Nontoxic Bleach Alternatives for You and your Family

Yesterday i stained a new creamy white top i had with black, i was frustrated when i saw what had happened to my favorite clothing while doing laundry; so i soaked it and went to the store after work the next day to see if i could find a good nontoxic bleach alternative that is Eco-friendly as well as health friendly. While at the walmart bleach aisle i was bombarded and overwhelmed with many different brands and ingredients and to be frank i didn't have any clues what the ingredients are or what it will do to my cloth or my health. So basically, i know to avoid common brands containing chlorine everyone is used to buying, but for the rest of the other products i had to trust the company marketing label if i were planning on purchasing any one of them. Now in my busy life going through each product ingredient label is inconvenient and time consuming although it is worth it, i was not too keen on spending my time starring hard into tiny product ingredient label so i ended getting baking soda and running onto my computer straight to the internet to see if i could find any idea concerning bleach alternative, and sure enough i found a ton of ideas.

I took the advice, i tried seventh generation bleach alternative commonly found at HEB store in Texas and the result i got inspired me to write a little about nontoxic laundry bleach alternatives.

But before that i asked myself this question. So what is wrong with regular chlorine bleach products am used to again? And are the Alternative nontoxic brands better--effective--will it do the job i need? well in my head i heard......"if your goal is to live healthier and to prevent carcinogenic problems invading your life you are probably going need to find "the nontoxic alternatives"; so keep reading to see what is up in this sleeves.

Another question, Does whiter whites mean cleaner clothes? Many of us have grown up with the idea that chlorine bleach is necessary to provide cleaner clothes, disinfected households and to solve every stain problem…ironically, it is quite the opposite or should i say a fine line laundry myth.

Chlorine in my experience has been quite irritating, has a stinky chemical egg or ammonia like smell that has caused me nausea and dizzy feeling. If you have ever been swimming at a chlorinated pool which most places have, you will know this smell and feeling very well by how your skin, hair and clothing smell like chlorine days after you get out of the swimming pool. Unfortunately, this is not a good swimming deal for you because chlorine is hazard to your health. Long time exposure to Chlorine can cause skin irritation or burn and even nervous system damage. It can cause inflammation and aggravate allergies and Asthma.  Chlorine bleach releases dioxin, furans and other organochlorines into the air that is unfavorable to your lungs and overall health. Long exposure to chlorine detergent or the chemical chlorine itself can cause sore throats, coughs, wheezing, shortness of breath, fluid in the lungs and studies have shown a relationship between dioxin exposure and cancer, birth defects, and developmental/reproductive disorders. It is a respiratory irritant and when mixed with other common household products. Chlorine is also a highly corrosive substance, capable of damaging skin, eyes, tooth and other membranes and may poss a health risk to pregnant women and birth defect to their un-born baby.

Many products on the laundry shelf of your local stores contain this toxic ingredient chlorine. For example, automatic dish washing detergents, chlorine bleach, chlorinated disinfectant cleaners, mildew removers, and toilet bowl cleaners. And i hate to say it, accidents caused by having these types of highly toxic cleaning products are one of the number one problem people with very young children encounter (if you have young children below the age of 12, it is really unwise to keep toxic chemicals in the laundry room with the exception if you have a locked up cupboard you put them in for safety. Treat chemical cleaning ingredients in your family like you treat your aspirins and other medical drugs----safely kept out of the reach from your babies/children).

Anyway, if you are looking for alternatives to toxic laundry detergents, you can use any one of the following nontoxic alternatives below to keep your whites looking bright, your family healthier and your environment (outdoor and in-door living space clean).

                                               Better alternatives?

Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Bleach – Is color safe, non-toxic, biodegradable, phosphate-free, safe for septic systems and is not tested on animals. Consists of natural oxygen safe bleach, oxygen bleach stabilizer, deionized water.

Oxygen Bleach- Non-polluting, 100% biodegradable, non-toxic, and 100% natural ingredients. Made with sustainable ingredients. Color-safe: fabrics do not discolor as with other bleaches. Fragrance-free. Free of enzymes, phosphates, chlorine, DEA and petroleum ingredients. It is a clean alternative to chlorine bleach that can help solve those stain problems. it can be used to clean tiles & grouts, mold & mildew, solve carpet stains, laundry and for outdoor furniture etc. Sun Oxygen Cleaner is under $ 2 for 30 oz at my local Wal-Mart.

