Healthy Homes Asia

Cleaning products are supposed to be toxic, you say. They’re supposed to kill germs!

But are we harming ourselves more by using these chemicals, than the germs and bacteria would do to us in the first place?

Once you have gone through your supermarket to try and find chemical free household products, you may be dismayed that there are very few available. So what to do?

Is the room damp and wet? It is a bathroom? Let as much sunlight and air into the room as possible. Mould and bacteria don't like ultraviolet light. So give them as much as you can. Fresh air circulating will help dry out any damp corners which normally grow mould.

Change your cleaning habits. Instead of a weekly clean, conduct quick and regular cleans. This way you'll be able to easily remove problem germs without needing the strong disinfectants, scourers, and surface cleaners. You'll only need 3-4 ingredients to do this:

• Use white cider vinegar in a spray bottle to treat all surfaces (the acetic acid kills harmful moulds and bacteria)
• Use a diluted essential oil general-purpose disinfectant. Try eucalyptus or lavender; if you can, buy a family size bottle from the local organic and wholefood distributors.
• Use baking soda on the grout between your tiles if they're dull and scrub with an old toothbrush.

Natural products are effective but they are designed to break down quickly and lose their strength as antibacterial cleansing agents. You will need to replace and replenish regularly.

When you discard old ingredients, do so thoughtfully. Don't pour your used vinegar and eucalyptus oils down the sink. Recycle them by using them to scrub outside surfaces like brick, concrete or ceramic paths or walls.

Charcoal is an excellent odour eater. Place large chunks of charcoal in your toilet, kitchen, shoe cupboard or other particularly smelly places. You can also boil cinnamon or cloves. Set out a dish of vinegar. Or open a window!

Instead of synthetic air fresheners (which do not belong anywhere near anyone who is breathing) us lavender or citrus potpourris to sweeten the air. Here's how to make them:

• take a handful of dried lavender or bergamot (if you can, buy large quantities can be purchased from organic distributors or ordered from herbal remedy supplier)
• mix the dried flowers with a dozen drops of high quality essential oils of lavender or bergamot.
• put this mixture into muslin sachets and place these inside small earthenware pots which you can display on the windowsill or bathroom shelf

Read this great article listing 37 smart uses of salt for non-toxic cleaning purposes. Who would have thought?

All purpose cleaner
mix 1/4 baking soda, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 2 litres water (add 1/2 cup of ammonia for particularly dirty areas)
Window cleaner
mix 2 tsp vinegar, 1 ltr water, dry with newspaper
Furniture polish
Varnished: mix 1 part lemon juice & 2 parts olive or vegetable oil
Unvarnished: mix 15ml (1 tbsp) lemon oil & 1 ltr (5 cups) of mineral oil
Insect spray for plants
Blend 6 cloves crushed garlic, 1 minced onion, 1 tbsp dried hot pepper, & 1 tbsp pure soap in 4 litres hot water. Let sit 1-2 days; strain and use.
Ant control
Mix 2 tbsp boric acid, 2 tbsp sugar & 1 cup water. Soak paper towels in mixture, place on dishes, set out for ants. Pour a line of cream of tarter where ants enter.

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