Some issues with cleaning products

The US Environment Protection Agency have found the average US house contains 2-5 times more air pollution than the air outside, and in some cases up to 100 times more.    This is largely due to household cleaning products, air fresheners and pesticides.   Furthermore a University of York / BBC study showed that “Limonene”, found in many scented products, interacts with ozone in the air and produces Formaldehyde!

Saving money

The great news is that by changing your cleaning products you can reduce indoor pollution and save money.  The average UK household spends £140 per year on products.  

Animal testing

However the shocking truth is that after all the anti-animal testing cosmetic campaigns of the 90’s most mainstream cleaning products are still tested on animals.  To ensure you are using animal free tested products look for the leaping bunny logo on the packaging.

What I use

A cheaper solution to buying commercial products is to make your own. My cleaning arsenal is very simple; lemon, white vinegar, bi-carb, natural washing up liquid and tea-tree oil.  I have spray bottles from when I used to buy cleaning products and refill them with the appropriate combination of items as I need to.

My cleaning product recipes

• Floor mopping spray – 1/4 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water

• Shower spray – 1/4 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water, a few drops of essential oil

• Window cleaning – mainly water with a bit of vinegar and a drop of washing up liquid

• Anti mould – 1/4 cup vinegar, few drops of tea-tree oil, 1 cup water

• Lemon to remove water marks and lime scale – keep lemon halves from cooking in the fridge and use as needed

• Bi-carb (baking soda) – a mild abrasive, for anything a bit stubborn.

Where I buy the ingredients

I am able to get all of the above, apart from Tree Tree oil, from Get Loose. My local plastic free organic shop. Do check out if you have a local independent shop that might sell these items loose. My “where to food shop with less packaging” post may help you.

If not, white vinegar can be bought in 5 litre bottles online for around £5 and this will last ages. For the ready-made ones I do buy I use Bio-D as it is plant based, made in the UK, does not pollute the water system and is not tested on animals. The company is also an Ethical Consumer Best Buy.  If not avaliable at your local bulk shop these can bought online in 5ltr containers (you refill your smaller ones) saving money and packaging.

I have not experimented making my own laundry liquid, fabric softener, toilet cleaner or washing up liquid, but there are recipes online. 

Recycling

As you use up your old products and start making your own you may find you have an excess of bottles with trigger sprays. Or some break, they don’t last forever.

The bottles themselves can be recycled in your normal household recycling. However the trigger or pump sprays cannot.

Recycle Box allows consumers to send up to four tiggers, or pumps, for free in your own envelope.

Over to you….

So why not consider what products you would like to make in your own home?  I’d love to hear how you get on and your recipes / tips.