by Catherine Haug, April 17, 2012
We all want to avoid exposure to toxins in our lives, and one category of likely toxic products we are exposed to daily is household cleaners. Consider: bleach, ammonia, and SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) in dishwashing/laundry detergents as well as shampoos & bubble baths. But these are only the tip of the toxic iceberg – many substances that might be toxic have yet to be identified.
Your safest bet is to use cleaners that have been used for centuries: vinegar, lemon juice, salt, olive oil, true soap, baking soda, boiling water, and even potatoes!
The NTP Talk website has a good short article on Low- or Non-Toxic Cleaners by Beverly Hartsfield, NTP (Nutrition Therapy Practitioner) that suggests how to use these common and natural substances for cleaning chores.
See also my recent posts on this topic:
- Locally made cleaning supplies (Mar 2)
- Back Porch View Magazine, Spring 2012 Issue (Feb 28)
- Toxic Laundry? (Jan 1)
Safe disposal of toxic cleaners
Don’t just toss your toxic cleaners in the trash – their toxicity can affect landfills and ground water. Instead, save them up for the monthly Waste Not Project collection of household hazardous waste collection on the third Saturday of each month – that’s this coming Saturday, April 20!
See my earlier post: Event Notice: Recycling Events (WasteNot Project) for lots more info.