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Natural cleaning products

The benefits of using eco friendly, safe and green cleaning products in the ethical home.

The majority of household cleaning products found in the average home are full of poisonous and toxic chemicals.  They may be great for leaving a shining finish and sparkling results, along with a pleasant fragrance, as the ads promise, but increasingly consumers are becoming concerned about the potential harm these products can cause.  We've seen in other areas that over-reliance on chemicals can have serious consequences, from the appearance of super-weeds in farming to super-bugs that are resistant to antibiotics.  I personally don't want to have a cupboard full of poisons in my home, especially in a room where food is prepared.

There are several good reasons for choosing natural, eco friendly cleaning products over those made from powerful chemicals.  Most people take pride in having a clean home, and by using natural alternatives it's possible to achieve this without polluting the environment or damaging health.  Research has even suggested that having an over-sanitized home can prevent young children from building up resistance to colds and bugs.  It's thought that being exposed to dirt and bacteria can actually help improve the immune system, so all these anti-bacterial products may well be doing us more harm than good.

Triclosan is one chemical in particular that many people choose to avoid.  This is a powerful anti-bacterial chemical that's commonly found in all kinds of cleaning products, including washing up liquid.  I really wouldn't want this to contaminate my food!  Triclosan is thought to build up in the body, and traces have been found in breast milk and fish.  The long term health implications are not clear, but it's thought that it could contribute to the development of super-bugs.  Artificial scents made from artificial musks are another health concern as these chemicals are known to build up in body fat. 

As well as the effects on human health, when these chemical cleaning products are rinsed down the drain, they can contaminate our water supply, polluting water and affecting wildlife.  The unknown effects of a toxic cocktail of these chemicals accumulating in the body or in the environment are another worrying issue.  The big multinationals that make cleaning products are known to test on animals and have a poor record when it comes to environmental and social responsibility.

Fortunately, there are some good environmentally friendly alternatives available, based on plant derived ingredients and natural fragrances from essential oils.  I don't believe we need a huge range of different cleaning products, and find a good eco friendly multi-purpose cleaner is sufficient for most tasks.  It's also really easy to make your own cleaning products from natural ingredients, such as vinegar, lemon, salt or bicarbonate of soda.    For instance, I find that a mixture of vinegar and hot water is excellent for cleaning windows.  Tea tree oil is a fantastic natural disinfectant.

Tips for cleaning an ethical home:

- Read labels carefully and use only green cleaning products, or make your own from natural ingredients.
- Keep it simple.  Don't buy products you don't really need.
- Use cleaning products sparingly, just as much as you need to do the job.
- Save energy by using a secondhand carpet sweeper instead of vacuuming.
- Avoid excess packaging and reuse or recycle where possible.