How to maintain a chemical-free home
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Your Bathroom
There are a number of alternative methods and strategies that can be used to reduce the amount of chemicals used in your home, reduces your costs, helps to reduce the chemical load on your body, allowing you to become healthier and reduces the amount of damage to the environment from manufacturing these chemicals.
This is a basic list of ingredients you will need in order to stop using those (often) dangerous chemicals found in most cleaning products. These ingredients are basically non-toxic and some of them are even used in food we eat:
- Bicarbonate of soda - this is found in the cooking section of your local supermarket. Buy lots, as it is used a great deal in natural cleaning
- Lemons - the whole lemon and their juice are used for their excellent acidic nature, use only organic lemons
- Linseed oil - the oil of flax (linseed) has excellent polishing properties for wooden furniture and hardwood flooring
- Olive oil - the oil of olives interestingly has some excellent polishing properties for wooden furniture
- Organic all purpose spray - this should be "100% certified organic" ortherwise it will contain artificial additives and toxic chemicals. This can be used instead of conventional cleaning sprays on any harder to clean surfaces (or for the sake of providing time-poor people with extra convenience, but using a wholesome, natural product)
- Organic dishwashing liquid - this should be "100% certified organic" ortherwise it will contain artificial additives
- Organic laundry liquid - this should be "100% certified organic" ortherwise it will contain artificial additives
- Salt - either rock salt or fine grain rock salt, just make sure it does not have any anti-caking agent
- Soda water - this is excellent to use to remove wine stains
- Vinegar (white) - use only white vinegar as any other type may cause discolouration
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Other items (non-edible) to use:
- Eucalyptus oil - this pure essential oil is produced from the eucalyptus tress, which is native to Australia and has many uses
- Fly swat - this is the best way to avoid using chemical fly and other insect deterrants
- Lavender oil - this pure essential oil is the oil of lavender flowers and has a great number of uses
- Pure soap (unscented) - use only unscented soap with no artificial ingredients (preferably organic)
- Tea tree oil - this pure essential oil is produced by the tea tree which is native to Australia and has many uses
Note: All the essential oils above should not, under any circumstances be ingested orally, as they can cause poisoning. Sometimes you can get the essential oils in a mixture of oil, which is much milder. Always follow the instructions on the labels.
Bathroom
- Air freshener - mix 5-6 drops of lavender oil with 1 litre of water in a clean spray bottle; shake to mix the oil and water; spray a few times around the room to have a fragrant lavender aroma
- Bathtub - sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda all over the bathtub and with a moistened cloth, scrub with the cloth over every part of the bathtub to clean it (including the taps and the soap holder); when this is completed, spray some white vinegar over the whole bathtub and gently scrub all over; finally rinse off the whole bathtub area with some warm water (use a wet cloth for any areas that are close to the edge)
- Ceramic bowl - wet a cloth and moisten with some bicarbonate of soda; use this to rub around the surface of the vanity bowl to clean it; spray with some white vinegar all over and rub with the cloth to further clean it; finally rinse off with some warm water
- Cupboard doors - use a cloth moistened with warm water to rub over the doors to clean them; any dirty areas should be cleaned with the warm cloth dipped in some bicarbonate of soda and then wipe clean with a wet cloth; finish it with a wipe from a dry cloth
- Glass - a natural glass cleaner is to mix one tablespoon of white vinegar in 1 litre of water and moisten a cloth with this weak vinegar mixture an wipe over the glass to clean it - finish with a wipe with a dry cloth to dry the glass; alternatively, spray with the all purpose spray and wipe over with a dry cloth until clean
- Shower tiles - sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda all over the shower tiles and with a moistened brush, scrub with it over every part of the tiles to clean them (including the taps and the soap holder); when this is completed, spray some white vinegar over all the tiles, especially any that have grime between in or around the grout (between the tiles) and scrub all over; finally rinse off the tiles with some warm water from the shower (you can use a bucket of water instead)
- Tiled floor - in a bucket, mix 1-2 cap-fulls of laundry liquid with warm water and add a few drop of lavender oil and a few drops of eucalyptus oil (it should not be too soapy); then, with a mop (or scrubbing brush), use this to clean the tiled floor. For quicker drying, use a dry mop on the area after it has been cleaned
- Toilet bowl (outer) - in a clean spray bottle, mix about 1-2 cap-fulls of laundry liquid, add a few drop of lavender oil and a few drops of eucalyptus oil (it should not be too soapy) and add some water and shake to mix. Spray this mixture over the lower surface of the outer toilet bowl and wipe with a cloth to clean. Always use gloves to clean the toilet
- Toilet bowl (inner) - using the same spray as above (for outer toilet bowl), spray the toilet bowl all around the sides; using the toilet brush, clean the toilet bowl and flush after completion. Clean the toilet brush thoroughly in the laundry (or bathroom sink) and after cleaning the sink, spray it with the same spray to disinfect it. Always use gloves to clean the toilet
- Toilet seat - using the same spray as above (for outer toilet bowl), spray the toilet seat, both upper and lower parts and clean off with a cloth; wipe off with a dry cloth if necessary. Always use gloves to clean the toilet
Last reviewed: 21 June 2009 || Last updated: 18 January 2010
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references
- Samways L. The Non-Toxic House: Making your home and work environment pollutant-free. Green Press, Australia 1991
- Stewart, R. The Clean House Effect: Hundreds of Practical, Inexpensive Ways to Reduce the Use of Chemicals in Your Home.
NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.