Commercial cleaners contain PCB’s and a host of other toxic chemicals which you are exposing your skin and your lungs to every time you clean. Home-made cleaners are natural and non-toxic and you can even let your kids use them!

Get rid of all perfumes and air fresheners. Fragrances are synthesized from petrochemicals and no one knows the effects of the tens to hundreds of chemicals used in combination. The ALA has warned against perfumes which have been indicated in causing asthma in children.

Avoid perfumed candles - buy pure beeswax candles which actually clean the air. Safeway sells them in their Natural Food section a little cheaper than the Health Food Stores.

If you have a child sleeping on a crib mattress, get a really good mattress cover. Check out: www.thediaperlady.com/BabeSafe.htm to read about how they discovered the cause of SIDS… and didn’t let anyone know. Spread the word.

Dust and vacuum as frequently as possible. Keep windows open while vacuuming to cut down on the dust. Get rid of mold immediately. If you need to “freshen” up a room, sprinkle the carpet with baking soda and vacuum.

Use warm water to dissolve ½ cup Borax and sprinkle in some baking soda to soften the water. Do not use washing soda because it contains perfumes. Wash all clothes in as warm a temperature as possible. Use a home-made or health food store spot remover. If you can’t afford the health food store brand, use their liquid dishwashing soap instead. To make your own, slice up a bar of home-made soap and dissolve it in warm water. Put into a spray bottle.

Do not use fabric softeners. Even perfume free versions are full of unwanted chemicals. Use reusable static eliminators available at health food stores and Home Depot, Canadian Tire, etc. Be sure to take out polyester clothes as soon as they are dry as they dry faster than cottons and will just create static for the entire load.

Wash all new clothes before wearing. That “new” smell is a potent mixture of chemicals such as formaldehyde and urea resins, and they should be removed. The chemicals are used to “finish” fabric for a range of purposes including stain resistance, mercerizing, keeping them from wrinkling, and even sometimes for disinfecting. Most contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), which, like formaldehyde, are often sensitizers and suspected carcinogens.

If you can live without bubbles, Borax will clean your dishes just fine. You can add a little lemon juice or vinegar to cut the grease when washing by hand. In the dishwasher use 2 tsp of Borax (you may need to experiment with the amount - if your dishes are not coming clean, add more, if they have a film, add less) and then pour about ¼ cup of vinegar on the door. I guess you could put it in the rinse agent dispenser. Heat your water by running the tap to hot before you start the dishwasher.

Warm water and vinegar in a pail, or spray on diluted vinegar and wipe off.

¼ - ½ tsp liquid detergent

Sprinkle with baking soda and spray with vinegar. Scrub and rinse. For tough stains, make a paste of baking soda and liquid detergent and let sit.

At night pour 1 cup of borax into the toilet and let sit until morning. Scrub with a toilet brush. If you need to use bleach, use with fan on and windows open while everyone is out of the house.

Almost all commercially available floor and furniture waxes contain neurotoxin petroleum-based solvents. Neurotoxic chemicals can cause headaches, lack of concentration, irritability, and more, and are best avoided and substitutes used.

Furniture Polish: 1/2cup vinegar - 3 drops olive oil - Rub on with an old cloth, let dry and buff if desired

Try to buy items with very few ingredients and make sure you recognize all of them. There is a great company here in Calgary called Newco who sell their products through Community, Amaranth and Planet Organic, however they are a little pricey.

If you feel adventurous you could take a soap and lotion making course at Soap and More which is just behind the Wendy’s on 16^th Avenue SW. Their website is www.soapandmore.com . Or just find a recipe you like on-line and learn the arot of soap-making at home. It is a lot easier than it sounds.