How do you define a clean home? I’m sure the definition would vary with each one of you. Maybe a clean home means no clutter. Maybe a clean home is one that is completely sanitized, spotless, or picked up. I would like to give you a fresher idea of what a clean home can and should be. I am not the world’s best housekeeper. If fact, it might be one of my least favorite obligations. I envy those who keep spotless, well organized homes, and I will continue to read self-help books on organization and cleaning schedules to keep a spotless home. However, I have also decided to let go of some of those expectations and redefine what a true clean home looks like. To me, a clean home means an environment encouraging good health. And that is the wisdom I will impart you with today.
Did you know the cleaning products you find on the store shelves are not required to list the ingredients? According to the Environmental Working Group, a large majority of the cleaners on the market today can contribute to asthma and breathing problems, skin irritations, reproductive and hormonal imbalances, and even cancer. (1) And these are products that are used everyday for a clean home! To add to the list, these products find their way into our water, soil, and eventually our food! Our homes should be a safe, clean place to restore health and harmony.
You can make a difference by starting with what you use to clean! First, throw away all cleaning products that are not found on EWG’s list with an A. You can view the list here: EWG’s guide to cleaning products Second, either purchase cleaners listed at EWG with an A, or make your own! I will be giving my favorite cleaning recipes in my next post.
Next, pay attention to fragrance! Most scented products contain chemical fragrance. While they may smell nice, they are wreaking havoc on our bodies! Check out Dr. Axe’s article on synthetic scent for more detailed information . To sum it up, synthetic fragrance contains toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, allergic reactions, endocrine imbalances, and many more ill health issues. There are better ways to incorporate scent into your home. The use of pure essential oils not only gives natural fragrance, but essential oils can also be pivotal in creating a healthy, clean environment physically and mentally. Essential oils have a variety of healing properties.
Colloidal silver can be used as an antiviral and antibacterial cleaning agent. You can use it in your cleaning products and/or use as a supplement. I also use Norwex cloths which have silver woven into them for all my cleaning. They work great and allow me to clean and disinfect with a cloth and water!
Finally, clean your home through the air! Fresh air is vital to our health! Open a window on a clean air day. Diffuse essential oils. Check out this post for some ideas! Try growing some plants in your home. Plants can clean the air of various chemicals found in a home. The more plants the better! Try plants like the Peace Lily, the Rubber Plant, the Chrysanthemum, and Spider plant which are great at removing several different toxins.
Is it time for you to reevaluate your idea of a clean home? I hope I inspired you to make some changes in the way you clean. Nothing is so important as our health, and it can start with a “clean” home. Nature is absolutely amazing in what it provides for our health and well being! So here is to a True Clean Home!
Yours in Health,
I can testify to the effectiveness of Norwex as a cleaning material. For me just the average towel will begin to stink after two weeks without being washed (and that is after washing with soap!) but my Norwex cloth has literally gone months without developing any odor and I have been using it for two years.