Less-Toxic Alternatives For A Clean and Healthy Home
There are several different ways to keep your home clean and smelling fresh using less toxic alternatives. Single ingredient, common household materials work very well on your carpet or other surfaces.
To begin, two tips for a less-toxic household are:
Remove your shoes when you enter your house. Your shoes can track in harmful amounts of pesticides, lead, cadmium and other chemicals.
Vacuum carpets and floors regularly. If possible use a fine particulate filter, such as a HEPA filter, in your vacuum cleaner. A HEPA filter is a specialized filter that removes particles (such as pollen dust, dust mites etc.) that a regular filter would not take out.
Easy recipes for home cleaning:
For sinks, tubs and toilets - use baking soda.
For wood furniture - use Vegetable oil with a little lemon.
For Air freshener - simmer a mixture of cloves and cinnamon or use vinegar and water.
Cleaning mirrors and shining chrome - use vinegar and water in a pump spray bottle.
Dishwashing detergents - use products that are free of chlorine bleach and low in phosphates such as plant-based soaps and detergents.
Use bathroom cleaners that are free of aerosol propellants and antibacterial agents.
The Environmental Services Division has numerous informational packets regarding less toxic alternatives to home cleaning and home and yard maintenance. To request more information call 510-494-4570.
