The average American home contains more than 1,000 different chemicals? And over 150 of the chemicals commonly found in homes have been linked to many diseases.
Consider these scary statistics:
•There are more than 3 million chemical poisonings every year. Household cleaners are the number one cause of poisoning of children.
•The EPA has reported that nearly 30 cancer-causing chemicals from household cleaners were detectable in the fat tissues of literally every American today.
•Toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution. (EPA)
•Most homes have airborne concentrations of hazardous chemicals that are three to 70 times higher indoors than outdoors. (EPA)
•Women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside of the home. The higher death rate is believed to be due to daily exposure to chemicals found in ordinary household products. (Toronto Indoor Air Commission)
•In the past 14 years, there has been a 75% increase in asthma; 29% for men; 71% for women. The higher rate for women is believed to be due to women’s longer exposure times to household chemicals. (Center for Disease Control)
Source: smallfootprintfamily.com
There are 3 major ways to drastically reduce the amount of chemicals:
•Replace processed food with whole food
•Replace chemical-laden personal care and beauty products with products made with natural or food-based ingredients
•Replace chemical cleaning products with natural and homemade cleaning products
If you plan to make your own house cleaners, there are some basic ingredients you will need:
•Baking Soda
•White Vinegar
•Lemon juice
•Hydrogen peroxide
•Borax
•Essential oils, like tea tree oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, or lemongrass oil
•Castile soap
•Fresh herbs, citrus, or citrus peels
•Olive or vegetable oil
•Water
•Rubbing alcohol
•Washing soda
The combination of these ingredients will make you almost all of the recipes for cleaning purpose, some recommended recipes:
1. All-Purpose Cleaner
•1/2 teaspoon of washing soda
•2 teaspoons of borax
•1/2 teaspoon of plant-based liquid soap
•two cups of hot water
Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well.
2. Glass and mirror cleaner
•1 teaspoon dish soap
•½ cup white vinegar
•3 cups distilled water
Place all ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray directly onto windows and mirrors.
3. Disinfecting Cleaner
•2 teaspoons borax
•1/4 teaspoon plant-based liquid soap
•4 tablespoons white vinegar
•3 cups hot water
Combine all of them in a spray bottle.
4. Oven Cleaner
•1 cup baking soda
•1/4 cup of washing soda
Mix with enough water to make a paste. Apply to oven surfaces and let sit overnight. Wipe and rinse.
5. Floor Cleaner
•1/4 cup washing soda
•1 tablespoon of liquid soap
•6 tablespoons of cornstarch
•1/4 cup white vinegar
• 2 gallons of hot water
Mix ingredients above on linoleum and other no-wax floors. For wood floors, use 1 cup of vinegar in a bucket of hot water.
6. Disinfecting wipes
•1 cup water
•2 Tbsp white vinegar
•1/2 Tbsp Natural Dish Soap
•8-10 drops lemon essential oil
Combine everything in a spray bottle.
7. Bathroom powder scrub
•1 cup borax
•1 cup baking soda
•½ cup sea salt
•6 drops essential oils for fragrance, optional
Mix dry ingredients. Add essential oils for fragrance, if desired. Store in a shaker container, like an empty cheese container.
Apply using a sponge or scrubby. Disinfect sponges after each use by microwaving wet sponges two to three minutes.
Sources:
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