Detoxifying and Disinfecting Your Home

We all know how critical it is to detoxify and cleanse ourselves from chemicals, waste and other harmful unwelcome visitors living in our bodies, but a great contributor to the detritus that sits in our systems has a lot to do with the chemicals we are exposed to in our everyday lives. Chances are, at some point during your day you will be faced with this exposure; while cleaning, while at a restaurant, or while being in a room that has just been cleaned with a harsh smelling chemical.

When we wrinkle our noses upon smelling some kind of chemical-based solution after entering a room, that's really the result of those artificial scents tricking us into thinking that's the way the room should smell. We have been conditioned to think that smell indicates the job has been done and our health is safe; no flu bug for us. This, coupled with ads shown by big companies reinforcing this strong connection between chemical use and optimized health makes us even more confused about what the right cleaners for our homes should be. Once we see past these ads and feel assured that we can have a clean and healthy home without the use of powerful chemicals, we can start detoxing our home and creating a healthier, chemical-free environment under our own roof.

Luckily, there are some very simple ways to create a cleaner, less toxic home environment, just by eliminating cleaning agents and replacing them with natural alternatives.

First things first, air out your home. Open windows and let the fresh air in! There are likely a lot of cooped-up toxins and chemicals that need time to migrate out of your home. Second, go to your pantry, your sinks, your laundry room and your garage, placing every single cleaning product in a box. Your township or city should have a depot where you can drop off these old cleaning products that you will no longer want to use. The next time you have to drive somewhere, add this drop off to your route. If you can't find a depot, you may donate your products to a shelter. Ideally, no one should be cleaning with chemicals, but the least eco-friendly thing we can do is throw them away. The idea is to use them up and start fresh.

Then you'll need to pick up the basics for making eco-friendly cleaning supplies. All you'll need is vinegar, baking soda, lemons, essential oils, microfiber cloths, and castile soap (plain or scented with essential oils). Try looking for green certifications, such as EcoLogo, a standard trademark found on eco-friendly and reduced or no chemical content products.

For general cleaning, there are plenty of options. Try using a vegetable-based all-purpose cleaner (scent-free or natural essential oils only), vinegar, or 2 tablespoons of castile soap mixed with water in a spray bottle. For heavier stains, place some baking soda on the area and agitate with a scrub brush and the all-purpose cleaner. For glass, try using vinegar and newspaper—it's an old trick that works very well.

If you don't fancy the smell of vinegar in your livingroom, try moistening a microfiber cloth for washing and have a dry one on standby. Wipe the glass with the wet cloth, and buff with the dry cloth. The windows will be spotless, streak-free, and shiny. Essential oils and water will do the trick for keeping your space disinfected.

For quick disinfecting or freshening up your home, try using essential oils and water instead of room deodorizers, electrical socket companions or spray cans full of artificial misty mountain air. Simply add 10 drops to a spray bottle filled with water and mist away. It's a great counter top cleaner, post-bathroom spray, or air refresher, and keeps the germs out. Imagine smelling the real scent of tea tree oil, lavender, lemon, or cinnamon. The oils actually disinfect your home at the same time, so you get natural scents and actual health benefits from doing this.

By opting for chemical free cleaning products, the scents you remember will no longer linger, which means you may have to mist more often to produce the same effect. The extra effort is well worth it when it comes to your health.

Detoxing your home is simple, so why not give it a try!

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