Natural Cleaning Products

Instead of the chemical ingredients we are so very used to, a great change in household cleaning would come from the extensive predominance of natural cleaning products relying on eco-friendly substances alone. Chemical cleaners pose higher health risks particularly for children, and the overall toxicity reaches very high. Natural cleaning products are safer for everybody, including for the environment. Some green cleaning products are manufactured by specialized companies, while others can be mixed at home with very common ingredients available in the house. Vegetable soup, saponin plants, lemon juice, salt, vinegar, backing soda or mineral may help you with efficient cleaning.

The benefits of natural cleaning products are both collective and individual. First of all, health is no longer endangered by the toxic fumes and the pollution gets lower. Most of the health problems resulting from the use of conventional cleaning products are skin allergies, rashes, dermatitis and respiratory problems. Ecological solutions cause no harm to the environment and protect the body system. Search for natural cleaning products in the supply store or learn how to prepare them at home.

Glass cleaners that contain isopropyl, are incredibly irritant for the skin, nose, eyes and throat. Bathroom cleaners that contain chlorine irritate not only the respiratory tract but also cause serious skin damage. These are just two examples of the thousands of chemicals that we rely on for the cleaning of our homes. If you manage to replace these substances with biodegradable natural cleaning products, you are the first to enjoy the benefits. Moreover, there is also an economic concern about the cleaning and maintenance needs of households in general. The costs are very high if you sum up all the cleaning products used per year.

You can increase home safety, save money and protect the environment at the same time. People who work in a cleaning business or have a cleaning job are also a lot more in advantage by using natural cleaning products. They have to be trained properly so that they may be able to distinguish between the best product choices and the most efficient methods to clean with high efficiency and maximum of results. Natural cleaning products therefore need more market exposure in order to be adopted in more households.

Learn how you can go green with using vacuum cleaners for cleaning your home. You can check out the reviews about this tool on cannister vacuum cleaners and simplicity vacuum cleaner. These vacuum cleaners is your eco-friendly tool towards the safest means of cleaning.

You may love the scent of your “ocean breeze,” “clean linen” or “spring garden” dryer sheets, but there is another reason why these products are so potent. In reality, they are so laden with toxic, smelly chemicals they actually need the artificial scent to mask it! In the effort to eradicate the dreaded “static cling,” many Americans unknowingly suffer with headaches, nausea, dizziness, respiratory problems, rashes, difficulty concentrating and faintness caused by their exposure to the fabric softener/dryer sheet chemicals that cling to them day and night. To provide a natural alternative, Nellie’s Dryer Balls offer an innovative way to keep your clothes soft and comfortable, without jeopardizing your health.

While there aren’t many reviews on Amazon, the people who have tried Nellie’s Dryer Balls seem to like them. In fact, 14/18 reviewers would give this product four or five stars and only one person was wholly dissatisfied. One mother comments, “These really work. I have a baby with very sensitive skin. I can use these dryer balls without dryer sheets and his clothes are soft and fluffy. Also, I’ve noticed my towels are fluffier and more absorbent.” She also adds that the material is more resilient than cheaper store brand dryer balls, which fall apart after the second use. Another reviewer likes that the dryer balls make clothes soft, without chemicals or environmental waste.

Even though the press has been largely positive, one Amazon reviewer from Cincinnati, Ohio had a negative review of Nellie’s Dryer Balls. “I used the dryer balls for about 5 months before one split in half,” the reviewer writes. “I contacted the company to request a replacement, but two weeks later I have not received a reply.” The consumer goes on to say there was no shortened dryer time or softer clothes. “I recently discovered that they are made of highly toxic PVC plastic,” the reviewer adds. The “Real Green Girl” blog echoes this sentiment about the dryer balls. “All three of these balls are made out of PVC, poly-vinyl chloride,” the blogger writes. “PVC, number 3 plastic, is the worst of the worst of plastics. It is the most toxic in production, presents problems during its use and creates a nightmare for disposal, with recycling barely and rarely done. In order to soften it, like some toys that are now banned in Europe, additives are added to the PVC. These additives are also very unhealthy, some say toxic, and include chemicals such as the phthalates and lead. PVC is considered the most damaging plastic to the environment.”

