Palo Alto Medical Foundation warns against using commercial cleaners, air fresheners and pesticides

June 1, 9:48 PMSF Environmental Health ExaminerSuzanne Olson

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the SF Environmental Health Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

 

The Palo Alto Medical Foundation recommends using natural products to clean your home. This summer's newsletter, "Foundation for Health," discourages the use of commercial cleaning products, warning against toxic ingredients.   Dr. Barbara Erny says that homemade preparations using baking soda, white vinegar or lemon are safe and work just as well. 

Dr. Erny recommends other green solutions for better health, too. Her article  “10 Ways to Create a Healthy Home” also suggests eliminating commercial air fresheners and pesticides.

Switching over can take a little effort, but the rewards are worth it.  Plus, you'll save a lot of money. Natural cleaners clean differently, so expect to make some changes in the way you clean.

Do you want your home to smell fresh?   Wash the walls with baking soda and water.  Buy your Arm & Hammer in a 12 pound bag available at Costco.  Borax and water works well, too.  Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and furniture and vacuum up.  And the easiest: Open up those windows!

Do you want a floor so clean you can eat off it?  Clean it with baking soda and water.

What about germs?  Kill bacteria and viruses with white vinegar and water. Wipe off those baby toys and those door knobs. Rinse that bathtub.

And the cutting board?  Clean it with lemon.

Ants?  Put a little boric acid and peanut butter and jelly on an old lid.  Position the lid somewhere on the ant path. Ants will visit the lid once and not return.

Burned a pot?  Fill with baking soda and water, and boil.

The oven?  Clean with baking soda.

Glass?  Spray it with vinegar and water. Or, wipe with a damp micofiber cloth.

It will take a little more time at first to learn how best to use homemade products.  But, you'll be happy to discover that you don't have to wear rubber gloves, and that you can toss your rags in with your regular wash.

Your pets will love it.  Also, you may find that your allergies improve, or that you no longer get as many colds.

You'll have a healthy home, and instead of a home that smells clean, your home will be clean.