Earth Friendly Oxi Clean Laundry Stain Remover and Oxo Brite Non-Chlorine Bleach – Ingredients are sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate. Free of enzymes, phosphates, chlorine, DEA and petroleum ingredients.

Bi-O-Kleen Oxygen Bleach Plus – No chemical cold-water activators or optical brighteners, no metasilicates, borax, or caustics, this is chlorine and borine free.

Ecover Non-Chlorine Bleach – No chlorine or optical brighteners, completely biodegradable, not tested on animals and is even approved by the Vegan Society. Consists of 100% percarbonate, which is composed of salt, limestone and oxygenated water.

Enviro-One Brand, Vermont soap Organics brands Contains:

NO Ammonia NO Ammonium NO Animal Products NO Artificial Ingredients NO Chlorine NO Citric Acid

NO Dyes or Colors NO Harmful Detergents NO Hydrochloric Acid NO Hydrofluoric Acid NO Isopropyl Alcohol NO Lauryl Sulfate

 Hydrogen Peroxide is another inexpensive natural bleach product that works well for light stains, carpet stains, tub & tile stains, on wall algae mildew stain, and for cleaning out pet ear wax. It is effective for cleaning up blood stains and stains on baby diaper. For bathroom tubes and title, hydrogen peroxide, a little vinegar and baking soda makes a good stain remover. Hydrogen peroxide sounds dangerous but it is actually safe because it breaks down into water and oxygen in the waste water but it is not safe enough for your mouth or drinking cups. Hydrogen peroxide can be used on minor cuts, scrapes to reduce risk of infection (do not use it on deep puncture wound, animal bite or deep burn). It can used for getting ride of common phlegm, mucus, other secretions associated with sore throat. You can use hydrogen peroxide to whiten your arm pit. It cost less than a $ 1 for a 32 fl oz bottle of hydrogen peroxide, you can find this at your health or drug stores. In my next article, i will be talking more about hydrogen peroxide, stay connected

Lemon juice – If you have spots on white clothes that won’t come out, moisten them with lemon juice and hang it in the sun. Lemon and baking soda is effective on certain clothing and rust.

Plus with all of the above made available to you for your convenience from your convenient stores DIY enthusiast have taken great deal of time to teach you how easy it is to make your own bleach at home that you can use to disinfect your bathrooms, clean your toilets, and whiten your clothes naturally the nontoxic way.

EASY HOME-MADE BLEACH RECIPE:
- 1 ½ cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
- ½ cup white vinegar or lemon juice or lemongrass oil
Baking soda any amount you feel is needed but i would stick with one or 2 cups depending on the laundry load.
Add all these above to a bowl of warm water.

• soak the clothing you want to whiten in it for something to give it time to fade the stains out then wash, rinse and dry; you can sun dry the clothing if more whitening is desire (sunlight outdoor drying without drying using machine, it's not ghetto or a poor thing to do if you spread it at your own private back yard, you know).

In summary, the following ingredients can be used in varying amounts to whiten and clean your clothes: vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, sodium hydrosulfite (salt & water) etc. Do not combine them all together…. Before you purchase your next cleaning detergent you should consider looking at the product ingredient or at least do some research on the internet to see what alternative options are available to you like i did.
Author
 Onyinye A is a freelance writer who specializes in nontoxic self improvement, green & Eco-friendly living, nontoxic lifestyle (preventing cancer, illness and toxicity) and everything related to organic living and the art of life. Her work has been published by nontoxiclifestyle.org, Ezine.com, and other online and print publications.

Nontoxic Home cleaning from Vermont Organics

We have tried the toxic conventional home cleaning brand and other green cleaning solutions but none has worked much better than these cleaning product from Vermont soap organic; i have even went as far as using their personal hygiene & skincare soap line, i love it and I would like to share it with you. In my experience it’s has a refreshing essential aroma that is can be used to clean kids play ground stuff and it’s mild enough for the skin and home environment, it is one of the best home and hygiene brand I have used in the last 2years till today. One of my favorite cleaning products by Vermont soap work organics is called citrus scented Liquid Sunshine Non-Toxic Cleaner, it is a powerful multi-use cleanser that is safe—nontoxic used externally with a citrus scent mild enough for your hands and home!

 Most conventional brand cleaners leave behind a film which can irritate skin, and may even be toxic to your health. Liquid Sunshine is USDA Certified Organic and made from saponified organic coconut, olive and jojoba oils, essential oils, organic aloe Vera and rosemary extract free  from harmful ingredients.

