Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

Tom Conway — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:41:30 GMT

C. Ed Wright

I would gently suggest that your joke is a little too extreme.

Many Quebecans[?] say they want independence for Quebec, and have a
snotty attitude toward their fellow Canadians. (Typical frenchies.)
One day, two Canadians, one from Ontario and the other from Quebec,
both saw an antique oil lamp in a store and grabbed it at the same
time, struggled with it, and a genie popped out and granted each one
wish. The Quebecan demands a 50 ft. wall all around Quebec so nothing
can get in or out. The genie says, "It is done." Then it's the
Ontarian's turn. He says, "Fill it with water."

I think that the punch line should be:

Make it 60 feet.

BTW We call them Quebecois (or Quebecers).

Tom Conway (Ontarian)

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

Tom Conway — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:29:03 GMT

I find it disturbing that Dr. Mercola has a recommendation to use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing oil) for anything, let alone disinfection. Hulda Clarke has based her book "The Cure for All Cancers" on the avoidance of this substance. Have I missed something? Has her research/conclusions been totally disproven?

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

SavedbyHisGrace — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:48:07 GMT

JJReed says: "I personally use EcoSense products by Melaleuca. There is a wide range of them based with tea tree oil and a unique disinfectant based with thyme oil. As a mother going back to school to get my doctorate in environmental sociology, that is my choice! (Hardly have time to go to the grocery store let alone make my own products) "

BUT I have to wonder about the wisdom of using tea tree oil in anything (except in "emergencies") when it causes a serious estrogenic effect. If you're interested in finding out more, see this link: http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/--a little way down on the right hand side--in red.

Laura

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

PaintedCloud — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:19:30 GMT

I think this is an absolutely fabulous article. We should be made more aware of the toxic substances we bring into our homes. I have been on Mercola's plan now, and tested positive for chemical toxicity. Since that point I have looked inside my home for the answer.

I never liked to clean. I can hear about a million people agreeing with me. But whenever I would clean with Lysol, or Mr. Clean I would feel hungover for about three days afterwards. I blamed it on marathon cleaning bouts, or weather or my air cleaner, or whatever. My husband and I hired a cleaning person to clean the house. If I was here when they cleaned I would get a headache, feel nauseated and get a little lightheaded. However, I started eliminating all of these cleaning products from my home, and am now able to clean without feeling so bad afterwards. Keep this in mind if you have pets and children. My mom always said a little germ or in this case a toxin in a big body is not as bad as a little germ in a little body.

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

junebug24 — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:26:05 GMT

I just ordered the Eco Sense package for my house from Melaleuca
as soon as it arives., I am getting rid of everything under my sink. I have
ordered from them before just never got rid of all of my cleaning things.
It was time

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

vrbaetim — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:48:17 GMT

Instead of throwing out sponges often which I saw as wasteful, I pour vinegar on them until soaked and let them sit over night.

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

Amis — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:53:15 GMT

hello Dr Mercola,

I really enjoy your newsletter and am a recent (4 years) convert to healthy lifestyle (ADD, ASD, PCOCS, CFS in 4 of my 5 kids).
With many asthmatic relatives I was never a big user of household chemical cleaners.However, there were enough garden pesticides ,solvents, paint thinners in the garage etc etc to kill us all.

In short, I have learnt to live with bug eaten plants in exchange for the few butterflies who occasionally survive ........................I now use "Enjo" products-and I'm not affiliated financially in any way with that company-except as a customer-they really DO what they claim!
I.e. clean surfaces of mould and grease just using water!! AND with each use the accumulated "gunge"(technical scientific word) decreases so the cleaning time and frequency also decreases.

The amazing thing is-it's absolutely true that most of the smear and slime is actually from the previous CLEANING CHEMICALS themselves!Once Enjo gloves get them off, the surfaces stay cleaner longer.If there's a really tough job-you can use either Enjo calcium carbonate (Marble paste) or homemade Baking soda/vinegar.Sodium bicarb is fantastic for so many things,by the way.

While I think of it...............Epsom Salt baths are also a great way to soak ,relax and get healthy (detox) all at once.

Most commercial cleaners are not only outrageously overpriced, the additives and detergents are harmful to us and the environment.