Yet, Nellie’s Dryer Balls refuses to be defeated by a little bad press on their seemingly contradictory choice of production materials. They recently released “Nellie’s PVC-Free Dryer Balls.” Additionally, consumers can insert scented soy wax sticks inside the balls to add a bit of fragrance to their wash. For , many consumers noted that it was worth the extra for peace of mind. One reviewer warns that “Kids (and presumably dogs) are really attracted to these things!” So if you want your product to last, keep them safe from the more curious members of the household!

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The Seventh Generation Natural All Purpose Cleaner is a non-toxic, biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, pet-safe, kid-friendly, kosher-certified cleaning spray that comes in two different varieties; Free & Clear and Green Mandarin & Leaf. This product is designed to de-grease hard surfaces, mop floors and clean countertops effectively, without leaving behind those powerful headache-inducing fumes. Retailing at .99, these products are more expensive than competitive brands, but deals can often be found at sites like www.amazon.com and www.drugstore.com. As with any product, there are pros and cons to choosing this item.

Consumers at Amazon seem to really like the Natural All Purpose Cleaner. People like the “light orange” smell that is not overpowering at all. Some consumers mention that they’ve suffered health problems in the past from cleaning chemicals and they appreciate that there are no harmful ingredients in this cleaner. They also like that it works “as good as any chemical-filled product,” as reviewer Cherise Everhard puts it. She adds, “I have used it to clean up frozen mud on a window, grease and various miscellaneous spills. I really think it does a fantastic job.”

However, there are a few qualms about the Seventh Generation Natural All Purpose Cleaner too. Store Trooper Karen Kirkman says she prefers Lysol All-Purpose and that the Seventh Generation didn’t get the stains out of her porcelain sink. In reviews at www.drugstore.com, consumers commented that they sometimes get streaks on mirrors or a filmy residue with this product. Reviewers have described the scent as “fishy,” “chemical” and “strange.” Some of the raters at www.ecohuddle.com said they were disappointed with the “cleaning power” of this product, although they admitted that they’re not really “into cleaning that often” or that they hoped the product would tackle larger messes and stains.

Seventh Generation’s line of green cleaning products, including their Natural All Purpose Cleaner, are looking to inspire more consumers to get into the eco-friendly spirit. The company’s co-founder often pens op-ed pieces for The Huffington Post, mentioning that he feels we should have one gold standard for environmental products that fancy themselves “natural,” “organic” or “green.” The absence of such standards creates a sort of “Wild West” of cleaning products, he says, which sows doubt into the minds of consumers and leads them to fear they’re being led along for the ride as manufacturers charge higher prices; not because the naturally derived ingredients cost more but just because they can.

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Vinegar is one of the oldest home recipes for stain removal using safe and effective ingredients. Of course, not everyone feels comfortable dousing a stain with something so pungent. Vinegar might be good at getting out food stains, but what about mud, sweat and blood? If you’re looking for a well-rated, all-around good stain-busting product, then you may want to try the Ecover stain remover. This Belgian company has been around for almost 30 years creating environmentally friendly household cleaners and sustainable factories.

Though there are only nine reviews, all the Amazon users have high praise for the Ecover stain remover. One consumer said he had to use the product twice to remove a wound stain, but adds, “I can count on it to remove grass stains, dirt, and food stains the first time around.” Another shopper says Ecover removed a year-old ink stain on a pair of khaki pants. “This is by far the best stain remover I have ever used,” another reviewer writes. One man comments that this stain remover even got rid of the dreaded “pit stains” his wife so despised. “It works like the chemical stain sticks and is the best I’ve ever used,” another reviewer says.

