| Women have reported that when they reduce | | | | removing dirt. |
| the amount of chemical based toiletries and | | | | Sprinkle 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt (depending on the |
| household cleaning products, they begin to see a | | | | size of your rug or carpet), let it sit for 15-30 |
| reduction in their symptoms of endometriosis. | | | | minutes, and then vacuum. You can also alternate |
| In this article we will be looking at how you can | | | | between salt and cornstarch. The instructions are |
| start to get rid of all those toxic chemicals in your | | | | the same. To remove odours from carpets, add |
| home, which you use as a matter of course | | | | 1/4 cup of baking soda to the salt (or cornstarch) |
| every day to keep your home clean. | | | | and make a powder with the mixture, sprinkle on |
| How does this help women with Endometriosis! ... | | | | the carpet and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, |
| By reducing the number of different chemicals | | | | and then vacuum. If you want to add a fresh |
| you are exposed to, which can be absorbed by | | | | scent to your carpet, you can sprinkle Cinnamon, |
| your body, you will give your body a much better | | | | or All Spice on the carpet, let it sit for 15 minutes |
| chance to function properly, for your immune | | | | and then vacuum. |
| system NOT to be put under stress, and improve | | | | The bathroom - The same cleaning products used |
| your chances of healing. | | | | in the kitchen are suitable for the bathroom; white |
| You may be unaware of some of the toxins you | | | | vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. |
| are absorbing from the outside environment. And | | | | ~ To clean the toilet, sprinkle in baking soda and |
| what is worse ... you have no control of this | | | | scrub with a toilet brush |
| exposure. It is caused by industry emitting billions | | | | ~ Bathroom Glass Cleaner-1-2 tablespoons of |
| of tons of fumes, cars churning out noxious | | | | white vinegar mixed with 1 quart of water in a |
| poisonous fumes, and agriculture spewing out | | | | spray bottle. To remove oily or greasy |
| millions of gallons of pesticides and | | | | fingerprints from the mirror, dab on a little rubbing |
| organo-phosphates. Most of these toxins are | | | | alcohol and wipe with a linen rag. |
| invisible, and some of them you cannot detect | | | | ~ Bathroom Floors-The same as kitchen floors: 1 |
| with your sense of smell. They are insidious, highly | | | | 2 cup of vinegar with 1-gallon hot water. This is |
| dangerous to all life on earth, and we are all | | | | safe for hardwood, linoleum, tile, and any |
| starting to pay the price now. | | | | washable surface. |
| Because endometriosis seems to be such a | | | | Other cleaning areas |
| modern epidemic, it only takes common sense | | | | To polish wood furniture and wood floors, and to |
| and simple logic to realize that what is happening in | | | | have a wonderful citrus scent, use citrus oil. You |
| our environment and what is happening to | | | | can purchase a gallon of citrus oil from many |
| reproductive health around the world, that these | | | | home improvement store. It costs about $5.00 a |
| two things are undoubtedly linked. | | | | gallon, but will last you a long time. |
| These environmental chemicals are wreaking | | | | ~ Polishing Wood Furniture - pour a small amount |
| havoc on the health of humans, animals and plant | | | | of citrus oil (undiluted) onto a lint-free rag, and |
| life alike. In humans, it is women and children who | | | | polish to perfection. |
| are most susceptible to these pollutants - and it | | | | ~ Another Furniture Polish - mix equal parts olive |
| shows up in condensed pockets of ill-health in | | | | oil and lemon juice for a natural furniture polish. |
| people living near industrial plants. | | | | Just apply with a soft cloth and buff to a shine. |
| BUT, the home is one place where you can start | | | | ~ Cleaning and Polishing Wood Floors - Dilute one |
| to take control. You can minimise your exposure | | | | cup of citrus oil in one-gallon hot water. Use a |
| to chemicals. As well as using chemical free, | | | | sponge mop and mop floor. |
| non-toxic personal toiletries you can change your | | | | ~ For crayon marks, spilled candle wax, and |
| habits and start to use old-fashioned natural | | | | residue left from tape and other adhesive, dab |
| alternatives to clean your home instead. And they | | | | with mineral oil and wipe gently with a rag. Mineral |
| work just as well. We have all become | | | | oil is the main ingredient of many commercial |
| acclimatised/brainwashed/fed the advertising, | | | | products that advertise the removal of greasy |
| which makes us believe we need all these | | | | wax stains and marks. |
| different products. | | | | To further ensure that you are helping the |
| The following advice gives you some tips and | | | | environment to remain toxic free there are a few |
| ideas to keep your home clean without using a | | | | simple things that you can do: |
| multitude of different chemical based products. | | | | ~ Use cloth rags - never use paper towels or the |
| People invest in separate products for individual | | | | new "Disposable Wipes." Such products are |
| cleaning jobs: furniture polish, bathroom floor | | | | bleached, and are therefore toxic. |
| cleaner, bathroom fixture cleaner, kitchen surface | | | | ~ Recycle old clothing, sheets and towels into |
| cleaner, oven cleaner, and bleach for general | | | | rags. Wash once a week and you'll never have to |
| purpose around the house, 2-3 laundry detergents | | | | waste money on paper products again. |
| for cleaning clothes, glass cleaner, and drain | | | | ~ Recycle Paper and Plastic Bags - Never buy |
| cleaner - the list goes on. | | | | plastic garbage bags. Use the bags that you get |
| If you look in the average cleaning cupboard of | | | | from the grocery store to dispose of household |
| many homes, you will find a huge array of | | | | garbage. (Try to recycle as much of this as |
| different bottles, cans and containers; some of | | | | possible) |
