Are your laundry and cleaning cupboards toxin-free and easy on the environment? Use this checklist to see how you score:
Are your cleaning products green? It’s hard to know without a full ingredients list, which most don’t have. Find out the ingredients by calling the manufacturer, and if you aren’t familiar with something, ask them to tell you. Some so-called “green” products hide information behind loose terms such as “surfactants”
You have the right to know what is in the products you buy. When companies recognise that right by disclosing all the ingredients, show your support by buying their products
Do you need all those bottles and sprays? Most homes can be safely cleaned with a few non-toxic items: white vinegar (it’s antibacterial), baking soda, water, microfibre mops – and some elbow grease! Skip laundry products you don’t need, such as fabric softener, chlorine bleach and mould spray.
Carpet saviour:
We all have those carpet emergencies where someone has spilled wine or coffee. If you can get to the stain quickly, simply douse with white vinegar and wash off with soapy water.
This cleaner is also good if you have the ingredients on hand, and it will work on older stains:
3 cups water
¾ cup liquid soap (I use Dr Bronner’s castile liquid soap)
3 drops peppermint essential oil
Put all the ingredients in a blender and run until it foams.
Rub foam into carpet with a damp sponge, leave to dry, then vacuum.
Take a look at Green Goddess: Natural shampoo here.
Image: Jason Hamilton/bauersyndication.com.au
