CAIRO: A concerned mother always takes the necessary precautions when it comes to pretty much everything; hiding glass objects, buying safety outlet plugs and even hiding detergents. Cleaning detergents are not only dangerous for children, they also cause a lot of adult frustration and health concerns. When you pick a cleaning detergent, do you sometimes cringe at the long list (and long names) of chemicals listed? I sometimes wonder if anyone else follows the rations noted for use as obsessively as I do. We're not strangers to the existing scientific research results about the toxicity and effects on our health these domestic residents can have. Is it a surprise then that detergents are bad for the environment? I don't have kids, but I care about the environment, and I seriously hate the smell of some of these detergents! Let's get something straight, anything that requires you to put gloves on or open your windows isn't safe around you or your kids! If you are still not convinced about the purpose of eco-friendly detergents, here are just a few reasons:- - They work just as well - You save money - You cut down on packaging - They smell better. This is a very simple task anyone can do to reach the ultimate goal of having a home with a cleaner and healthier indoor air quality. Here is what I used and what you will need: Old spray bottles. You can clean out your old ones and reuse them. Table salt Box of baking soda. Bottle of white distilled vinegar. Tap water. Olive oil. Natural soap (from Home & Beyond: Zamalek) Fresh lemons. Clothes or sponges (NOT PAPER TOWELS!!) Optional Organic essential oils of tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass and rosemary. Not only do these smell great, they are also some of the best antibacterial and antiseptic natural options around. I get my essential oils from Home & Beyond as well. EASY, ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING RECIPES: Window wash: This is one of the simplest of all eco-detergents! Just add 3 tablespoons of vinegar to every 2 cups of water until you fill your container. If you can't stand the smell of vinegar, or will be using the room immediately after cleaning, you may use this alternative: club soda! Just spray the glass and scrub with recycled news paper to get a shiny, non streaky effect. All-purpose disinfectant: Mix 2 cups of water, a few drops of natural soap, and 15 drops of lavender organic essential oil and tea tree oil. This can be used for cleaning sinks, toilets, tables, walls etc. Do not use on glass though, it will streak! Scrubbing toilets: Spray the toilet bowl with your all-purpose disinfectant, or lemon juice or even vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda on the liquid and wait for 10 minutes then scrub with a toilet brush. This mix can be used to clean sinks as well! Fast non-toxic oven cleaning: For oven cleaning, you shouldn't wait until your oven is miserably dirty, but this should do the trick anyway! Sprinkle table salt generously (best on hot spills before the oven cools down) then wait for the oven to cool before you rub the stain off with a damp cloth. Mold remover: we all know mold is extremely harmful to our lungs and it's terribly hard to remove. In this case prevention is key! However, no one really walks around mold-checking regularly. So, mix two cups of water and three drops of pure tea tree essential oil. At least twice a month you should spray this mix on your walls and behind furniture and wipe until the surface is dry. Let me know how it works for you! Eco Options Egypt