Even though there are no negative reviews for the Ecover stain remover online, many “green” seeking consumers are looking for 100% non-toxic ingredients. People who are concerned about adverse health effects and allergies from many cleaning products and personal hygiene products may find little consolation in the Ecover stain remover ingredient list. Sure, there’s no harm in water, alkyl poly glycoside C10-16 (a peptide), sodium chloride (salt), cellulase (an enzyme), citric acid, subtilisin (a protease) or linalool (an essential oil). However, there are some troublesome ingredients. According to www.scorecard.org, the ingredient 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol is a “suspected gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, immunotoxicant and skin/sense organ toxicant.” Another ingredient, ethanol, “causes skin and eye irritation,” according to the Material Safety Data Sheet. Sodium lauryl ether sulfate is in a lot of products, including Ecover’s stain remover, and is said to “cause mild irritation on contact with skin, eyes or mucous membranes” and may “cause irritation or allergic reaction.” Sodium lauryl sulfates are the most common source of eye irritation from shampoos and have been found to cause a drying effect on the skin by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists. One must also wonder what exact ingredients are included in “fragrance,” as the label simply states.

Despite the fact that it isn’t completely devoid of all chemicals, the Ecover stain remover is a relatively environmentally-friendly alternative to most of the other stain removers on the market. The Ecover line has been featured in many prestigious publications, including: TIME Magazine, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, Healthwise and Natural Home. For more information about this product, you can visit www.ecover.com. You can buy this product online at www.amazon.com for .99, for .46 at www.herbtrader.com or at most supermarkets and co-ops.

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The idea of cleaning your own carpet can be fun but a lot of tedious work needs to be done. That’s why, it’s highly recommended that you should have your own carpet cleaning machine, that is, if you have the money to buy one. Well, another option is to rent one but it can also be expensive. Now what is the ultimate solution to this mess? Well, for one thing, you can call up a carpet cleaning company.

On the other hand, there are lots of individuals who will try to really give their carpets a good cleaning job. So, what do they do? To save time and to avoid getting all too wet and tedious, they would go for dry cleaning their carpets and even some carpet cleaning companies will recommend this especially if a home owner would try to do this on his own. Dry cleaning is more of a chemical cleaning than anything, and it is not really dry, some water is used to inject the chemicals into your carpet. The amount of water used is in reality very tiny and it is very fast in drying. But there are other dry cleaning methods other than using chemicals that are in liquid form. There are some who used powder chemicals. Once the moist chemical is placed into your carpet it is then brushed into the fibers and nap of the carpet, it mixes with the dirt and other debris in the fibers and nap and then it is allowed to stay for a few minutes. Next, the chemicals fall into place and trap all the dust and debris in small grains and that’s the time the carpet is then cleaned by utilizing a vacuum cleaner and the dust is then removed in this manner. However, should you really want the services of a carpet cleaner company, you can try to go online and find a directory listing of carpet cleaners and for sure, you will find one near or within your area…or within your budget, that is.

Cleaning house is something that needs to be done and needs to be done often. I mean who wants to leave in a messy house? Well, I know some that you might guess love living in a pig sty but really it all comes down to laziness.

Label your homemade cleansers and fresheners properly, the way you would your regular chemicals. Store them beyond the reach of children and pets. Even non-toxic substances can cause sickness when ingested in large quantities.

Make your own air freshener by putting drops of your favorite scent in a pot full of water. Let the mixture boil on the stove for several hours without putting the lid on. The scent of citrus rind will invigorate the members of your household as it wafts across the rooms in your house. Try other essential oils beside citrus.

Freshen up your bathroom by placing a few drops of essential oil on the cardboard that holds the toilet paper in bathroom. Smell the oil’s fragrance as it is released with each pull on the paper.

Use your old chemical cleansers without leaving a harsh smell by making a rinse. Mix your favorite essential oil with plain water. Pine, lemon, wintergreen, eucalyptus, lavender and other scents make good fresheners. Use a ratio of four drops of oil to a pint of water. For your final rinse, squirt your mixture from a spray bottle. Keep it in a dark place if your bottle is clear.

The first thing you should do when you decide it’s time to clean house is to throw away all the trash. Pick a room to start in (I usually start in the dirtiest room) , grab a trash bag and start throwing away all the trash including things you are not going to use anymore. I know it’s hard to part with some things, but the general rule of thumb is, if you haven’t used it for a year, you need to get rid of it!.

