Cleaning Green & Kid-Safe
By
Billie Karel
Like
it or not, cleaning is a part of life…especially life with kids! Many products
are available on store shelves to help you in the battle against dust, dirt,
mold & mildew, and soap scum. But, how do you know if that “clean smell” is
really clean, or if it’s the smell of
toxic chemicals?
Sadly,
many cleaning products are full of chemicals that can be hazardous to our
health. The fumes from cleaners containing bleach or “fragrance” chemicals are
likely to be:
-
Irritants that can raise the risk of getting asthma, or cause asthma attacks
in those who have it.
-
Carcinogens that can raise the risk for cancer.
-
Hormone mimicking chemicals that are associated with birth defects.
There’s
nothing clean and healthy about hazardous chemicals! Baking soda, lemon juice,
white vinegar, and even club soda can all be used as cheap, non-toxic
alternatives to harsh cleaning chemicals. Here are some of Toxic Free NC’s
favorite green cleaning recipes to help you get started. All of these products
are safe for use around kids. They’re even safe for older kids to mix and use
themselves, so long as they have adult supervision!
Make-it-yourself All-Purpose
Cleaner
2
cups hot water
2 tsp borax* powder
2 tsp borax* powder
1
tsp baking soda
½
tsp lemon juice
½
tsp liquid soap (dish soap works great!)
Directions: Mix all ingredients
thoroughly, then put in a spray bottle. Label the bottle so you know what’s in it.
Great for table and counter tops, and spot cleaning wherever you need it. This
cleaner gets rave reviews from child care providers because it takes marker ink
off tabletops!
Mold & Mildew Killer
½
cup white vinegar
½
cup borax* powder
2
cups warm water
Directions: Mix the ingredients up,
then pour or spray them onto the moldy area. Leave for about 10 minutes, then
scrub! If mold is still visible, you may need to repeat the application. This
mixture loses its cleaning power quickly, so don’t save the leftovers, just
pour them down the drain.
Slow Drain Cleaner
Baking
soda – about 1/3 cup
White
vinegar – about 1/3 cup
Hot
water
Directions: Sprinkle baking soda down
the slow drain. Then, drizzle in white vinegar. The mixture will bubble up,
releasing carbon dioxide gas. Leave it alone for a few minutes until the
bubbling stops. Then, pour very hot water down the drain to rinse. Using this
process every so often will help prevent slow or clogged drains!
* Borax powder is a low-toxicity powder typically sold in the laundry
aisle at the grocery store. The biggest advantage to borax for cleaning is that
it does not create any fumes – it is what is called “non-volatile.” However it
is mildly toxic, so store and handle it with care, and don’t let children or
pets put it in their mouths.
For
more green cleaning tips, visit ToxicFreeNC.org or NCHealthyHomes.com.
--
Billie Karel
is program director at Toxic Free NC. In her free time, she gardens, cooks, and
cleans up after her dog using only kid-safe (and dog-safe) green cleaners!
Toxic Free
NC is a non-profit organization in Raleigh fighting pesticide pollution by
advocating for common-sense alternatives that protect our health and
environment. Toxic Free NC works extensively with child care providers and
parents to reduce toxic pollution in children’s environments. You can find out
more about their work at www.toxicfreenc.org, or by calling
919-833-1123.