| which may have only been used once. Some of | | | | ~ Invest in your own heavy duty shopping bags |
| them will be past their 'use by date', and you | | | | to use for grocery shopping, and take only 1-2 |
| have to throw it away - more toxic garbage | | | | plastic or paper bags from the grocery store to |
| thrown into the environment - and you have | | | | use as trash bags. |
| wasted your money. You will also notice that | | | | ~ Minimize your use of plastic in whatever form it |
| many products advise to keep away from | | | | comes - bags, packaging, bottles etc. It is the |
| children or your pets, must be used in a well | | | | least degradable form of packaging on earth. |
| ventilated room, and many will have severe | | | | ~If you need to use sprays in your home for |
| warning logos stamped on the container, which | | | | whatever use, make sure you use pump action |
| means they are either highly toxic or flammable | | | | sprays. |
| and down-right dangerous. | | | | Other organic household ideas: safe non-toxic |
| All of these products are costly, dangerous to | | | | alternatives you can use. |
| your home, family and the environment. You can | | | | Here are few more household tips to minimise |
| keep your home clean, germ free and smelling | | | | your need for toxic chemical based preparations: |
| sweet by using only 2-3 home-made organic | | | | ~ For ants, sprinkle red chilli powder at entry |
| products, and you will save money. | | | | point. |
| Let's start with the kitchen. Rather than use a | | | | ~ To remove perspiration stains, white vinegar |
| different cleaning product for the stove, kitchen | | | | and water works well on fresh stains on cotton. |
| sink, cabinets, floor and refrigerator, work tops | | | | ~ Polish chrome or remove pet odour with cider |
| and so on, there are only 4 ingredients that you | | | | vinegar. |
| need, and you can purchase them in any grocery | | | | ~ For automatic dish-washing detergent, try |
| store. They are white vinegar, baking soda, lemon | | | | ½ cup baking soda with liquid dish-washing |
| juice and salt. | | | | detergent. |
| Also take note - all of those ingredients you can | | | | ~ Repel moths with cedar chips or cedar essential |
| put into your mouth quite safely without fear of | | | | oil. |
| poisoning. | | | | ~ Remove oil stains by rubbing white chalk into |
| ~ Kitchen Floors - In a bucket mix 1/2 cup white | | | | the stain before laundering. |
| vinegar with 1-gallon hot water. This is safe for | | | | ~ Equal parts of vinegar and salt with a little |
| hardwood, linoleum, tile, and any washable surface. | | | | elbow grease will remove mould and mildew stains |
| ~ Oven Cleaner - Mix 1 tablespoon of baking | | | | but will not eliminate the problem. In this case |
| soda, 1 tablespoon salt, and add 1/2 cup hot | | | | treat the cause, which is usually a need for better |
| water. Make a gritty paste, apply to the oven, | | | | ventilation or reduce moisture in the atmosphere |
| heat slightly, cool and then wipe away with a | | | | with a dehumidifier. |
| damp rag. | | | | ~ Clean your drains by pouring ½ cup each |
| ~ Refrigerator Seals - The plastic seals of | | | | of baking soda and vinegar into drain. Wait two |
| refrigerators can be wiped free of debris with a | | | | minutes, add two quarts boiling water, and repeat. |
| rag dabbed in white vinegar. | | | | ~ Throw away your air freshener and try herbal |
| ~ Kitchen Cabinets - 1/4 cup of lemon juice | | | | bouquets, pure vanilla on a cotton ball, essential oils |
| mixed with 1 quart of hot water. Lemon juice | | | | used with a special burner, or perhaps try opening |
| helps to remove grease from wood and metal. | | | | the windows - even if it is a bit chilly. Let you |
| ~ Dish-washing by Hand - In a small spray bottle, | | | | home breath every now and then. |
| fill 3/4 with water and 1/4 with lemon juice. | | | | ~ Clean window/mirrors/glass by adding a little |
| Lemon juice is the main ingredient in dish-washing | | | | vinegar and a little liquid soap to a spray bottle of |
| detergent because it is an excellent grease fighter. | | | | water. Shake mixture a little and spray on surface |
| You don't need any of the other ingredients that | | | | that needs cleaning, and clean/polish with soft |
| make up commercial dish-washing detergents - | | | | cloths. |
| they are mostly fragrances. | | | | ~ Drains - pour a cup of baking soap and a cup |
| For laundry, there are three products to use: | | | | of vinegar down the drain followed by a quart of |
| washing soda, white vinegar and salt. | | | | boiling water, to deodorize and keep flowing |
| ~ Laundry Detergent for White Clothes - use 1/4 | | | | freely. |
| cup washing soda (sodium carbonate) in place of | | | | This is just some of the ways you can use simple |
| bleach. Bleach is one of the most toxic | | | | safe ingredients to keep your home clean. How |
| substances for the environment. Washing soda | | | | do you think our Grandmothers managed ..... easy, |
| costs only a few pennies per wash load, and it is | | | | by using the methods above. |
| far less expensive than bleach. Along with the | | | | Chuck out all those bottles of toxic cleaners. Your |
| washing soda, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar. | | | | basic cleaning shopping list will be as follows: |
| ~ Laundry Detergent for Dark Clothes - use 1/4 | | | | ~ Vinegar |
| cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of salt. | | | | ~ Baking Soda |
| Salt helps restore faded colours, and to remove | | | | ~ Lemon Juice |
| dirt and grime. It is salt that is used in dyeing of | | | | ~ Salt |
| fabrics that helps to fix the dye. | | | | I have said this before above - you can put any |
| For carpets there are three choices: salt, baking | | | | of these things in your mouth without fear of |
| soda or cornstarch. | | | | poisoning; which means they will be safe for skin |
| Just as salt helps to restore the colour of dark | | | | contact, safe for your family and much, much |
| coloured laundry, it also helps to bring out the | | | | better for the environment. |
| colour in carpeting, while at the same time, | | | | |