Mr. Clean or Mrs. Green?

I warned her. I said that if she wanted her grandchildren to come visit, she would have to clear out all the toxic cleaning products that are in her back entry bookshelf- repurposed as a chemical store-all. Just sitting there. Easy access. With one curious preschooler and one crazy mobile crawler, I was a bit worried.

Not only are these cleaners poisonous if ingested, their use can cause headaches, lung, skin and eye irritation, and there are also increasing links to birth defects, reproductive problems and various cancers.

This is all starting to sound too familiar. It seems that chemicals are so prevalent in our lives that some people throw their hands up as soon as they hear the risks of cleaning products- but what doesn't cause cancer? To them I say, why not try to eliminate the risks that you can? I've recently read that indoor air can be much more toxic than even the most polluted outdoor air because of all the chemicals we use in our homes.

People didn't even use these now standard household chemicals before World War II. They used elbow grease and some natural products. I recently read an interesting tidbit in Gil Deacon's book, "Green for Life", that chemicals (like pesticides and household cleaners) were all developed around this time as part of warfare research! And it ends up in our homes. Crazy.

All this to say- I decided that the chemicals have got to go!

Well, we arrived at Grandma's and I went to see if she complied. It seemed she had, at least for the most part. Most of the cleaners were gone but a few things remained that really should have made their way to the toxic disposal (at a recycling depot!) as well- like shoe polish, special vinyl floor cleaner that she just bought (how could I even ask her to dispose of that!) and a few other stragglers and hangers-on.

To be completely honest, I had used these products for years too. We used to be devotees to Tilex, which in my husband's recollection, "curled your nosehairs". We thought that in order to get things truly clean and sanitized that we needed these harsh, astringent cleaners. And if it didn't smell like bleach then it probably wasn't doing its job. Now that I think of it, the smell almost wafts back to me. Yuck.

Eventually I started with trying the so-called "natural" cleaners thinking that I should be more conscious of what I was putting down the drain and into our water, paying a premium for a lack of ingredient information but with a promise of a greener clean. But I recently decided that for the kids' health, our pocketbook, and the planet that I needed to explore the healthier and more cost-effective, do-it-yourself cleaners.

So I was on a mission, to find some recipes and start concocting.

Little did I realize how much fun this could be. Perhaps it was my baking background that made the combining of ingredients exciting. Or maybe the fact that everytime I whipped up my own creation that it was essentially putting money back into my pocket instead of some chemical company's. The fact that I was not exposing my children to needless chemicals was the main purpose of this endevour but it was turning out to be a good (time) investment on so many levels- less cost, less plastic waste, less chemicals in our home, and the joy of cleaning. Ok, not really...but it was better than before when I had to run from the bathroom after I had cleaned it.

When I got started, I first experimented with spray bottles and thought I would invest in a more expensive bottle with lines and measures that looked like it could stand up to many uses (around $5 at Rona). Well, I was wrong. After a couple test drives, this bottle lost its spray-ability. I didn't really want to use any empty chemical bottles because the smells persist in those things. So I kept my eyes open for another bottle.

Luckily, I ran into them at Ikea. A huge crate full of multi-coloured spray bottles in the plant section caught my eye. VILDBAR. They were cheap. Hmmm. I hate wasting money on garbage that breaks after one use. M noticed all the different colours too and grabbed the green one. It made her happy to hold one as we finished our shopping trip and really, $1.50 isn't too much money to keep a preschooler happy during a shopping trip. So, I thought I would try them. Multi-coloured bottles could be useful for differentiating the mixtures and they were cheap. It turns out they are also excellent at their job. Perhaps they were intended for misting plants (although I think they shoot out a little too much moisture to "mist") but they are excellent for spraying surfaces!

Well, after finding the perfect bottle, I went to the grocery store and stocked up on essential green cleaning supplies- a huge bottle of vinegar, a huge box of baking soda and some bright smelling citrus essential oils (non-essential, but great, nontheless). I came home excited to get started.

I remember reading that a 1:4 solution of vinegar to water could be used to clean most things. I got to work and added a few drops of orange essential oil to dull the vinegar smell. Then I sprayed. And sprayed. And sprayed. Everything in sight. The kitchen table. The counter top. The bathroom- everywhere from toilets, sinks to mirrors. The results were great. Not only did it get things clean looking and smelling but there was a great sense of accomplishment. Truly, I must be a cleaning geek to think the word "accomplishment" while I am cleaning the toilet. But there was.

Then I used baking soda and about the same amount of vinegar in the toilet bowl and let it sit for a few minutes and then scrubbed. Voila. Clean again.

Mr. Clean was out and Mrs. Green was in full effect! At least for that afternoon. I haven't had the vim and vigour of the cleaning nut that I had been that day when I was first experimenting, but I am happy with the results of switching over to some homemade cleaners.

I do still use a natural wood floor cleaner that looks like they disclose all their ingredients and I do occassionally use diluted bleach carefully for disinfection of some surfaces (i.e. meat cutting boards and second-hand toys). But for most jobs, my vinegar concoctions work wonders.

I am still debating the merits of bleach as I have read arguments for and against the household use of bleach. The "Chlorine Conundrum" by the National Geographic Green Guide is an interesting read (http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/95/bleach). Apparently it is the most common cleaner accidently swallowed by children (somewhere in the range of 25,000 kids swallow or are exposed to it in the U.S. every year!) so that fact alone should make me more cautious about using it.

If you are interested in making your own cleaners, there are some great websites and resources that are easily found. My favourite so far is the Guide to Less Toxic Products (recommended by the Lung Association of Canada) at http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=household#allp

You may want to use caution with essential oils. You can always just use good old lemons and citrus oils are safe. But be careful about using the oft recommended lavender and tea tree oils- as they mimic estrogens and have been linked to the increase in the growth of breast tissue in boys. (http://www.webmd.com/content/article/131/118124) Also, borax is often recommended as it is a natural mineral but it does have inhalation warnings because it is a powder that can irritate the lungs.

Here are a few basic cleaners I've made:

Multi-purpose surface cleaner 1:4 vinegar to water in spray bottle (with about 6 drops lemon or orange oil is nice)

Tub/sink/toilet cleaner sprinkle baking soda and then vinegar on it to make a paste and use a scrub brush to clean and rinse with water

Natural bleach vinegar or hydrogen peroxide (not totally natural but a better alternative)

I use a tbsp or two of baking soda in with my laundry powder and a tbsp or two of vinegar in the bleach compartment for smelly laundry---like diapers.

* Also, SUNLIGHT can be an excellent whitener and stain remover. Seriously! Leave it in the sun for a few hours and you will be amazed.

Drain cleaner pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover drain for a few minutes and then pour really hot water down the drain.

There are so many other ones to make using ingredients like lemon juice, borax, and castille (vegetable oil) soaps. The recipes and fun are endless. Happy Cleaning!

P.S. Grandpa, you are next on the hit list. No more visits until you construct that compost bin!