Household products play a major role in the amount of plastic waste we produce every year. But do you know what's really hidden in these famous "miracle" products, with their "super degreasing powers"? Chemicalsthat can disrupt our hormonal system, known as " endocrine disruptors ". In this article, we're going to give you some simple yet equally effective solutions for cleaning your home in a way that's ecological, economical and not harmful to your health or that of your loved ones .
Toxic household products?
How to a product supposed to sanitize our home be bad for my health? If it destroys bacteria, it can only be positive.
Think again, household products contain chemical compounds such as alkylphenols, phthalates and pesticides, which have the effect of disrupting our hormonal system, which in the long term can lead to illnesses such as certain cancers, infertility, obesity, thyroid problems, etc.
And although they don't come into direct contact with our skin, simply breathing them in already has a negative impact on our health: illness, allergies, etc.
And we're not even talking about the environmental impact of these products.
Natural cleaning solutions
The good news is that there are natural solutions that are good for the environment and don't put your health at risk. As you'll see, the ingredients are common, you can find them in supermarkets, organic stores or drugstores, and the recipes are super-simple. No need for a degree in chemistry or pharmacy! Your kitchen will be your laboratory, as long as you observe certain basic rules of hygiene. Start by washing your hands (you can also wear gloves), as well as all the equipment and utensils you'll be using.
The ingredients you'll need are: white vinegar, citrus peelings, baking soda, citric acid, soda crystals, liquid black soap and Tea-tree essential oil.
Natural ingredients
- White vinegar is a cleaner. It dissolves limescale and scale, removes marks from windows and mirrors, unclogs and maintains drains, and eliminates unpleasant odours. In most cases, be sure to rinse well!
- Citrus peelings (orange, mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, etc.), a natural source of citric acid, deodorize and sanitize. They are 100% biodegradable and non-toxic. Lemon's little plus: it degreases, deodorizes and whitens laundry, and restores the shine of aluminum and copper.
- Baking sod a eliminates odours, removes stubborn stains and unclogs and cleans drains.
- Citric acid, a multi-purpose cleaner, is a powerful scale remover. It is also fungicidal, kills bacteria, reduces rust, ...
- Soda crystals, not to be confused with baking soda, also have strong cleaning, disinfecting and degreasing properties. They can be used for multiple cleaning and anti-scale functions, and are suitable for all types of surfaces (enamel, tiles, stone, etc.).
- Liquid black soap, made from vegetable oil (often linseed or olive) and potassium hydroxide, is a good cleaner and degreaser. A little plus compared to most industrial household products: it's hypoallergenic.
- Tea-tree essential oil is a broad-spectrum purifier. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, its virtues are manifold. What's more, it leaves a light scent in your home, something you don't always find when using natural products.
Please note, however, that this is an essential oil, and precautions must be taken. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. Take special care if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or have young children.
All these products are generally inexpensive and easy to use. What's more, you'll find them in supermarkets, organic stores and drugstores.
Recipes for natural cleaning
1- Floor cleaner
- 40g soda crystals
- 150g liquid black soap
- 800 ml water at room temperature
- 30 drops Tea-Tree essential oil (disinfectant and anti-bacterial)
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
Pour the 800 ml of water into a large container and add the soda crystals .
Leave the soda crystals to dissolve for about 20 minutes.
Mix and add the black soap, the two tablespoons of vinegar and the essential oil .
Mix together and transfer to a bottle.
When cleaning your home, dilute about 50ml of the product in a bucket of water.
This cleaner is suitable for all surfaces except natural stone.
2- Ecological multi-surface cleaner
- 500ml vinegar
- Peel one or two citrus fruits (remove white membrane)
Place the citrus peelings in a jar and add the vinegar .
Leave to macerate for two weeks before use.
How to use :
Transfer to a spray bottle and use to wipe clean.
This cleaner is suitable for all surfaces except natural stone. If in doubt, spray on a small area to see how it reacts.
This product does not require rinsing.
3- Disinfectant wipes
- A few old pieces of fabric
- White vinegar
- Eau
Cut pieces of the desired size from old fabric and place in a jar.
Add a mixture of half white vinegar and half filtered water (obtained by boiling water).
Add an anti-bacterial or disinfectant essential oil (e.g. 10 drops of Tea-Tree essential oil).
Leave to macerate.
How to use :
Take out a wipe, wring it out and use it, damp, on the surface to be cleaned.
When the wipe is dirty, put it in the washing machine and, once clean, put it back in its jar.
4- Pastilles WC
- 95g citric acid
- 280g baking soda
- 1 tablespoon water
- 90 drops Tea-Tree essential oil (disinfectant and anti-bacterial)
Mix the baking soda and citric acid in a bowl.
Mix water and essential oils in a spray bottle and shake.
Using the spray, gradually mix the water/essential oil mixture with the bicarbonate and citric acid, stirring with a whisk or fork. The mixture should have the texture of wet sand.
Place the mixture in an ice-cube mould and pack well.
Leave to set in the fridge for at least 6 hours.
Unmold and place the pastilles in a glass jar.
How to use :
Put a tablet in the toilet bowl once a week.
Leave to act and then scrub with the brush.
You now have all you need to make your household organic, ecological and safe.
In a few weeks' time, you'll be able to find new recipes for making your own washing powder, cosmetics and other home-care products!
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