The Green Way to Clean

It’s become pretty much second nature for most of us to simply pull out the conventional cleaning products that have become part of our regular household arsenal when the time for spring-cleaning comes around. But while they seem to be super at what they claim to be able to do: clean, degrease, disinfect, polish or deodorize, the toxic chemicals found in many conventional cleaning products—while safe in small doses—may potentially do more harm than good in the long term. Many can cause irritations to the eyes, skin and even respiratory system and worse still, they pollute our water supply and environment. Some are even carcinogenic.

One way to better protect your family, home and the environment is to start studying the ingredients lists of the products you’re purchasing. While conventional manufacturers don’t always reveal the full list of their ingredients, many ecological, organic producers make it a point to do so. Look for sustainably manufactured products containing safe, non-toxic, biodegradable and naturally derived ingredients.

For general household cleaning, we recommend Biokleen’s All Purpose Cleaner. Safe for most types of surfaces, it has hundreds of uses in and around the home cutting through the toughest grease and dirt with grapefruit seed and orange peel extract. It’ll quickly become the backbone of your housecleaning attack.

And for those niggling pet stains and odours that refuse to budge, try Biokleen’s Bac-out Stain & Odour Remover. It contains a unique blend of live enzyme-producing cultures with citrus extracts.

To zip through the grittiest bathroom jobs while simultaneously discouraging mould and bacteria growth without the use of nasty, harsh chemicals, whip out Murchison-Hume’s “Boy’s Bathroom” Cleaner which can be used on tiles, tubs, sinks and toilets.

And since spring-cleaning is all about simplifying in our books, we love Murchison-Hume’s “Everyday” Furniture Spritzer and “Counter Intelligence” Food Safe Surface Spray. Both have been designed to be versatile, yet effective all around the home. The furniture spritzer is a revolutionary product that can be used to clean most types of furniture including wooden, lacquered, plastic and upholstered surfaces. And the food-safe spray keeps counter tops everywhere, from in the kitchen to the nursery, squeaky clean and clear of germs.

In the laundry room, take Seventh Generation’s range of natural laundry powders, liquid detergents (including hypoallergenic baby formulations) and fabric softeners a spin. They use plant-derived cleaning agents and enzymes to clean, and plant-based softeners and essential oils to soften and freshen clothes.

So, this year, even before you roll up your sleeves to give your home a good spring clean before the Chinese New Year, we suggest that you start with cleaning out your collection of household detergents for a cleaner, healthier and safer new start!

Biokleen, Murchison-Hume and Seventh Generation are available at SuperNature.