Natural cleaning products were in the news recently - specifically, in a Toronto Sun article that trumpeted the environmental benefits of using natural and organic household cleansers and other cleaning products. According to the article, the market is evolving to meet the demands of more health-conscious consumers. Have you adjusted your stock to meet these needs?
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Clean green with natural products
By SHARON ASCHAIEK, Special to QMI Agency
Chemical-based cleansers may keep your house clean, but they’re just plain dirty for the environment.
“These substances are going down the drain and affecting our water systems,” says Allison Sletcher, founder of Toronto-based Earth Concerns Cleaning Services (www.earthconcerns.com).
However, Sletcher says, the market is evolving to meet the demands of more eco-savvy and health-conscious consumers by offering more organic cleansers.
“You used to have to get these products at specialty stores,” she says. “Now, you’re starting to see more choices in large grocery stores.”
Sletcher offers some tips on green cleaning:
Soap it up
When it comes to most surfaces, including counters, linoleum and hardwood floors, windows and tables, good old soap and water does the trick, Sletcher says.
“Vegetable-based all-purpose soap is designed to pick up dirt, and it does the job just fine."
If you have hardwood floors, she says, you might want to check the floor manufacturer’s recommendations about cleaning them, as some suggest minimizing dampness.
As well, Sletcher says, steer clear of cleaning antiques and valuables excessively.
Vinegar is divine
A mixture of vinegar and water also offers a great, natural way to clean most surfaces, says Sletcher, who recommends using two parts water and one part vinegar.
“Vinegar works well on hardwood floors or regular floors because it leaves no water marks."
A water-and-vinegar mixture is also a popular window cleaner because it's effective and can be used in a spray bottle, which makes it easier to clean.
Pulling out the big guns
For grimier surfaces that require scouring, such as kitchen and bathroom sinks, bathtubs and toilets, baking soda and washing soda are your best bets, Sletcher says.
“These are raw ingredients that are found in a lot of cleansers. When you mix them with water, you get a paste that you can use to scour.”
Scents don't make sense
When buying natural cleansers, look for ones with few or no chemicals, such as Simply Clean, Nature Clean, EcoCover and Seventh Generation.
Whichever brands you buy, ensure they also don’t include any dyes or scents, Sletcher recommends.
“There’s a psychological element associated with smell, in that we think something is clean when it smells fresh. In fact, there doesn’t have to be a scent for something to be clean.”
Tools of the trade
The actual tools you use to clean matter as much as the cleansing solutions, says Sletcher.
While the market is rife with new disposable cleaning equipment, such as short/single-use mops and cleansing sponges, these throw-away products only further clog our landfills, she says.
Sletcher suggests using traditional sponges, cloths and the like that will last longer.
“Microfibre mops work well on many surfaces and last a long time, with many designed for dry or wet use.”
SOURCE: Toronto Sun
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