Procedure: Mix these ingredients in a bowl, breaking apart clumps as you stir thoroughly. Sprinkle your freshener from a shaker bottle on carpets approximately 15 minutes before vacuuming. You can create your own set of oils to mix in place of the ones listed above.

Use the following mixture for cleaning floors:

• 15 drops orange essential oil
• 8 drops lemon essential oil
• 1 gallon hot water
• 2 tbsp liquid soap

This concoction is effective on tough cleaning jobs and is fresh-smelling besides.

A towel with a smidgen of essential oil is as good as the dryer sheet you purchase from the supermarket. Use this towel as you normally would a regular dryer sheet, adding it in the dryer together with newly washed clothes.

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Chemical pest control, once thought to be the most effective means of controlling crop pests, has fallen from grace in both the eyes of consumers and the eyes of many farmers. Organic pest control is proving to be a highly effective way of preserving crops without damaging the environment or the consumers’ health. New scientific advances in organic pest control have made it a very attractive alternative to pesticides which can kill not only pests, but wildlife, and can contaminate water supplies making them unsafe.

Implementing Organic Pest Control

Since organic pest control is instituted at the time crops are planted, there is less risk of plants becoming infested while they are growing. The absence of artificial chemicals makes the produce safer and improves flavor. Companion planting, the planting of two different types of plants together, is one method of utilizing organic pest control. The companion plant can either act as a repellant for insect pests, or may be more attractive to the pests so they leave the crop plant alone.

Other benefits to using organic pest control methods are that the produce will turn out stronger and will be more resistant to pests as well as diseases. Though chemicals can effectively also destroy pests; doing so, they expose the produce and consumers to many dangers. On the other hand, organic pest control ensures using eco-friendly means as well as safeguarding the welfare of the general consumer.

Eliminating areas where pests breed is an effective method of organic pest control. Removal of animal waste and stagnant water stops pests from breeding. Proper disposal of organic and non organic waste is also important. A bottle or can containing stagnant water can provide a breeding area for pests. Organic waste provides both a food source and a breeding ground.

There are also a number of simple though effective organic pest control methods that anyone can adopt in order to combat the menace from pests. For example, using ladybugs to eat up aphids will ensure that your garden is not destroyed by pests and breeding praying mantises will ensure that pests will be eaten up. Of course, you should grow plants that attract these insects in order to ensure that pests are kept at bay.

Before the advent of chemical based pesticides, most farmers and gardeners were in any case using organic pest control to keep their plants and produce free from the dangers of pest infestation. Even today, and despite what modern technology is throwing at us, it is still possible to continue doing organic garden pest control without resorting to use of chemical based products which is important for house pest control as well.

As mentioned, ladybugs will eat aphids while the praying mantis will kill of other insects. Using such natural, organic and non-toxic methods can prove to be more beneficial than when using chemical based pesticides.

Lye, fat and water are the three basic ingredients that combine to make soap. Lye dissolves protein and oily deposits, lending itself to cleaning applications in the home as well as being one of the main ingredients in making soap. Many commercial oven cleaning applications use lye. It can be used as a paint stripper, but on wood it will raise the grain. Lye dissolves protein and oil — meaning it can degrade soap and hair — making it useful as a drain cleaner.

Wood ash lye has a different chemical makeup than commercially produced lye. The chemical name for lye made with wood ash is called potassium hydroxide. The commercially available lye crystals are sodium hydroxide. These two different chemicals cannot be substituted in equal measure. Read recipes carefully to see which type of lye is used or you could be disappointed with your results.

Homemade lye is best made using ash from hardwoods like maple and oak or by using fruit trees such as apple. Evergreens and pine trees are not suitable woods for ash for this purpose. The wood must be burned at high temperatures with lots of oxygen so that the wood is completely consumed leaving white, paper thin ash, not chunks of charcoal.

You will need enough ashes to fill a lye-safe, waterproof container (non-metal) to within three to four inches of the top rim. Ash containers may be large (wooden barrels) or small (5 gallon buckets).

Get 2 containers that are not metal. The first vessel will contain the ash while the second will catch the lye water. Near the bottom of your ash bucket, fashion a small hole. To stop the hole Use a non metal object such as a cork, wooden tooth pick, or a small dowel.

