Household cleaners.

[Wild-Woman]

We are bombarded on TV by adverts for cleaning products to make our houses shiny and hygienic. Does it make you wonder just what harmful chemicals we are exposing ourselves and our families to and eventually the environment?
I read an article that claimed, through testing, that we have 500 chemicals absorbed into our bodies, 60 of which have only been in use for the last 40 years. The effects of these combined chemicals are unknown.

I can see the logic in using good old fashioned soda crystals and the like.
If some chemical cleaners can strip a discoloured penny in a couple of seconds, lord knows what it can do to our skin and bodies.
These chemicals end up in a disasterous noxious soup, that washes one way or another back into the environment.

I wish we had more information about these wonder cleaners.

[NickCantle]

Well things like Dettol really hack me off- the way it's advertised is what is accelerating this 'nanny culture' in that everything must be 100% clean or we're all going to die a grisly and miserable, bacteria fuelled death. It's so infuriating.

Kids don't play in the dirt any more, don't climb trees any more- all because it's dirty and you'll apparently get ill if you're out in the cold and wild. If things carry on like this, future generations will be pallid, frail and any signs of bacteria will knock people off. Ridiculous.

[Coley]

I agree with you both. I was thinking of starting a thread like this after I found out how good some of the Eco cleaning products are. I have noticed that people are a little worried about changing to eco products because they don't know if they will work. Well we don't really know if any of these advertised products work until we tried them anyway so whats the difference. I could recommend a few that I know to work very well, but I don't know if I am allowed to advertise. I think we could all recommend what we know to work to each other so we can have a completely chemical free cleaning cupboard. Well just a thought.

[stripee]

Having a septic tank, I've long used eco cleaners and eco washing liquids. Otherwise it kills the worms!They all work perfectly well.
The perfumes are obnoxious that they put into washing powders and cleaners as well as the chemicals which are not doing anyone any good.
I use boiling water if worried about germs, and a few of them are not such a bad thing to strengthen the immune system and make it tougher!

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I can see the logic in using good old fashioned soda crystals and the like.

That and vinegar, is all we've used for years. The smell does linger a bit, but if you can put up with it, vinegar is the bees knees.

Vinegar is a very versatile substance. Uses of Vinegar

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

That and vinegar, is all we've used for years. The smell does linger a bit, but if you can put up with it, vinegar is the bees knees.

Vinegar is a very versatile substance. Uses of Vinegar

Excellent Ben. That's really quite a list and very useful. Ta.

[tameblackbirds]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

That and vinegar, is all we've used for years. The smell does linger a bit, but if you can put up with it, vinegar is the bees knees.

Vinegar is a very versatile substance. Uses of Vinegar

bookmarked this one Thanks some very useful tips

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by tameblackbirds

bookmarked this one Thanks some very useful tips

I bookmarked it as well..

Tastes good too..

On chips..

[ron1863]

That's a question for my other half to answer. I make the mess and she kindly cleans it up. It's a great arrangement

[earthdragon64]

All of these chemicals are supposedly tested to be safe, but have any tests been done to see how safe they are in various mixes?

This doesn't just concern me about chemicals we use for cleaning, but also those that are present in food, such as preservatives, artificial colourings, artificial sweeteners etc.

I sometimes wonder how much of the obesity, hyperactivity and allergy problems so prevelant in todays society are caused by, or at least contributed to by the 'Chemical Soup' in our foods.