| I've written about how to substitute a variety of | | | | why the most common cleaners all contain toxic |
| dangerous chemicals with non-toxic alternatives to | | | | chemicals. Further, I think it's funny when these |
| benefit your family's health. Now it's time to get you | | | | things are kept under a kitchen sink where a kid can |
| thinking about how to handle them on the back end | | | | easily get to them. Keep your stuff up high or |
| of their life cycle: disposal. | | | | outside until you use it up, and start practicing with |
| Create a collection area to track your hazardous | | | | natural cleaners. You won't go back once you get it |
| wastes as they are used up. | | | | down. |
| I do quite a bit of painting at home, whether it's for | | | | Keep track of (and replace!) your nasty pesticides. |
| personal enjoyment or to paint a bedroom. Always | | | | It seems to me that most households will use |
| consider the low or no-VOC paints for use, and I | | | | pesticides once a year, if that. More often than not, |
| recommend using the water based paints to minimize | | | | they forget they have them and buy new products |
| their effects. I keep my empty paint outside of the | | | | each time. I recommend making a list of each task |
| house in order to omit the vapors inside. | | | | you have a pesticide for. Next, decide if you really |
| Underneath my stairs in the back of the house, I | | | | need to take care of the issue, and if so look for a |
| have a large plastic box for storing my paint cans | | | | natural alternative. They're out there! |
| until I can dispose of them properly. Most cities will | | | | For example, when I purchased my house I found a |
| hold a monthly or quarterly hazardous waste disposal | | | | ton of weed killer containers in the basement. I |
| day in which you can drop off your materials. This | | | | discovered quickly that there are a bundle of |
| also goes for cleaning chemicals and pesticides. | | | | alternatives found in the house. Boiling water will kill |
| Look for alternatives to your cleaning chemicals, right | | | | any plant it touches, all the way to the base. White |
| in your kitchen. | | | | vinegar also works, as does salt. |
| The magic natural cleaners that can substitute nearly | | | | I really want you to start identifying the hazards in |
| every nasty chemical cleaner in your house includes: | | | | your home in order to protect your family's health |
| white vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, tea tree oil. It's | | | | and to enjoy the benefits of natural alternatives. |
| funny to me that natural cleaners will not only do the | | | | You'll end up saving some cash and also enjoy a |
| job that hazardous chemicals will, but you'll save | | | | safer, cleaner house. Safely dispose of those toxic |
| some money too. | | | | products for good and be assured you can breathe |
| Instead of a nasty tile cleaner, try a hand held steam | | | | easier. |
| cleaner first. Seems a little simple, I know. These | | | | So remember, to put those toxic chemicals to rest: |
| things are an awesome investment that will pay | | | | -Identify your toxic chemicals in the house, and see |
| themselves off quickly. They're also especially handy | | | | what you really need. |
| for cleaning wooden floors. Instead of stain or odor | | | | -Look for natural alternatives to these products. |
| removers, try white vinegar. It takes a bit longer to | | | | -Safely dispose of hazardous waste via your town's |
| work, but the results will shock you. I'm really | | | | collection program. |
| surprised that there's not more of a dialogue about | | | | |