How do common household cleaners really affect the health of your family?
Toxic Chemicals in Common Household Cleaners:
   •    Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine in bleach) – Short-term exposure can cause asthmatic symptoms and other    serious reparatory problems. If mixed with ammonia, it will release toxic chloramines gas.
   •    Petroleum distillates (in metal polishes) – Short-term exposure can cause temporary eye clouding. Long-term exposure can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys and eyes.
   •    Ammonia (in glass cleaners) – It is an eye irritant and can cause headaches and lung irritation.
   •    Phenol and Cresol (in disinfectants) – They are corrosive and can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, kidney and liver damage.
   •    Nitrobenzene (in furniture and floor polishes) – Can cause skin discoloration, shallow breathing, vomiting and death. It is associated with cancer and birth defects.
   •    Formaldehyde (a preservative found in many products) – It is a carcinogen and a strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin and lungs.
   •    Perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents (spot removers and carpet cleaners) – Can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested and is a carcinogen.
   •    Naphthalene or Paradichlorobenzene (in mothballs) – Dammages eyes, blood, liver, kidneys, skin and CNS and is a carcinogen.
   •    Hydrochloric acid or Sodium acid sulfate (in toilet bowl cleaners) – Can burn skin; cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach burns if swallowed; and cause blindness if it gets in eyes.

Top Five Natural Alternative Cleaners:

Baking Soda
(Sodium bicarbonate – a commonly available mineral)
   •    Absorbs odor and harmful chemicals from the air
   •    Deodorizer of air and carpets
   •    Polishes aluminum, chrome, porcelain, stainless steel, silver, jewelry, and tin
   •    Non-abrasive cleaner for countertops, sinks, bathtubs, tile, fiberglass, ovens

White Vinegar
(Distilled from grains)
   •    Used to dissolve mineral deposits
   •    Cuts grease and soap scum
   •    Kills bacteria, mold, mildew, and germs
   •    Cleans windows, tile, linoleum, and hard wood floors
   •    5% solution in water will kill 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of germs

Biodegradable soap or detergent
(Made from naturally occurring materials in nature)
   •    Surfactant – washing compound that mixes grease with water
   •    Kills germs and bacteria
   •    Cleans clothing and used for laundry

Borax
(Naturally occurring mineral)
   •    Deodorizer
   •    Inhibits mold and mildew growth
   •    Boosts the cleaning power of soap and detergent and removes stains
   •    Mix with attractants to kill bugs and insets
   •    Water softener

Washing Soda
Naturally occurring mineral
   •    Cut stubborn grease in ovens, broiler pans, and grills
   •    Cleans clothing and is used for laundry and neutralizes odors
   •    Softens hard water
   •    Removes wax (be careful of the surfaces you use it on)
*Washing soda is caustic, so use gloves when using.

Recipes:

Disinfectant: Cleanse any surface with soap and warm water, or mix ½ cup borax in 1 gallon of hot water to disinfect and deodorize.

Drain Cleaner: (Try a plunger first.) Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, add ½ cup of white vinegar and cover the drain. The resulting chemical reaction can break down fatty acids, allowing the clog to wash down the drain.
*Do not use this method after trying commercial drain opener because vinegar can react with the drain opener and create dangerous fumes.

Floor Cleaner and Polish: For hard wood, add a capful of white vinegar to a gallon of water. For vinyl or linoleum, add a capful of mineral oil to the water and vinegar mixture to preserve and polish. For painted wooden floors, mix 1 tsp of washing soda in 1 gallon of hot water. For brick or stone, add 1 cup white vinegar to 1 gallon of water, then rinse with clean water.

Window Cleaner: To avoid streaking, don’t clean on a sunny day. Use vinegar and water solution and wipe with newspaper.

Creamy Soft Scrub: Pour ½ cup baking soda into a bowl and add enough liquid detergent to give the mixture the texture of frosting. Scoop it onto a sponge to wash surfaces.

Oven Cleaner: Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. Wipe up the grease the next morning. When you have cleaned up the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge and wash the remaining residue from the oven. (If this recipe doesn’t work, you probably did not use enough baking soda and/or water.)

Furniture Polish: Mix ½ teaspoon of non-vegetable oil, such as mineral oil, and ¼ cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe wood surfaces.

Mold Killer: Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82% of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle and apply to moldy areas. Let set without rinsing, if you can put up with the smell, which will subside in a few hours.