Image by: Freedigitalphotos.net
Did you know that many of the chemicals in household cleaning products are suspected or known carcinogens, endocrine disrupters and corrosives? Instead of leaving homes cleaner, many actually pollute indoor air!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that the air inside most US homes is two to three times more polluted than the air outside which proves that together with volatile compound chemicals (VOCs) found in some piece of furniture, paint and appliances, and the effect of chemical cleaning products lingers.
The idea of giving up chemical cleaning products in favour of greener alternatives may seem hard, particularly if the eco-friendly alternatives are expensive! Fortunately you don’t have to part with more cash to clean green. Vinegar is not only an inexpensive kitchen condiment – it’s one of the most effective green cleaning products! Mix one part white vinegar with one part water in spray bottle for a simple all-purpose cleaning product for your home.
Here are just a few practical ways to use this eco-friendly cleaning product:
Disinfect surfaces: Use the vinegar-water mix to disinfect surfaces from kitchen countertops to cutting boards.
Clean windows, mirrors and glass shower doors: Vinegar cuts grease and due to the level of acidity, kills most moulds and bacteria. This makes it an ideal solution for cleaning windows and getting mildew off glass shower doors.
Keep ants out: Spotted ants in your home? Spray and wipe areas where you’ve seen ants with the vinegar-water mix and they won’t be back anytime soon.
Remove odours: Remove odours from clothes or carpets by spraying the affected area with the vinegar-water mixture, work into the fabric and rinse out with water.
Use vinegar to discourage cats from spraying in the house: They don’t like the smell of it and because vinegar neutralises odours, it removes the need for other cats to try to assert dominance by spraying over the original spot.
This week’s eco tip is courtesy of Monique Warner at All4Women.co.za