My girlfriend now washes her clothes with NO soap powder and gets a great (soft) result.I'm not that brave ,but have found I get a BETTER result with about a third of the "recommended" soap powder!

Do your own experimenting.We've all been brainwashed (advertising) about cleanliness.Unless you live in a hospital, you only need to be clean not toxic.

kerrie

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

Magnolia — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:25:49 GMT

Hi All. I've owned and operated a residential natural cleaning business for over eighteen years. Distilled vinegar, 91% isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, beeswax, olive oil, essential oils, and baking soda have been staples in my workbasket throughout that whole time.

Yes, there are safe commercial products on the market. Read the label before you buy. If they won't tell you what's in it, DON'T BUY IT! That has been my rule from day one. If I use a commercial product, I have the MSDS (material safety data sheet) on file.

I'm a certified aromatherapist, and trained in homotoxicology. There are many very dangerous products out there, pretending to be safe. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. Don't use anything before you read the directions and the warning label. Then, think twice before using it.

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

Witch Doctor — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:08:04 GMT

To all natural cleaners: I'm thinking of having a natural cleaning competition at my house. It only takes my boy and I a few days to mess it up, so there should be lots of opportunities for competing ideas. I can open it up internationally. Any takers? We will watch (sort of), and maybe judge by how long it takes to get dirty again.

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

Healthy-Oil-Guy — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 01:31:25 GMT

There are natural oils that have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, such as tea tree oil and oil of oregano. You can add a few drops of these oils to a bucket of hot water and wipe down counter tops and sinks for some natural germ-killing cleaning.

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

Tweetybird — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:56:00 GMT

Hi gang! This is my first post :-). I enjoy your comments and some make me LOL - thank you all for that. I think this toxic cleaning issue is very important. I've already switched to some non-toxic "store bought" cleaning products, but now I've discovered a great little book called "Clean House, Clean Planet" by Karen Logan. Got it from the library, but pretty sure you can get it at B&N etc. She has recipes for cleaning about anything you can think of. For those of us who may want to try making our own stuff but still save some time, she sells her recipes, labels, and also empty bottles already labeled with the recipe. You can buy a sample container kit. She uses liquid soap, baking soda, club soda, white vinegar, essential oils, salt, lemon juice, and so on. The best part about her recipes (besides the fact that they're non-toxic) is that they're cheap. Happy safe cleaning, everybody!!

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

C Ed Wright — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:03:43 GMT

The folks at FC&A Publishing have a whole series of 200+ page books on this sort of thing, from easier natural gardening to nontoxic household tips to home health remedies that work. Great stuff! Good ol' vinegar & water like Grandma used to use is just the tip of that iceberg. There's a whole slew of things like that. Check their website.

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

vym — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:32:26 GMT

While I've been using a solution of vinegar and water as a disinfectant, I've read that it shouldn't be used on marble or granite. Does anyone know of a natural disinfectant for natural stone? Or will scrubbing with dishsoap and water do? I also have a problem with mold growing on the stone in the shower.

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

fingersoflight — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:12:08 GMT

I have used natural cleaners for over twenty years-here are a few tips:
I use hydrogen peroxide STRAIGHT when i need to clean out the stains in my tub/shower or toilet bowl, only about 1/4-1/2 cup. I also use Bon Ami, which has nothing in it that causes harm, at least from what i know and understand. I use white vinegar, diluted dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide in a squirt bottle with essential oils for my kitchen and bathroom. Utilizing any of the cirus oils; lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime and almost always tea tree for the bath room. i put oils in a squirt bottles with filtered water as an air freshener; lavender, thyme, lemon, sometimes geranium. However, check an aromatherapy guide if you want to be certain there aren't any ill effects from certain oils. All this is EASY, affordable and not polluting yourself, and your environment. Whatever you do, DON'T USE TOXIC DRYER SHEETS!! Tea bags of lavender, or better yet, air dry. We all need to take responsibility to educate ourselves about what will help, not harm ourselves and our precious world. Hope this helps!!! Thanks to all for being HERE, NOW.

re: Items Hiding in Your Kitchen Cabinets to Use as Alternatives to Toxic Cleaners

seasidesandcastle — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:06:18 GMT

Excellent article. One of my favorite all-purpose cleaners and shampoo is Castile Soap which is available at health food stores. Saves you a fortune.