Eco friendly cleaning products and tips, from my French friend Sophie

 Bellow is an email I just received from my friend. I liked it so much I decided to share it with the web:

"Mike asked me to do some research on house cleaning non toxic products, so I thought I would share these tips with you.
        Or maybe he was just trying to entice me to clean more ha !
        Ciao
        SoF

        “The average American uses about 25 gallons of toxic products per year in their home (Source: Prosperity Without Pollution, by Joel S. Hirschorn and Kirsten V. Oldenburg, 1991).

        EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally, more than 200 times higher than outdoor levels. Cleaning products and other household products are among the many culprits. (Source: EPA)

        Cleaning products can be among the most hazardous chemicals in your home or office and are therefore regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These products create hazardous waste -- threatening human health and the natural environment. Borax, ammonia and baking soda are safe alternatives that can clean and disinfect to meet hospital standards and are much cheaper than name brand cleaners. There are many green products available that are just as effective as traditional ones.
        With a little effort, you can make your home a truly clean haven rather than a chemical storage tank.

        Tips:

            * Choose products that are biodegradable and non toxic to humans and aquatic life.
            * Choose concentrated products, and be sure that they can work in cold water.
            * Choose products with VOC concentrations of less than 10% of the weight of the products when diluted for use as directed.
            * Choose products with a neutral pH.
            * Choose products in recycled, recyclable and refillable containers and packaging.
            * Avoid petroleum-derived ingredients. Instead choose surfactants derived from vegetable oil. Look for d-limonene and pine oil solvents.
            * Avoid containing EDTA and NTA. Look for alternatives with sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium silicate.
            * Avoid phosphates, Choose products with a phosphate concentration of 0.5% or less by weight.
            * Avoid products containing chlorine bleach or sodium hypochlorite.

        Healthy alternatives include white vinegar,  baking soda, salt and lemon

        Vinegar:

            * Eliminate soap residue by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the washer's final rinse. Vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics but strong enough to dissolve alkalis in soaps and detergents
                        + DO NOT USE VINEGAR IF YOU ADD CHLORINE BLEACH TO YOUR RINSE WATER.  IT WILL PRODUCE HARMFUL VAPORS!
            * To remove decals and non slip bathtub strips saturate a cloth or sponge  with hot vinegar and squeeze over decals.
            * Stick-on hooks come off from painted surfaces if  you squeeze a few drops of vinegar behind the hook
            * Remove price labels by coating the label with several coats of white vinegar. Let it soak in and after several minutes the label will rub off
            * Lime deposits around faucets can be softened for easy removal by covering the deposits with vinegar-soaked paper towels. Leave the paper towels on for about one hour before cleaning. Leaves chrome clean and shiny.
            * Vinegar removes deposits which clog your metal shower heads and sink aerators. Combine 1/2 cup white vinegar and one quart water submerge the shower head or aerators and boil 15 minutes.
            * If you have a plastic shower head, combine 1 pint white vinegar and 1 pint hot water, completely submerge the shower head and soak for about one hour
            * Since vinegar also breaks down uric acid, add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water for babies' clothes.
            * Wool and cotton blankets soft and fluffy add 2 cups white vinegar to a tub of rinse water
            * To make a homemade anti-fogging glass cleaner try 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water and mist,  This also reduces ice build-up on the outside of cars.
            * For rust stains and hard water deposits apply vinegar full-strength until spot disappears, then rinse. Repeat if necessary
            * Mix vinegar with salt to create a paste for a good surface cleaner.  It really cleans tarnished copper
            * Remove stubborn hard water sprinkler spots and streaks on glass with undiluted vinegar.
            * Aluminum care is another great area for vinegar. Brighten aluminum utensils by cooking acid foods such as tomatoes, apples, or rhubarb or by boiling 2 tablespoons vinegar per quart of water for  10 minutes in the pan. Prevent discoloration in the bottoms of double boilers or egg poachers  by adding 1 teaspoon vinegar to the water in the bottom pan.
            * Heating a solution of 1 tablespoon vinegar per qt of water in each pan until discoloration disappears.
            * Clean aluminum coffeepots and remove lime deposits by boiling equal pans of water and white vinegar. ( Boiling time depends upon how heavy the deposits are.)
            * Clean tea pots by boiling equal parts of vinegar and water for several minutes and let stand an hour.  Then rinse with plain water before using tea kettle.

        Baking Soda

            * You can cut the amount of chlorine bleach used in your wash by half when you add 1/4 cup to front loading washers and 1/2 a cup to top loading machines
            * This will also make your clothes smell clean and fresh
            * Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water for a general cleaner
            * Use baking soda on a damp sponge to clean and deodorize all kitchen and bathroom surfaces
            * Baking Soda and Salt paste will cleans baking dishes - enamel, ceramic and glass,  coffee stains from cups or counter tops and be a great soap scum remover
            * For sluggish or clogged drains pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar and cover the drain if possible.  Let set for a few minutes, Then pour a kettle of 6 or more cups of boiling water down the drain  to flush it. The combination of baking soda and vinegar breaks down fatty acids into soap and glycerin, allowing the clog to wash down the drain.
              DO NOT USE THIS METHOD AFTER ANY COMMERCIAL DRAIN OPENER HAS BEEN USED  OR IS STILL PRESENT IN THE STANDING WATER.

Comments

[Pat]

Have you tried ENJO. It uses only water and the Austrian Fibres to clean faster and easier! Vinegar produces a lot of bottles in the landfill. It is also toxic to the water ways. Check it out!!

[Carpet Cleaning]

25 gallons of toxic products per year for the average user sounds about right. I tend to use the more polutants inside then outside all the time with my customers. I use only natural products to clean carpets and really feel it's the best way to go for peoples and pets health

[Fuller Brush]

Great post.

[Jan]

Nice article. I learn a lot from it. Thank you for sharing.