Cleaning with Cleaners
As I was working on some cleaning the other day, my daughter was talking about some co-workers who were trying to clean more "naturally" but they so hated to use vinegar because... well... let's face it, it doesn't have the prettiest of smells Yes, I do occasionally use vinegar in my cleaning, but let's talk today about how we have made cleaning so difficult and so many products claiming to be this or that... all the while laden with chemicals that we really don't need.
Let's just start with picking a general purpose popular cleaner and look at the ingredients as taken from the Pine Sol website:
Water
Water, also sometimes listed on product labels as aqua, is the most widely used of all solvents. It is a colorless, odorless and flavorless liquid and serves as the base of many cleaning products.
C10 Alcohol Ethoxylates
C10 alcohol ethoxylates are surfactants or cleaning agents that have strong grease-cutting ability.
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid is an organic acid, used as a cleaner or an antibacterial agent in EPA-registered cleaning products. It can remove discoloration, soap scum and mineral-scale deposits left by hard water on fixtures such as toilets, bathtubs and sinks.
Fragrance
Fragrances and perfumes are mixtures of fragrant essential oils, aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents. They are used in cleaning products to add a particular scent (lavender, lemon, etc.) to clothes and homes, and to mask unpleasant odors. Clorox provides a separate list of all the fragrance ingredients used in our household and professional cleaning, disinfecting and laundry products.
Caramel
Caramel is a colorant (dye or pigment) added to cleaning products to improve aesthetic appeal, or to act as a tracer (for example in certain toilet bowl cleaners, blue coloration indicates that the product is working). They can be made from both synthetic and natural materials.
d-Limonene
d-Limonene is used in cleaning products to help dissolve stains and soils and as a fragrance component. A member of a class of chemicals called terpenes, d-Limonene is obtained from the rinds of citrus fruits. It has been identified as a potential allergen by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, an advisory board to the European Union.
Dimethicone/Silica/PEG Distearate Antifoam
Dimethicone/silica/PEG distearates are used mainly as defoamers, although they are also emollients, lubricants and thickeners in cleaning products. They can be used to give formulas a smooth coating, while enabling evaporation without leaving a greasy residue.
Hexyl Cinnamal
Hexyl cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient that is found naturally in oil of chamomile. It has been identified as a potential allergen by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, an advisory board to the European Union.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylchloroisothiazolinone is a compound that is used as preservative, a class of ingredients used to help prevent products from deteriorating over time, maximizing their shelf-life and ensuring efficacy and safety. They work by inhibiting growth of bacteria or mold, or by absorbing oxygen that can oxidize ingredients.
Methylisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone is a preservative, a class of ingredients used to help prevent products from deteriorating over time, maximizing their shelf-life and ensuring efficacy and safety. They work by inhibiting growth of bacteria or mold, or by absorbing oxygen that can oxidize ingredients.
Sodium C14-17 Sec-Alkyl Sulfonate
Sodium C14-17 secondary alkyl sulfonates are surfactants or cleaning agents used in liquid and powder laundry detergents and other cleaners
Xanthan Gum
This is probably one of the most common "concentrated" cleaners out there. You'll notice the first ingredient is WATER, yep good ole H2O. Turn on your sink and wa-la the first ingredient in all the cleaners on the market. What does that mean to us as consumers? Well, it means that the biggest part of the concoction is water. We are paying for a "tea" if you will to clean with. And because Pine Sol is concentrated, we will add it to... guess what???? You guessed it... Water. You can definitely "smell" the cleaner and the area you cleaned sure smells as if it has been cleaned. We have become so overwhelmed with fragrances that it seems that that is the cue to tell us it is cleaned. We all know that "cleaner" smell and associate it with being clean and bacteria/viral free. And what about that "kills 99.9% of bacteria and some viruses we see on cleaners and air fresheners??? Well let's just look at Lysol and see what you are spraying into the air to breath in.
Lysol has had a colorful history... One of it's many marketed uses was as a feminine hygiene product... I don't know about any other ladies out there, but it would definitely not be my go to.
Ingredients as per Wikipedia:
Ethanol/SD Alcohol, 40 1–3%; fluid that acts as sanitizerIsopropyl
alcohol, 1–2%; partly responsible for Lysol's strong odor; acts as sanitizing agent and removes odor
p-Chloro-o-benzylphenol, 5–6%; antiseptico-Phenylphenol, 0.1%; antiseptic; in use circa 1980's
Potassium hydroxide, 3–4%Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethylbenzyl ammonium saccharinate, 0.10%; microbiocide
Alkyl (C12-C18) dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, 0.08%;
antisepticAlkyl (C12-C16) dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, 0.02%; antiseptic
Lactic acid as an antiseptic.
Hydrogen Peroxide
I won't go in to all the details of how the ingredients effect your body. But imagine, if you will, that if your hands become scaly and burned due to the chemicals what is happening to the rest of your systems as it absorbs through the skin and through the lungs. Cleaners can disrupt hormones and wreck havoc on your lymph system. I could go on and on with the ins and outs of the cleaners and their details and how much EPA and FDA approvals mean so little.... how much we spend monthly on them, how they effectively treat our health, how many bottles we have stashed around for the "different" things we use them for (glass cleaner, kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, floor cleaner etc.)
So, what if I told you... you can have "clean" without the fragrance, you can have clean without all the harsh chemicals that can dry out and even burn your skin and is safe enough you can spray around or get overspray on food or dishes and not worry about getting sick from it or having to call poison control? What if I told you, your grandma had the right idea.... That's right... soap and water. No, not antibacterial soap, just a plain dish soap (yes it has a few surfactants in it too, but not as many and not as toxic) or preferably castile soap. Studies have shown that we have gone overboard with sanitizing and have began creating super bugs that don't seem to die even with the strongest of bleach, however, some simple old fashioned cleaning can get rid of those pesky germs. Need something more so you can have confidence in keeping those icky bugs at bay? Add one to two parts alcohol (good old 80proof vodka or any 80proof or above *drinkable* alcohol). Need some "cleaning smell"? Add a few drops of essential oils, such as lemon or a blend of your choice. You can mix it in a small bucket for general cleaning and change out the water as needed, plus put in a spray bottle for quick clean ups. Don't mind the vinegar smell? Then replace the alcohol with vinegar. For very dirty surfaces you can used straight alcohol, vinegar or even hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide makes a great bathroom cleaner. Need something a little abrasive? Make a paste with baking soda. Clean a wooden cutting board with a lemon wedge. Use vinegar or alcohol and water to clean glass. No need for expensive cleaners, even those "all natural " cleaners that are on the market or sold by an MLM are really unnecessary to your pocket book. With some simple tweaks the whole house can be cleaned and disinfected without breaking the bank or strong harsh chemicals. The only thing I have yet to fall in love with is an alternative dusting spray, but I haven't given up just yet. Hopefully, I will be able to edit this blog with good news of success.
Remember that cleaning doesn't have to be a storage full of expense and multiple cleaning supplies. In the world of natural, simple is always better. In your research of natural helps always ask yourself, can it be done more simply with less cost while keeping its effectiveness.
