No More Toxins: My Switch to All-Natural Cleaning

If you’re like me, you question everything. So, what is in all of my cleaning products? Cleaning products are one of the most dangerous ticking time bombs in your home. Think about it. Almost every conventional cleaning product comes with at least two warning or caution signs, and for good reason. The Association of Poison Control Centers says that inappropriate exposure to many household cleaners can lead to hospitalization. Let’s take a look at just a few.

Ammonia

Skip the bleach and go all natural.

Ammonia is a highly toxic chemical that most people use to clean kitchen floors, bathrooms and windows. Yet this chemical is very volatile and can easily cause damage to the eyes and skin. Ammonia is also harmful if breathed in and could damage the respiratory tract.

Air fresheners

These smell-good chemicals may make your home smell like crisp, clean laundry, but they could be slowly poisoning your family. Most traditional air fresheners use a chemical to deaden nerves in your nasal passages (methoxychlor). Many air fresheners also use formaldehyde (a cancer-causing chemical) and phenol (a highly toxic chemical that can burn the skin).

Bleach

Bleach has been marketed as every mom’s best friend, when in reality it is one of the most toxic, carcinogen chemicals you could use. Besides harming the skin, eyes, respiratory tract and your overall health, it is horrible for the environment, especially because most of it ends up in the water system.

As for my family, we experimented with making our own homemade cleaners and had some success, but the time it took to make them was not worth it. We researched companies that have been making all-natural, nontoxic cleaners for a long time. We didn’t want to settle for a company that was simply promoting natural cleaning products to make money. We wanted to support products that were developed out of conviction for the earth and wellness.

Two of the companies my wife and I found and use regularly are Seventh Generation and Melaleuca. These companies make household cleaning products such as bathroom cleaners and all-purpose and disinfectant cleaners. Melaleuca even makes personal hygiene products such as deodorant, soap and toothpaste.

Seventh Generation makes excellent cleaning products, from dish soap, to bathroom clears and laundry detergent. The company has been around for over 30 years, and has fought to make all-natural products accessible to the public. Seventh Generation products are now available at most supermarkets and big-box stores such as Target.

Melaleuca on the other hand, is an Internet-based company that has been promoting health and wellness, centered on cleaning products, since the mid-1980s. Melaleuca products come in super-concentrated forms, so you reuse the same spray bottle over and over again — one bottle of cleaner lasts up to six spray bottles. The products offer savings and effectiveness.

Aside from making the big switch to all-natural cleaning products, we also installed a water purification system under our kitchen sink. We drink this water exclusively, and cook and clean with it as well. After discovering the toxic chemicals in our tap water, it was a no-brainer for us to switch to purified drinking water.

We even used to use paper towels to clean our bathrooms and some of our furniture. Since making our switch, we began using old rags instead of paper towels. Not only have we saved a lot of money by making this switch, but we are also reducing the demand for more paper. Another aspect of “greening” our cleaning was by using less water. We use a gallon-sized bucket of water to rinse our rags instead of running water. It’s these little things that can make a huge difference.

Regardless of the products you choose to use, remember that all-natural products are healthier for your family and better for the earth. All-natural cleaning products are more accessible and affordable than ever before. Take the time to research the ingredients in your current cleaners and switch to either homemade natural cleaners or a brand with trusted history and commitment to the planet.