Back to GREEN

Alright, I've had enough of this "come and see my show" blog crap, and it's time to write about something serious (not that missing any of my shows isn't a serious error on your part my friends, but I digress ...)

The next step that I am taking in going green in my life is with cleaning products. We can all do tons of simple things to Greenify our lives - walking, biking, reduce, reuse, recycle, don't crank the bloody heat in winter so you're walking around your house in shorts when it's freezing outside - but the one area often overlooked is how we clean our homes day to day.

This is a very serious issue, as harmful cleaning products are not only disastrous for the environment, but they also endanger our health.

I take you to: THE GREEN PAGE by Cheryl Binning and Lidsey Wiebe, from the Wpg Free Press on Sunday, August 19th (once a month the paper prints this "consumer-friendly guide for ecologically minded Manitobans" which is a great way to get tips on how to incorporate green practices into your every-day life - check it out!)

Here are some quotes to fill you in on why I think this is important:

We are bombarded with ads for an ever-increasing assortment of harsh cleaning products that promise to melt dirt away with out scrubbing and wipe out every possible evil bacteria lurking in our kitchens.

Many cleaning products contain corrosive ingredients, petroleum-based chemicals and suspected carcinogens that can build up in our bodies, pollute the air and contaminate waterways.

Studies show that indoor air can be anywhere from two to 11 times more polluted than outdoor air due to toxic compounds.

Many bathroom cleaners and automatic dishwasher detergents contain chlorine bleach, a hazardous air pollutant in its own right, that can react with chemicals in the environment to form dioxin, a hormone disrupter that can build up in our tissues and infect the air.

Ammonia, a common ingredient in household cleaner, is a suspected carcinogen, that stays in the air for up to four hours after being sprayed ...

Jay Boschman, who has spent the last 36 years working as a Manitoba pharmacist, says we should be switching to environmentally friendly cleaning product for the health of our families and for the sake of our lakes and rivers.

The No. 1 toxic product in the home and a potential cancer-causing agent is automatic dishwasher detergent

Phosphates - which are found in automatic dishwasher detergent - have become a cause for concern because of its impact on waterways

"If you think of how many dishwashers there are in Winnipeg alone, it adds up. As individuals we have to take some of the blame and do our part."

One 45 oz bottle of automatic dishwasher detergent contains enough phosphate to produce more than 200 pounds of algae.

So, what can we do to make wiser choices? We have to keep our homes clean somehow, right? Well, you'll be happy to know that there are whole PRODUCT LINES of eco-friendly cleaners available online or right here in Winnipeg! They include:

Citra-Solv (cintra-solv.com), Ecover (ecover.com), Melaleuca Ecosense (melaleuca.com), Method (methodhome.com), Nature Clean (naturecleanliving.com), Norwex (norwex.ca, EatIt.ca), Seventh Generation (seventhgeneration.com.

If you're not an on-line shopper, please visit some great local shops to pick up a number of these products as well as some tasty organic eating delights! (Trust me, you've HAVE forgotten what a real apple tastes like):

Organic Planet (877 Westminster), Aviva (Exchange District), VitaHealth (221 McPhillips), Organza (230 Osborne) EatIt (603 Wall), Humboldt's Legacy (887 Westminster).

Also, if you don't want to brake the bank and buy all new cleaners at once, you can use these great homemade recipes courtesy of Kristle Caliso-Tavares (owner of Inspired Practice):

All-Purpose Cleaner

Mix 1/2 cup pure soap (or soap flakes) with 1/4 cup lemon juice nd 4L of hot water.

Carpet Cleaner

Lightly sprinkle cornstarch and/or baking soda over carpet, rub it in and then vacuum in one hour. Or combine 1/2 cup dish detergent with 600 ml boiling water. Cool, whip into a stiff foam and apply iwht a damp cloth. For tough stains, try cold soda water or blot area with vinegar and soapy water.

Disinfectant

Mix 1 tsp borax, 2 tbs vinegar and 1/4 cup soap with 2 cups hot water.

Drain Cleaner

Pour 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 salt down the drain. Add 1/2 cup vinegar and cover with a stopper. Wait 15 minutes and flush with boiling water.

Dusting Spray

1 tsp olive oil, and 1/2 cup of vinegar applied with a soft cloth.

Floor Cleaner

Combine 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup washing soda and 4 L of warm water. Or try just 1/2 cup vinegar with 4 L of water.

I hope you've found these tips useful and that you're thinking about switching over from the harsh, synthetic products.

I find it interesting that many moms feel the pressure to "super clean" their homes with these products that promise to kill "99.9%" of bacteria, when their kids are hopefully playing outside often and therefore, as soon as they leave the home their going to be "exposed" anyway. It seems a bit ridiculous. I think we need to think about creating a warm home free of synthetic chemicals, as they are far more harmful to the human body, since we can't break them down and they just build up in our systems.

Well, I'm off to Organza today to replace my dishwasher detergent and pick up some Borax. Maybe I'll wait until Monday when my sister brings back the car ... or maybe I'll just take the bus.

Bye for now!