You may have thought you kept a “clean” house before…
But given the current state of affairs, many of us find ourselves stocking up on cleaning products like NEVER before!
And I’m not just talking about paper towels.
The corporations that make disinfectants must be SALIVATING over how much product they’ve been moving over the last couple of months.
From bleaches… to disinfectant sprays… to antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers…
We’re trying to make our homes… and our cars… as “spick and span” as can be.
And so are the shops… churches… restaurants… and more.
But what are we SACRIFICING to get surroundings that SEEM immaculate?
Because some of these “cleaners” can actually do more harm than good!
Fortunately, you DON’T have to choose between a SANITARY environment… and TOXIC fumes… or SICKENING chemicals.
Keep your distance from THESE cleaners
I’ve shared with you before here in eAlert the dangers behind some of the most common cleaning agents – ones that are SUPPOSED to be making our lives BETTER and SAFER.
Take, for instance, triclosan.
It’s the chemical even the FDA banned from antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers… and that’s been linked to bone loss and even osteoporosis.
But the feds HAVEN’T removed it from toothpaste… and the EPA hasn’t barred it from the clothing, kitchenware, furniture, and toys that ALSO contain it.
Unfortunately, that’s not the ONLY “germ-killer” out there that you’ve got to worry about.
The overuse of antibacterials in general have been associated with the development of drug-resistant superbugs… a situation that’s bad enough considering our excessive reliance on antibiotics to clear any and all infections.
Topical antibacterials and antibiotics have something ELSE in common, too…
They MESS with your microbiome!
While oral antibiotics DISRUPT the balance of “good” and “bad” bugs in your gut… sometimes ROBBING you of the natural defenses found in your gut flora…
Hand sanitizers… even ones that contain ONLY alcohol and NO triclosan… can STRIP your skin of its microbiome.
And that can make what’s SUPPOSED to be your “protective barrier” MORE susceptible to germs and toxins.
Even the ingredients in common disinfectant sprays raise some concern over their ability to DISRUPT hormones… IRRITATE eyes and skin… PROMOTE difficulty breathing… and DAMAGE your DNA!
You want to keep that stuff FAR AWAY from your body… your food… your pets… and even your clothing.
Any kind of aerosol spray can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other dangerous chemicals in its fumes… which have been linked to respiratory illnesses and asthma.
Bleach may be the “go-to” for many looking to make their kitchens and bath spotless… but it can irritate your skin, eyes, nose, mouth, and throat.
And you’ve got to make sure to keep it AWAY from other household products… like ammonia and vinegar… so you don’t GAS yourself out of house and home!
That even includes using one product after another on the same surface… and not necessarily just mixing them both in the same container.
The EPA has published a list of products that meet the agency’s “Safer Choice” standards, which you can browse on its website. You can also look for the “Safer Choice” label on the products themselves.
But just remember that what the feds consider “safer” isn’t necessarily “safe.” Those products could contain plenty of OTHER chemicals whose risks haven’t been discovered yet.
Fortunately, there are 3 non-toxic (or less toxic) cleaning solutions that pretty much everyone agrees carry the LEAST amount of risk:
- vinegar: As long as you don’t mix it with bleach (as I mentioned above), vinegar is a safe bleach alternative when mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio. Use “white” vinegar or the more powerful “cleaning” vinegar… and save your red wine and balsamic vinegars for dinner!
- hydrogen peroxide: It’s so safe when diluted, you can use it on food! A little goes a long way… and more ISN’T better… so make sure it’s watered down to at least 3% concentration or lower.
- soap and water: It’s the old standby because it’s the most effective when it comes to washing your hands and other parts of your body. And I’m not talking about some crazy chemical-laced soap… but plain ol’ Ivory! You can use bar soap, liquid hand soap, or even dish soap – but whichever you choose, it’s safer and more effective than hand sanitizer.
Now, don’t underestimate that last one. If plain ol’ soap and water is effective enough to use on your body… you can use it on your surfaces, too!
A little scrubbing with soapy water could be enough to give you peace of mind… and an antiseptic countertop (or floor) that you could eat off of!
To not throwing the baby out with the bathwater,
Melissa Young
