28 Days of Random Kindness - Act XVIII

Using green cleaning products

At first I resisted alot of the natural cleaning products for convenience and I was also sure they wouldn't work. I had pre-moistened disenfecting wipes, stainless steel wipes and chemicals in spray bottles that could probably wipe out a small family if not used as directed. I distinctly remember standing in our shower with rubber gloves and holding a towel over my face, my eyes tearing, as I tried to clean the tile walls. This is ridiculous I thought. The smell from this cleaner was not the pleasant 'oh, you just cleaned' fragrance but more like some industrial warehouse gone bad.

So I've been making the change, gradually yes, but I am changing. Yesterday, I wanted some floor cleaner so I picked up the storebrand green product. It was then I realized that I had actually made a significant shift to more earth friendly green products. When looking in my cupboard, where the cleaning products are stored, I found green glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, toilet cleaner and green putty to clean out the sinks. Some of these products even have a nice smell of mango-tangerine or coconut by the addition of natural essential oils. So I can't even claim that they don't smell nice. In terms of cleaning power I've found them to be equal to their chemical laden counterparts.

So it's a start. I know I still have a ways to go especially in terms of laundry detergents and fabric softeners. I know I could even go further and make a lot of my own cleaning concoctions with the use of lemons, vinegar, baking soda and such. Who knows, maybe in the future that is what I'll be doing.

At least for now though I am slowly eliminating harsh, chemical cleaning products from our home and in turn our water system. I'm willing to look for and try earth friendly products and I'm willing to help make a cleaner environment while cleaning our home.