The Rural Voice, 2003-06, Page 50Home Decorating
Cut indoor pollution with natural cleaners
Patti
Robertson
operates
Classic
Interiors in
Wingham.
By Patti Robertson
Did you know, according to the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 50 per cent of all our
illnesses can be traced to indoor
pollution, which is 10 times more
toxic than its outdoor counterpart.
In all the rooms of our homes
there are materials, products and
substances that can directly cause
major illnesses from cancers to birth
defects and needless to say sap our
life-force energy. At the top of the
list are drain cleaners, deodorizers,
nail polish, cosmetics, secondhand
smoke, old pipes, cans, ceramics,
synthetic fabrics, etc. We can choose
to select natural fabrics and building
products and experiment with many
old tried and true cleaning products
rather than harsh chemicals, thereby
warding off and even reversing some
of these very real and deadly diseases
and 'side effects. Then there's the cost
effectiveness to both the
environment, and one's own personal
pocketbook.
Housecleaning regularly with
natural products prevents buildup of
dirt and grime, and keeping your
windows at least a little open, letting
your home breathe, as it were,
making fresh air and light available to
your interiors assists greatly. I'm
constantly practicing with natur41
products and find the results gentler
on my respiratory system and skin.
For example, instead of aerosol room
deodorizers I've switched to natural
incense sticks or an atomizer bottle
filled with mineral water to which I
add 10 to 20 drops of an essential oil.
Both are wonderfully
effective. Lavender
essential oil is my
personal favourite as it
is both calming and
antiseptic. Hubby's
personal favourite is vanilla.
A great toilet freshener is as
simple as adding a few drops of
an antiseptic essential oil to the
bowl. Pine, lemon
and lavender
all work well.
White vinegar,
although not
good for the interior of our bodies, is
a wonderful cleaning product. It is
the mildest of acids and effectively
cleans mirrors, glass and our precious
porcelain ornaments.
White vinegar also makes a
tremendous laundry softener, which
has the added bonus of cutting static
cling and keeping our pipes
degreased as well. I simply add it to
way softener dispenser.
For an effective, safe furniture
polish mix 2 tsp. olive oil, 1 tsp.
white vinegar and 4 cups water into a
spray bottle. I always recommend
you spray your cloth and then dust.
Brass and copper can be effectively
cleaned with a paste made from
lemon juice and baking soda. Scrub
the metal, rinse and dry.
As far as our drains go,
preventative measures are always
most sensible. Use a drain sieve to
prevent clogging your drain. But
when trouble strikes try a mixture of
1 cup baking soda, 1
cup salt and 1/4 cup
of cream of tartar
flushed with
boiling water.
Deodorize your
carpets simply by
sprinkling with
baking soda and
leaving for 20
minutes before
vacuuming
and an all-
purpose
spray
cleaner is a cost-effective mixture of
equal parts water and white vinegar
with just a drop of dish liquid. The
list goes on and on. There are some
truly great books on the market that
can assist you in finding natural
alternative household cleaning
products.
Not only can we utilize natural
and safe cleaning products for our
homes and environments we can also
choose safe beauty products. For
years now I've used a deodorizing
stone instead of commercial body
deodorants and at present have just
made my own night facial lotion
which is a delectable mixture of
sweet almond oil, aloe, vitamin E
lavender essential oil and rosewater.
It works wonderfully and smells
divine ... Este Lauder ... look out!
We can make a difference to our
homes, our bodies and the
environment. Everytime we choose
natural over synthetic and chemical
we are a step closer to a healthy,
whole, energized body, home and
environment.0
PATTI ROBERTSON'S
Unique Residential and
Commercial Interiors
135 Victoria St., WINGHAM
357-2872
• Custom-made Window
Fashions, Bedspreads
& Accessories
• Fine Domestic &
Imported Fabrics
• Select Wallcoverings
• Furnishings, Lighting
& Artwork to suit
any interior...
46 THE RURAL VOICE