The safety of beauty and household products has largely been taken for granted but as you do with food, its vitally important to also scrutinise these ingredients.
The shampoos you apply to your body and the detergents you use in your home eventually end up down the drain and into our water system. It is therefore important that these products have no negative environmental impact during manufacturing and also when released into the environment.
Natural and organic detergents are generally not as strong as regular chemically-based detergents and require a little more effort in the cleaning process. People are often put off by this but a little sweat never harmed anyone in comparison to the damage non-environmentally friendly detergents are causing.
Every year a new Organic detergent is brought into the market and its effectiveness is getting better and better. There are no more excuses for not buying environmentally friendly body care products and household cleaners.
'Go natural' and make your own cleaning products. All one needs is white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, water, and a bit of elbow grease. Not only are these ingredients cheaper than other products on the market, they come in fairly large containers from your local supermarket - white vinegar, for instance, is available in 2 litre bottles (plastic, unfortunately, but it is recyclable). - General Cleaner - white vinegar + bicarb + water - it even foams, and cleans just about anything
- Odour-Remover - bicarb - sprinkle it on carpets to soak up smells and then vacuum; place it in a cup in your fridge or cupboards
- Loo Freshener - water mixed with essential oils, or just add plants to a room – they act as air filters
- Basic Bleach - hydrogen peroxide (believe it or not, this is a totally biodegradable product – we were also surprised) available from chemists. It can, however, irritate the eyes, skin and mucous membranes, so use with care
- Oven Cleaner - dampen oven surfaces, sprinkle bicarb over surfaces and leave overnight; for stubborn dirt, use steel wool
- Mildew Zapper - 2 tsp tea tree oil with 2 cups water – just spray on surface and leave
- Furniture Polish - ½ tsp olive oil & ¼ cup vinegar/lemon juice – wipe on furniture with a rag – olive oil also preserves wood
- Toilet Cleaner - ¼ cup of bicarb into toilet bowl, let it stand for about 30 mins and then scrub. You can use borax for tough stains (just keep this out of reach of little fingers)
- Window Cleaner - 2 tsp vinegar and 500 ml water, spray on windows and wipe dry with newspaper
Click here for our Natural Detergents
Source: urbansprout.com
Good Clean Fun!
When you’re shopping for hand soap, liquid soap and shampoo, look for high levels of plant-based and beneficial ingredients such as sea algae, lavender, sweet orange oil, ginger, rosemary and lemongrass. And, be sure to check out the natural body care just for kids! Natural Body Care
Organic Baby Care |
Smile
Teeth have to last a lifetime of chewing and smiling and because you use toothpaste twice a day, which kind is important. Just like food, ingredients in oral care can be swallowed or absorbed. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural toothpastes that taste great without artificial sweeteners, colours and flavours. Natural Dental Care |
Understanding Underarms Underarms can absorb applied substances directly into the bloodstream and
most conventional deodorants contain artificial fragrances, harsh chemical antiperspirants and preservatives. Natural deodorants do not contain these or the type of aluminum based chemicals suspected for various health issues. Instead, they use herbs or salts found to be very effective by reducing pesky odor-causing bacteria. Natural Deodorant Range |
Not Just Skin Deep Healthy skin starts from the inside with sound nutrients obtained from the food we eat, as well as sufficient sleep and exercise and dealing with stress. Next is being careful about what you put on the outside. Choose facial care and cosmetics that work naturally with your body, not against it! Natraloe Range of Skincare products |
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