Everyday Household Poisons

Most households try to maintain a clean home for a healthy environment and unwittingly do so with toxic chemicals that put them, and their families, at short or long term risk.

Since the 1940s, chemical companies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to convince us (and they have done a good job doing so) that they have the perfect answer to our household cleaning problems whatever the greasy, grimy job may be.

Their products, they tell us, are designed to take the drudgery out of whatever household cleaning job we need to do, while taking up less of our precious time.

There slogan, as most of you probably remember, was "Better living through chemistry."

When seen on the supermarket shelves, it is assumed by all to many, that these products must be safe. Not so! Many are labeled: Warning! Caution! and some...Dangerous!

Warning and caution are bad enough, but dangerous? Leave it on the shelf!

What these product manufacturers haven't told you when promoting their products, was the high cost in health their wonderful products bring with them, as most of these products are toxic and many are downright dangerous!

Many of the raw materials used to manufacture these products are made from petroleum based raw materials, highly caustic lye, solvents, chlorine, insecticides and chemical disinfectants. All of which are toxic in one form or another.

Here are some examples of these toxic products and replacements for them:

Oven Cleaners

Most commercial oven cleaners contain lye and are corrosive to skin and eyes and not great for your lungs either, when breathing in the fumes. Actually, what you should be doing is preventing the need for caustic oven cleaners in the first place!

Avoid drips by placing aluminum foil or a metal tray underneath. Spills are easier to clean up if attacked before they have baked on for a long time.

Here's your non-toxic solution to cleaning a dirty oven...use an oven cleaner without lye such as Easy Off Non-Caustic Formula, non-chlorine scrubbing powder such as Bon Ami, or baking soda, soap and water with a copper scrubber, and lots of elbow grease.

Bathroom Cleaners and Disinfectants

Bathroom cleaners are designed especially to deal with bathroom soils (soap scum and mildew) and bath surfaces (tubs, tile, and showers). Many bathroom cleaners are also disinfectants that kill germs, viruses, or mildew.

Disinfectants, which are considered pesticides, kill germs on surfaces temporarily, but cannot kill germs in the air or provide long-lasting disinfection.

You probably don't need a special cleaner for the bathroom. A good general purpose cleaner and a scouring powder should be adequate in most homes. If you have special medical problems in the home, consult your physician.

Chronic mildew indicates a moisture problem that may require structural work.

Try to stay on top of moisture and mold as soon as either arises. Dry out anything that is damp, such as basements and carpets (use a dehumidifier). Fix leaks in plumbing and roofs. Wipe up spills. Make sure water doesn't escape from shower curtains. Vigilance will pay off!

It is better to solve the moisture problem than to resort to long-term use of disinfectants.

Here are some less-toxic products to try: Bathroom Duck, 20 Mule Team Borax, Comet Liquid Bathroom Cleaner, or Spic and Span Spray Bath Cleaner.

Mold and Mildew

It is well known that mold can be dangerous to your health, even if you aren't allergic. Many people react to mold by getting tired and even depressed.

Here is a natural non-toxic way to rid yourself of mold and mildew. This spray has been used successfully on moldy ceilings from a leaking roof, on a musty bureau, a musty rug, and a moldy shower curtain.

The main ingredient, tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.

Formula:
2 teaspoons tea tree oil* (Health food store)
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.

Citrus Seed Extract (Health food store)

The advantage of using citrus seed extract instead of tea tree oil for killing mold is that it is odorless.

20 drops citrus seed extract
2 cups water

Combine either in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes 2 cups.

Preparation Time: A minute or so.
Shelf Life: Indefinite.
Storage: Leave in the spray bottle.

Keep Plants In Your House

Keeping lots of plants around your house will not only add beauty to your home, they will reduce your indoor air pollution and increase your indoor oxygen. (Most home environments contain more indoor air pollution then there is outdoors.)

One Last Bit Of Advice...

Clean out under your kitchen sink.

Under virtually every kitchen sink, you will find containers of chemical cleaners labeled Warning! or Caution! Small amounts of toxins can leak or waft out of products, such as oven or drain cleaner, and pose a threat to your health.

Throw them out at your local recycling center or on your community's Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Days.

Replace toxic products with nontoxic, biodegradable alternatives. Use natural cleaners such as baking soda, washing soda (a "cousin" of baking soda), white vinegar, lemon juice, liquid soap, biodegradable detergent and essential oils

Examples...

Baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge acts as a gentle nonabrasive cleaner for kitchen countertops and bathtubs.

Washing soda cuts grease and removes wax or lipstick. You can find it near the baking soda in your store.

Mix one-half teaspoon of olive oil with one-quarter cup of vinegar or fresh lemon juice to make your own furniture polish.

Use essential oils, such as lavender, thyme, clove and tea tree. They contain more disinfecting phenol than chemical disinfectants. Mix one teaspoon of essential oil with two cups of water for a disinfecting spray.

The more concentrated the essential oil, the less you'll need... so shop and use wisely.

Use straight vinegar on the toilet rim for a highly effective disinfectant. Let sit for 15 minutes, though you really don't have to rinse at all.

If I was a little long winded today, it's because the information is important for the health of you and your family. Print it out so you can refer to it when buying supplies for your household chores.

If you use a housekeeper, be sure they follow these guidelines and reduce your household air pollution.

To your good health and longevity! Because you're worth it!

Ira Marxe
CEO, Good Health Supplement

Read past Health Matter Minutes articles and consumer reports: