Gone Green

All cleaners, lotions, and potions were forced out of our home by me into the garage to sit on a shelf until I knew where their next home would be.  Room by room, cupboard by cupboard I cleared our home of these nasty chemicals; everything I used to clean the toilets, tubs, tiles, counters, wood, windows, teeth, body, hair, clothes, dishes; everything I used to beautify myself, to smell good; not one item was left in the house.

I had an addiction, and addiction to Bath and Body Works products, to every cleaner made and of course each cleaner had to be specific for the area or item to be cleaned, to fabric softeners, to shampoos and conditioners, to melted candles, you name I was addicted.  Because of my grand addictions, this change was not easy, but I was determined.  Determined to get healthy, to get my family healthy, to give back to our Earth.  Today my addictions are much less and without chemicals, and I am healthier!  I have been able to completely control my asthma, my allergies have been greatly reduced and when I get sick, I am not sick for long as I was before this change.  Before I would be sick for weeks, really sick, then well for about one or two weeks and whammy, sick again.

Once getting all the nasty chemicals out of our house, I made a trip to the grocery store, bought many boxes of baking soda and gallons of white distilled vinegar.  These two products replaced ALL cleaners I have previously bought and used.  Both products have been researched greatly for their cleaning and sanitizing productivity, so finding many cleaning “recipes” was not difficult.  This is where fresh lemons were introduced in great numbers to our home and many flavors of essential oils, as these are added to the cleaning recipes.  Lemons are great to shine stainless steel and freshen the garbage disposal and of course the fresh, citrus aroma in the air; essential oils are also great for their citrus scents and also for their medicinal uses and antibacterial fighting uses- riding the home of bad germs, yet keeping all the good, healthy germs.

There are some cleaning products to purchase which contain NO chemicals, YAY!  They are not difficult to find, we just have to open our eyes and our minds.  One cleaner brand I purchase is Method, I find their products with fair prices at Target stores, and also at Good Earth Natural Foods for high prices.  Another brand I have purchased and liked is Holy Cow, I believe this product can be purchased at grocery stores such as Market Fresh or Smith’s.  Method has cleaners for kitchen, bath, toilet, windows, dishes and more; Holy Cow makes one product (if there are more I have not found them), this is used for cleaning counters, carpets, toilets, tubs, showers, tile floors, linoleum floors, you get the picture. I also purchase Kirkland Environmentally Friendly all purpose cleaner (Costco brand),

Now you ask about your laundry.  Another favorite topic of mine!  Currently we are using a detergent from Kirkland Environmentally Friendly detergent; we have also used Earth Friendly and Ecos, I do not use Seventh Generation because they use sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate - known chemicals; although they claim to be environmentally friendly.  I also add baking soda and/or Borax to each load as well white distilled vinegar.  The baking soda and Borax soften the water, which softens the clothes and the vinegar brightens clothes as well softening them.  There have been a number of times where I have forgone the laundry detergent all together and just used baking soda, Borax and vinegar - clothes are just as clean, fresh, and odor free.  This is also a great time to add essential oils with the detergent, baking soda, Borax and vinegar; tea tree oil is a great antibacterial agent, lavender is also a great antibacterial agent and smells fresh, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon or orange leaves a crisp, clean scent.  I have not tried many others but would love to hear your opinions on them.

I add a many drops of lavender essential oil to a mix of white distilled vinegar and water in a spray bottle (many because I love the aroma) and use this to clean windows, mirrors, yoga mat, counters - where ever.  I also will lightly spray the couches and carpets with this.  I add many drops of an essential oil to water in a potpourri dish and burn; sometimes it is a mix of clove and cinnamon, or lemon, or tangerine, or what ever essential oil I fancy to add.  By burning essential oils we are not inhaling the chemicals placed into the scented, melt-able candles.  Brilliant!

Have animals like me?  Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet for at least 20 minutes before vacuuming, this is said to attract dirt, hair, and particles as well as freshen the carpet and padding - leaving carpets happy and us to not be afraid to walk upon them.

What the aluminum in your deodorant?  What about the chemicals in your toothpaste?  What about the chemicals in your shampoo, conditioner, bar of soap, container of liquid soap, in your shaving cream?  Many questions to ask yourself but the great news is, there are answers to all of your answers.

Still a bit skeptic?  I double dog dare you to ditch your chemical cleaners for one month, all of them and substitute any or all of the above cleaners and solutions.  At the end of the month, ask yourself if you feel healthier, if you feel cleaner.  Chances are you will answer yes to being healthier, to being cleaner.  Germs are good for everyone, it is the battle of the good verses bad germs we need to educate ourselves with.

I say give no more money to these greedy businesses who are only looking out for themselves and not for you - no more money to their campaigns!  Look out for yourself and save your wallet a lot of money!