Liquid Sunshine contains no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or other harmful pungent detergents, alcohols, d-limonene, artificial colors, fragrances, or preservatives. This is a multi-purpose cleaning concentrate made from Organic Castile Soap and a special blend of essential oils. Absolutely no chemical or synthetic ingredients are ever used. Works best in warm to hot water.
Nontoxic cleaners like citrus scented Liquid sunshine is very beneficial to immune system impaired individuals, chemically sensitive people like those who have asthma or other allergies. People who suffer from dermatitis often react to laundry, dish and other common cleaning products. It is not uncommon to find people who are itchy or irritated wherever fabric rubs against them either because they are sensitive to that particular fabric or sensitive to the detergent used to clean the fabric; for example, like myself when i come in contact with synthetic wool material i develop serious chills and goosebumps just from the synthetic wool touching my skin or even the thought of it touching my skin gives me chills like kryptonite on Clark Kent in small-ville episodes, you can imagine that feeling. Skin Irritations caused as a result of rubbing fabric cuffs, collars, thighs and elbows on the skin may be a sign that you are sensitive or allergic to laundry products or to an ingredient in your home cleaning detergent; but no worries we are here with you today to help you switch out into a nontoxic cleaner that is effective and not irritating skin and nose.

 You can use it to clean counters, floors, woodwork, tile or other household surfaces.
 Add 3oz of Liquid Sunshine to mop water to clean plastic or tile floors, you can use citrus liquid sunshine cleaner with Baking soda together during cleaning to get a squeaky clean result. Clean as usual, and allow it to dry. Get your nontoxic citrus scented Liquid cleaner now at Amazon.
        I recommend it because i have tried it and i am positive that it works.
Author:
Onyinye A is a freelance writer who specializes in nontoxic self improvement, green & Eco-friendly living, nontoxic lifestyle (preventing cancer, illness and toxicity) and everything related to organic living. Her work has been published by nontoxiclifestyle.org, Ezine.com, and other online and print publications.

Why Nontoxic Cleaners

What's the big deal about choosing nontoxic cleaners?

Well, let me ask you this, if you found out that the cleaners you are currently using could cause cancer, damage hormones or cause other serious health problems for you and your family, would that be important to you? If I told you that toxic chemicals found in common household cleaners, pollute our public water supply, would that be important to you?

Most cleaners used today are made with petroleum based solvents which are known to emit volatile organic compounds. These (VOC's), even in small doses can cause headaches, dizziness, irritability, confusion, lack of concentration, as well as irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, mouth and skin. They also are linked to cancer and other serious health problems. 

Many household cleaners also contain phlalates which are known to be hormone disruptor. These chemicals also end up in our water supply system after they have gone down our drains. By using nontoxic cleaners, you will eliminate one of the most dangerous sources of health hazards in your home and help to reduce environmental pollution.

Nontoxic is anything safe when used in or on your body;that is Eco-friendly. It should not be a health or environmental hazard. An example of a nontoxic biodegradable product is Aloe Castle Liquid Soap (sweet orange), an all purpose soap that is made with organic essential oils.
it is nontoxic/safe(It has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties)
it is biodegradable.
Made without foaming booster or sulfates.
Free of artificial colors, fragrances or chemical preservatives, no animal products or testing.

It contains Sponified organic coconut, olive and jojoba oils, sweet orange essential oil blend with organic orange oil, organic aloe Vera and rosemary extract.
(Available in pure essential tea tree, lemongrass, lavender, and sweet orange)

Aloe Castle liquid soaps is an all purpose cleaner excellent for

• cleaning dishes
• cleaning hands
• washing your body
• Can be used for shaving,
• Can be used as an oily hair shampoo
• Also safe for wood work, fine linens and all water-safe surfaces.
• Use as a hypoallergenic laundry concentrate and for general nontoxic cleaning.
• It's gentle, has a pleasant smell, and a great soap for people with allergy.

 Formulated to be safe for your family and the environment, this product does not create harsh fumes and is a non-toxic, biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based cleaners.

Another example of a nontoxic product is Seventh generation Natural All Purpose Cleaner that have select active ingredients, Plant-derived Cleaning Agents, Mineral-derived Alkalinity Builder. Helps achieve target pH for enhanced cleaning performance,Effectively removes a wide variety of soils from hard surfaces.

