How Clean is Clean?

I once read a review for a dish washing soap made by Seveth Generation. The reviewer's comment included a statement regarding how the detergent wasn't the most effective she had used, but it got things clean and her kid wouldn't die if he ate it. At the time, I didn't have kids, but I had dogs and sugar gliders. The comment made me laugh, but it also made me think. I was also toying with the idea of putting the dishwasher drain through a homemade filter in the backyard to use in the garden, and wasn't sure what would be safe to put on the plants. All of this led me to the term:  biodegradable. Here is what Google has to say:

bi·o·de·grad·a·ble

ˌbīōdəˈɡrādəb(ə)l/

adjective

1. (of a substance or object) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms

The original use of the term applied to things made by nature, and therefore easily destroyed by nature. But, we now manufacture biodegradable products by using natural materials (wood to paper, vegetable oils to soap). For other products, chemicals and non-biodegradable materials are used. These substances are not easily broken down in our environment and as a result remain, build up, and cause negative impacts.

Having a clean home is universal throughout the globe. Standards of clean may vary, but the idea is generally the same. Clean might be lighting incense and using herb oils to purify, or it might be using an air purifier and a spray cleaner. Each culture has its own beliefs about what clean is and how one can accomplish it.



Western cultures, especially in the US, believe in manufactured products for making spaces clean. Spray this, squirt that, and wipe with these. There are literally aisles of products that we buy to accomplish "clean." So first let's briefly talk about what we are spraying and squirting. You can certainly do your own research, but the short version is this:  if the product contains a label stating that it may be harmful to humans and domestic animals, then you might not want it in your house. Another of my favorites is to 'wash thoroughly with soap and water after use and before eating or drinking.' (This product is to "clean," but then you need to clean your hands? So if you used this to clean the counter top and then want to prepare your food on it, you might want to clean it again with something else if the logic follows.)

Skip this paragraph if you don't need the details:

The risks with these products are to be weighed against benefits, and that is for you to do. If you are handling raw foods, you do need a method to clean up and reduce risk of food borne illness and bacteria. The choice to buy chemically manufactured products is yours, but you should at least be an "informed consumer." Antibacterial soaps mostly contain a form of pesticide (known for endocrine disrupters and antibiotic resistance risk). Fabric softeners and antibacterial products contain known skin irritants. Multi-purpose cleaners have a sweet smell because they contain solvents that are not required to be mentioned on the label. These can cause organ damage and sore throats when inhaled. Most streak-free products have ammonia which is most harmful to asthma sufferers and can be dangerous if used regularly. This is just a start to the information one can find when researching the ingredients in a product. Are natural cleansers completely safe? Not always. I include some soda products that would be dangerous to consume. Also, essential oils should be used cautiously and be properly diluted. The good news is the solutions you make with these ingredients are diluted enough to reduce risk significantly.

If you are now informed and choose to make a change, it is easier than you think. You can simply begin reading labels more closely and purchase products that are safer for your family and the environment. You can also decide to be safer on your bank account and make your own. Decide what basic ingredients you want to focus on and create various recipes. (Note:  the ingredients I list here are not "registered disinfectants" with the EPA.)

Vinegar

There are many options. Vinegar has been noted as successful against mold and bacteria, but not against human pathogens. It can be used to polish, clean, and remove urine, or it can be used as a solvent and is the best cleanser for produce.
Distilled Vinegar - In the US it is a product of fermenting distilled alcohol and can be a product of petroleum. Outside the US it is a distillation of malt.
Cider Vinegar - This is from apple must and if you purchase it unfiltered, it will contain the "mother." This is the cloudy swirl of good bacteria at the bottom of the bottle. Keep this in the bottom, refill with apple juice, and leave for a month or so and you have another batch of vinegar.

Soda

I don't currently have washing
soda. But I threw in some really
awesome stuff called white
wizard. That stuff is magical!

Very useful when mixed with solutions for scrubbing and also fun to use with vinegar in general. BUBBLES!
Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate) - This can be used as a scrubbing agent, an antiseptic, a local anesthetic, antacid, deodorant, stain and grease remover, roach killer, and strangely as a detergent to remove depleted uranium from your clothes.
Washing Soda (Sodium carbonate) - Like baking soda is good for removal of stains and grease. It is a good water softener. (Not safe to consume.)
Borax (Sodium tetraborate) - Mostly used in laundry, this is a water softener, insecticide, anti-fungal soak. (Don't eat this one, unless you're in China, they use it as a food additive apparently)

Oils

Essential Oils could be a post all by themselves, and probably will be. To keep this manageable, I simply want to mention that essential oils have individual properties for all sorts of benefits. Many are antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal. People will say that essential oils can be dangerous, and they would be correct. Each oil is derived from a natural source that has certain properties. To make an essential oil, many, many, many pounds of the source are boiled down, the steam is piped through a distiller and the resulting liquid is oil and water. The water, also called hydrosol, is removed leaving the oils. These are highly concentrated to an extreme degree. A drop can do a lot. This knowledge should also make you feel better about the price. To this day, I have never replaced a bottle of essential oil. I use them for a lot of things around the house, but not one bottle has run empty! (I'm talking about 10 years, and each jar is less than half gone.) Go easy and start slow. I would purchase tea tree and lavender first. My other must-haves are peppermint and eucalyptus. Buy one a week, or even one a month and the cost won't hurt so bad. But don't opt for the cheapest jar without checking that it is 100% essential oil (not fragrance oil). You can also choose fully organic or the generic store brand. Be careful using some oils during pregnancy.

The larger bottles are my favorite and mostly used for cleaning
and day to day tasks. The smaller bottles are for mostly
aromatherapy and medicinal purposes.

Other Useful Ingredients

Citrus, salt, castile soap (made from natural oils like olive), and herbs.


I will share some of my favorite recipes in the coming posts.