In the bottom of the ash container, place a layer of clean river gravel. Grass, hay or straw should then be added and packed 4 inches thick. Pressing down firmly, fill the rest of the bucket with your wood ashes. Be sure to stop 3 or four inches below the top.

At least five gallons of soft water will be needed, possibly more. Having only trace amounts of minerals classifies water as soft. This water can be acquired by use of a specialized filter, or from peat or, sandstone or lava rock sources like granite. You could also use distilled water. Rainwater is a natural source of soft water.

Be cognizant that the location of your container should be well away from animals or children that could upend it. The drainage can be caught in a glass jar, wooden bucket, or an enamel coated pan. Don’t use metal or the lye could burn a hole in it. Find a position for this catch container that is close enough to the ash bucket to prevent unnecessary splashing during drainage.

Lye may cause blindness. Ingestion of lye can be deadly. Potassium hydroxide (lye) is caustic and can burn anything that it touches, reacting especially to fats and oil on skin. The chemical action of lye with fats and oils creates salts which can result in severe burns, permanent injury and scars. Note that lye burns may not hurt right away because the burn may be so severe as to have damaged the nerves (pain receptors) in the skin.

Safety precautions should be undertaken before beginning. Check to be sure the space where you are working is well ventilated. The telephone numbers for poison control and emergency medical services should be at your fingertips. Wear protective clothing. Rubber cleaning gloves and protective eyewear are a must along with covering for your arms and legs. Keep vinegar nearby in order to neutralize any skin burns. Do NOT wash with water following contact with this substance as this will merely exacerbate the corrosive affect.

Use a broom handle or dowel to create an indentation in the packed ashes. Boil one of the gallons of your soft water. Carefully use the full gallon of boiling water to wet the ash. The ash and water will spit, spew and bubble. Wait until this simmers down before adding another gallon of soft water. The ashes may settle to a lower level. Add more ash to the container to keep it filled. Repeat this process until the ashes in the container are covered with water. Close the lid on the container.

Clear the opening at the base of the container so that the liquid can drain into your second vessel. Draining the ash bucket could take as much as 24 hours.

Take the runoff from your ash bucket and pour it through again on day two and day three. Recycling the water through the ashes increases the strength of your lye.

A variation of this method is to leave the bucket sitting without draining it. Cover the container and allow the water to sit for about 3 days. Make sure it is in an area where it can’t get spilled. After this time you should drain the bucket.

The drained liquid is lye water also known as potassium hydroxide. A fresh intact egg placed into your lye can test its strength. If your lye solution is the right potency, the egg will float exposing a nickel or quarter sized portion of its shell above the surface. This equals an area of 2 to 2 1/2 centimeters in diameter. An egg that sinks means that the lye solution is too weak and won’t work in soap recipes. Dilute your lye solution with more rainwater should the egg bob on top of the surfaceindicating that your solution is too strong. Be sure to dispose of the egg after use.

Heating weak lye water will strengthen your solution by reducing the water content. Enamel finished pans are safe for this as long as they are never again utilized in cooking foods. Be careful when heating lye as it can be scorched. The solution is strong enough when a chicken feather touched to the heating lye starts to dissolve. Set the pan of lye water aside to cool.

Store lye water in jars with plenty of head room to allow for safety in pouring. Close jars firmly and store them in an unlit, cool area where curious children haven’t any access.

Dispose of the old leached ashes in a hole dug away from high traffic areas. The ashes should be completely cooled before you cover the hole.

To make potash crystals, place the lye water in a safe container. You’ll find that glass is a good choice for this project. Left in the sun, uncovered, the water will evaporate and crystals will form. Follow the same storage precautions with potash crystals as you would the lye water.

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Whether you have a bagless HEPA filter, a pre-filter, or disposable bags, they all need to be changed at some point.  With the average life of a vacuum cleaner, you can expect to spend the same on either collection system for filters, but if you value your time, you can expect to spend quite a bit more on a bagless system.

