Doing Your Part To Preserve the Earth With Natural Cleansers
-by Priscilla O’Kelly Wilkinson

Mother Earth is suffering.  Every day our planet is inundated with toxic chemicals that are permeating the air that we breathe and the soil that we grow our fruits and vegetables in.  It’s no wonder that there are so many people suffering from allergies and asthma.  There have also been links to commercial cleansers and birth defects.

Here is a list of very common household cleaning chemicals linked to asthma and reproductive harm:

• Monoethanolamine (MEA) is a surfactant found in some laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners and floor cleaners and is a known inducer of occupational asthma.

• Ammonium quaternary compounds are disinfectants found in some disinfectant sprays and toilet cleaners that have been identified as inducers of occupational asthma.

• Glycol ethers, such as 2- butoxyethanol, are solvents commonly found in glasscleaners and all-purpose spray cleaners that have been linked to reduced fertility and low birth weight in exposed mice.

• Alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs) are surfactants found in laundry detergents, stain removers, and all-purpose cleaners, which have been found to reduce embryo survival in fish, and alter tadpole development. APEs are commonly detected as contaminants in rivers and streams, and have also been found in household dust.

• Phthalates are carriers for fragrance in glass cleaners, deodorizers, laundry detergents and fabric softeners, which have been linked to adverse effects on male children, reduced sperm count in adult men, and increased allergic symptoms and asthma in children.

Natural Cleansers From the Kitchen

By choosing environmentally friendly cleansing products it will ensure a home with fresh, clean air, which is free of many toxins.

Many of the ingredients needed to create these cleansers can be found right in your kitchen cabinets.  Homemade natural cleansers can be made for pennies and are the ideal choice for your home and family.

Supply List:

Borax -  Borax also known as sodium borate decahydrate; sodium pyroborate; birax; sodium tetraborate decahydrate; sodium biborate.  Discovered over 4000 years ago, borax is a natural mineral compound generally found deep within the ground.

It is used as a multipurpose cleanser, disinfectant, preservative, fungicide, insecticide and as a natural laundry booster.

Baking Soda – Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs.

White Vinegar- “Vinegar” derives from the Old French vin aigre, meaning “sour wine.” Louis Pasteur showed in 1864 that vinegar results from a natural fermentation process.

Hydrogen Peroxide- Hydrogen peroxide is naturally produced as a byproduct of oxygen metabolism.

Essential Oils- Essential oil is any concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants, which are called aromatic herbs or aromatic plants.

Handle all essential oils very carefully as pure essential oil can burn the skin.

Do not be tempted to save money and purchase essential oil blends.  These are blended with synthetic oils. A small bottle of essential oil should last for years, as only a few drops are needed for each recipe.  It’s highly concentrated.

Olive Oil – Olive oil is fruit oil obtained from the olive (Olea europaea), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin.

Cornstarch – Cornstarch, or cornflour, is the starch of the maize grain, commonly known as corn.

Salt

Natural Cleaning Recipes

• Window & Glass Cleaner: 1/2 cup of white vinegar to one gallon of water.

Helpful Tip: Use old newspapers instead of paper towels and you’ll find this creates less dust on the surface. If you want fragrance simply add a couple of drops of essential oil to the blend.  This recipe can also be used for dusting furniture.

• Dishwasher Detergent: Two tablespoons of Borax pre-dissolved in water.  Add a small amount of vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Helpful Tip: Add a drop of citrus (lemon or orange) essential oil to the pre-dissolved Borax solution for fragrance.

• Carpet Freshener: To make a homemade carpet deodorizer, combine two tablespoons cornstarch and 3/4 cup baking soda in a  container. Sprinkle the mixture on dry carpet and let stand five to 15 minutes before vacuuming.

Helpful Tip: Add a drop of essential oil to the powder for added fragrance

• Shower Cleanser: Scrub the shower using full strength vinegar, then use baking soda as a scouring powder

Helpful Tip: Add a drop of essential oil to the powder for added fragrance

• Furniture polish: Mix two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice to make a simple homemade furniture polish.  Apply with a soft cloth.

• Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle baking soda into your toilet, then add a small amount of vinegar before scrubbing with a toilet brush.

If ready made products are more for you, Method “People Against Dirty” is the way to go.  100% of the functional ingredients in their products are either found in nature or derived from natural sources.  Method has a wonderful array of household and personal cleansers in beautiful fragrances like Eucalyptus and Mint, Grapefruit, Almond Flower, White Tea, Olive Leaf just to name a few.  I have found Method cleansers to be one of the best natural cleansers on the market, unlike many of the other natural cleansers that tend to leave hazy residue behind, Method cleansers work beautifully and their fragrances are delicious!

Above list of chemicals from Womens Voices For The Earth