powder. SIMPLIFY YOUR CLEANING While scrubbing away at your spring cleaning, there are two things you can resolve to do in the coming year that will make cleaning easier. These will also reduce the amount of cleaning products you use, saving resources and money. But the most important thing to me is that they save time and reduce the amount of cleaning needed. First, I incorporate preventive maintenance. I put a cookie sheet on the rack under a casserole that is likely to spill over, for example, which pre-empts the need to scour baked on food from the oven. If the casserole spills, the cookie sheet can be effortlessly soaked clean in a few inches of water in the kitchen sink. I also keep in mind the adage "A stitch in time saves nine," which means if you take that first stitch to fix the tear before it gets bigger, you'll save having to make nine stitches later. In cleaning, this translates to wiping up the spill when it happens, cleaning surfaces before they are caked with dust and grease, just cleaning as you go while there's not much to clean. It's only when we don't clean that we may need harsh chemicals to tackle what would have been an easy job earlier. "Clean your room well," say the Shakers, "for good spirits will not live where there is dirt." Find nontoxic, natural and earthwise cleaning products at http://www.debraslist.com/cleaning. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a consumer advocate for products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the environment since 1982. Visit her website for 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products, and to sign up for her free email newsletters. http://www.dld123.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Alternative - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Natural Prevention & Treatment For The Flu: What Your Doctor May Not Know Flu can affect 10 to 30 percent of the U.S. Magnetic Therapy: The Facts (and Some Myths) Is magnet therapy regarded yet as a mainstream therapy? I consider it is not and through this series of articles I hope to raise awareness by examining a number of issues that have stood in the way of mass acceptance.There is a useful parallel to be drawn between magnetic therapy and acupuncture. Aromatherapy Although the word aromatherapy has not been around forever, the use of plants, herbs, fruits and flowers for healing have been centuries long. Aromatherapy is still being researched today for it's wide variety of uses, including the healing effects that is has on the body. Constipation Remedy Using Apples and Other Juices Here are two constipation remedies that you can use for a mild case of constipation and for a chronic case of constipation.Apple and Pear JuiceIf you have a mild case of constipation, you can use this remedy to get results. Tea Tree Oil Tea Tree Oil is one of the most useful products in nature. It has been used by some Aboriginal People in Australia for many centuries as one of their most useful medicines. Allergies: Why Do You Have Them? Next time you reach for your Claritin, think about this:Allergies are totally abnormal. Sure, tons of people have them. The Benefits of Drinking Mangosteen (XanGo) Benefits of Drinking XanGo:The Mangosteen fruit (XanGo's main ingredient) is unique because of its antioxidants and Xanthones. 43 Xanthones have been found thus far in the Mangosteen. Stage Hypnosis Vs Hypnotherapy - Understanding The Difference We've all seen them, right? The stage hypnotist, who makes his subjects cluck like chickens. But comparing a stage hypnotist to a hypnotherapist is like comparing a karaoke singer to Celine Dion! They are just not in the same league!Most people believe that stage hypnotists "make" their subjects do things that they don't want to do. 1st Textbook on Sleep Psychiatry An informative textbook confirming a newly established field: Sleep PsychiatryBook Review by Nikos M. Linardakis, M. Serotonin Kills Pain - And May Be Available From Your Subconscious Serotonin is not just for depression--it's potent for pain relief as well. Here's a drug-free way you may be able to increase your supply of this natural painkiller. Boost Self Confidence Through Hypnotherapy What is self confidence and how do you get it? The compact oxford english dictionary is simple in its definition: "a feeling of trust in one's abilities, qualities, and judgment". A positive sense of self confidence is more than just believing in you. Athlete Foot Remedies Athlete foot is a common skin infection that is caused by a fungus. The medical term for foot fungus is tinea pedis. The Subconscious Mind As Teacher: Why It Can Help You Relieve Your Pain Many disciplines are designed to program the subconscious. But except for the method used to derive visualization statements, no technique honors the subconscious as a teacher by first asking it what it believes will work. Demystifying Hands On Healing While hands-on healing is probably the easiest of skills to learn, it is also one of the most misunderstood of subjects. In this article, I thought to cover some of the basic elements of hands-on healing and one of my attempts to validate its effectiveness. Three Tips for Arthritis Pain Relief Massage -not the areas that hurtSome experts think that arthritic conditions or pain conditions in general aggravate and flare up trigger points, and that one can get additional relief to arthritis symptoms trough self massage.The idea is not to massage the area where it hurts, but to find pressure tender areas in your muscles near the actual pain area, and massage them instead. Dangers of Dehydration - And The Importance of Kidney Cleansing The human body is composed of 75 percent water and 25 percent solid matter. To provide nourishment, eliminate waste and regulate all the functions in the body, we need water. Healing and Transformation Every symptom has a certain way of being with which it is associated. In order to release a symptom, one must release the way of being associated with it. Home Remedies Ever have a bee sting? Try rubbing an aspirin on it. Gum in hair? Soak the gum-coated hair in Coke and it should wipe out easily. Full Spectrum Daylight Bulbs - Simply Light Years Ahead! Sunlight is a vital nutrient, which regulates the activity of the hypothalamus gland that secretes seratonin, controlling our moods, biorythms, sleep patterns, body temperature, digestion and sex drive. In addition, the photochemical action of sunlight on our skin activates the production of vital Vitamin D essential for growth and maturation of cells, the maintenance of the bones and a healthy immune system. Herbs Can Heal You or Save Your Life A historyHerbs have been used for hundreds of years before Christ. Perhaps since the time humans first began to roam the earth.
|
| Interesting articles | Home | site map | Link |
| © 2006 |