To keep your bagless vacuum carpet cleaner operating at peak levels, you’ll need to empty the dirt container when it is full and perform regular maintenance on the filter.  The type of filter the vacuum uses will determine just how much service will be required, although most use a pleated HEPA filter.

Cleaning
Even though the claim of better airflow performance with bagless vacuums is true in a sense, over the life of the vacuum you’ll get the same, or maybe even better performance from a bagged vacuum cleaner system. 

With bagged vacuum cleaners, the performance will start at 100% with each new bag then slowly drop as the bag starts to fill.  Just how quickly the performance drops depends on how well the bag is constructed.  With the average vacuum and the average bag, you may replace the bag every 3 – 4 weeks with 90% of performance the first week, 70% in weeks 2 and 3, then 50% of less in the fourth week.

The short cycle will insure that you get a 100% peak carpet cleaning every 3 or 4 weeks from the vacuum cleaner.  The filtered cyclonic machines have filters that are designed to last 6 months, 12 months, and even up to 18 months before they need to be replaced.

Pets
If you have dogs or cats, whether you see it or not, almost all domestic animals shed their fur on a regular basis throughout their lives.Pet owners often wonder as well, which vacuum is the best to remove pet hair.

For pretty much the same reasons that fur sticks to the carpet, it will also stick to your bagless vacuum’s pleated filter cartridge.  The fur will reduce the performance of airflow, and is also a pain in the neck to clean off the filter. 

Over time, the fiber that makes up the filter can retain odor from pets, even if you clean the filter well.  If your filter requires replacing only once a year, you could end up with a vacuum that spits odors that will stink up your house pretty bad. 

Bagged up
Those vacuums that use bags will often provide for neat disposal of a full bag.  There are some brands such as BOSCH that actually engineer bag disposal into the system.With BOSCH canister vacuums, the replacement of bags is a single dust free step.  The new mega filt bags have a built in closure system that upon removal, will slide shut and trap the dirt and debris  inside of the bag, making removal quick and easy.

Still, there are many people out there who love bagless machines.  Bagless vacuums will continue at a slow place to gain market share, and people will continue to buy them.  For many, a bagless vacuum can be the right vacuum to have.

For the party times, a little wine and jokes are fun. Splashing a glass of wine on to the carpet is a common ‘accident’ almost everywhere in US and may be in Europe too. A globe of fire passes through the heart of the host, my precious carpet! Red wine stain removal from light colored cotton is not going to be an easy task. The researchers from chemical manufacturers have made attempts to remove red wine stains from colored fabrics for many years.

The ‘tips’, ‘techniques’ and ’solutions’ for red wine stain removal ranges from application of fresh water to hydrogen peroxide, white wine and detergents of varying kinds. Apart from water, everything else can have negative effect on the piece of fabric that you want to keep and display as your favorite for a long time. If your pure white fabric has a stain you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean it. The bleaching property, which can remove almost any original color of fabrics. These cleaners will give you the desirable result you where looking for. You do not want to see is some irreparable damage to your favorite carpet.

There are many carpet cleaning products available on the market today. These typically clean stains and the red wine stain is one of them. Act quickly after spilling the red wine over the carpet, to avoid letting it soak for several minutes. The results can be less satisfactory if you wait for an hour to clean the stain. Carpet cleaning detergents have specific instructions on how to use them. Several household items like alcohol (for cleaning purposes), mild soap etc are suited for the purpose of immediate cleaning of wine stain from fabrics of any type. To check for color loss test an area around the edge first, if you are not sure about the result you may receive.

You may at times need to pay high sums to professional carpet cleaning services. To remove all kinds of stains on all types and any color fabric, you may need to hire a professional carpet cleaner. Professional cleaners are hired when there is excess stains and after you find it is next to impossible to make the fabric look like a new one. Most professional carpet cleaners have handled different stain and fabric cleaning assignments in the past. You can be confident that your professional carpet cleaner removes the dirt and stains.

Back to the topic of red wine stain removal. You may try to clean the cotton by yourself. If you have a fabric stain, you can flush out the wine from inside out by spraying water with a liquid soap solution. Bad results can result if you try to remove the dried stain yourself.