It may seem crazy to read the labels on products in order to find out which is nontoxic & healthy but the truth is if you don't, nobody will and you the consumer is who suffers the harms caused by these ingredients. The manufacturer and retailers who market these products are making profit from uninformed consumer, they could care less and believe me that is true because if these businesses who make and sell these products care then why would they choose to manufacture and market it. we also cannot point all fingers at this businesses because just because they display it on the shelf doesn't force anyone to buy. Shamefully some of the companies brand their product natural just for marketing purposes and this makes it difficult for the convenient shopper, just because it says natural or it contains aloe Vera and antioxidants does not necessarily mean the whole product is healthy and free of toxic chemicals.

Consider the Health Hazards

According to the EPA, hazardous household cleaning products are the second most common source of pediatric poisonings and are associated with an annual average of 39 deaths of children under age 5, with an estimated 87,700 children being treated each year in the hospital.

Dishwasher detergents contain the most dangerous chemicals in the kitchen, accidental poisoning occur more with small children than any other household chemical. Even if you do not have children, the fumes from the dishwasher detergents cause numerous adult aliments ranging from headaches to irritability.

In addition to dishwasher detergents, all-purpose cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, liquid dish soaps, bleach, disinfectants, drain cleaners, glass cleaners, and scouring powder contain dangerous chemicals.

Carpet cleaners, room deodorizers, laundry softeners, laundry detergents, anti-cling sheets, mold and mildew cleaners, and spot removers all usually contain irritant or toxic substances.

How many of these toxic products are in your home right now?

Here is a list of cancer causing chemicals this helps you feel certain that you are avoiding harmful ingredients. Nontoxic cleaners such as Vermont Aloe Castle Soap, Enviro-One, Seventh generation Natural all purpose cleaners are beneficial for healthy environment.

Nontoxic Cleaners Help Our Environment

Chemical residues from petroleum based cleaning products harm our environment and pollute our water. This toxic waste goes into our drainage systems, creating environmental pollution. Even after passing through water purification plants, hazardous toxins will remain, making our drinking water unsafe. This is why it's recommended to use a water filtration system in your home.

You may also want to consider using an indoor air purification system to help ensure that the air you and your family breath is as fresh and pure as possible. you may also like to try Boomerang Air sanitizer.
For daily carpet, bed cleaning try using Kirby vacuum cleaner, it gets the mites and dust out of your bed, carpet, cotton, ceiling, couches etc.

Avoid using products that contains toxic ingredients that in turn causes pollution or harm to our body and environment. Start Nontoxic Lifestyle for yourself and your family......it's not as hard and as expensive as it seems compared to the conventional toxic quick fix.

It's does the job, that is what most people care about(the fix now.....one problem solved another created) but does it really get you fixed without more a damage?

Author: Onyinye A

The Nontoxic way to wash your dishes

                   Nontoxic way to wash your dishes

You'll need these materials-

soft loofah or a biodegradable sponge

A nontoxic soap (soap without sulfate, toxic chemical and preservatives).

baking soda- keeps plate clean and crisp (optional)

               To begin cleaning

First you separate plastic, glass, and spoons.

You rinse off the remaining food, and then soak in lukewarm water with baking soda to remove greasy food particles and then wash with a nontoxic soap Or you can skip this step and rinse, start wash with a nontoxic soap such as Organic Aloe Castle liquid soap, either way your plate will be nicely cleaned.

Finally you can rinse with lukewarm water and Air dry in a dish rack or dry with clean paper towel.

This will get your plate clean without nasty soap smell.

                 Aloe Castle Liquid Soap (sweet orange) 

All purpose soap that is made with organic essential oils.

it's nontoxic(safe) 
(It has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties)

it's biodegradable. 

Made without foaming booster or sulfates.

Free of artificial colors, fragrances or chemical preservatives, no animal products or testing.

Sweet Orange Castle liquid soaps are excellent for

cleaning dishes

cleaning hands

washing your body

Can be used for shaving, 

also used as an oily hair shampoo

Also safe for wood work, fine linens and all water-safe surfaces.

Use as a hypoallergenic laundry concentrate and for general nontoxic cleaning.

It's gentle, has a pleasant smell, and a great soap for people with allergy.  

 

 Shop healthy at iherb

        (Available in pure essential tea tree, lemongrass, lavender, and sweet orange)

Ingredients: Sponified organic coconut, olive and jojoba oils, sweet orange essential oil blend with organic orange oil, organic aloe Vera and rosemary extract.

16oz Aloe castle liquid soap

sweet orange, lavender, lemongrass, tea tree