Clean safely - Avoid toxic chemicals in your house

God loveth those who are pure. Naught in the Bayán and in the sight of God is more loved than purity and immaculate cleanliness. . . . He indeed desireth that under all conditions, all may be adorned with such purity, both inwardly and outwardly, that no repugnance may be caused even to themselves, how much less unto others. — The Báb

Originally this article was one of the brief Sustainable Living Tips and Conversations written by Christine Muller for the Wilmette Institute’s monthly newsletter.

Most people regularly use many cleaning products such as window cleaners, furniture polish, oven cleaners, antibacterial soaps, toilet-bowl cleaners, air fresheners, fabric softeners, and all-purpose cleaners. However, ingredients in many common household products have been linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive disorders, eye and skin irritations, hormone disruption, and neurotoxicity. 

Many of these chemicals persist in the environment—in our water, air, and soil—even after we “wash” them away. No laws in the United States regulate what companies can put into cleaning products, as long as they are labeled. But polluting our bodies and the environment is not compatible with purity and cleanliness. 

What can we do? We can either buy products made from all-natural ingredients (read labels and beware of “greenwashing”—false claims of being green), or we can make some products ourselves. It is very easy and cheap to make our own cleaning products with natural ingredients such as white vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. And they do work!

Go here for ideas and super-easy recipes: 19 Natural Cleaning Tips (+ Easy Recipes).

For more information, visit 8 Hidden Toxins: What’s Lurking in Your Cleaning Products?

Source: Wilmette Institute Newsletter, February 2019