TSD Cleaning Articles

Lemons Aren’t Just For Ice Tea

When you bring up the subject of cleaning products people begin to discuss the most popular brands such as, Mr. Clean, Mr. Muscle, Windex, Jiff and the list goes on…
These products might be the most popular, but are they the really the best products to do your house cleaning with? All these products contain toxic chemicals. They may clean your home, but in the end are those chemicals hurting the people who live in your home? Are these products safe for your family and for the environment?
My daughter was diagnosed yesterday, as a possible candidate for asthma. Now they need to perform further testing to see if it is asthma and what type it may be. I was so upset. I was discussing it with a group of mothers and to my surprise eight out of the 10 mothers have children who where diagnosed with the same illness. I was stunned. It makes me wonder, “Are the products we use inside and outside the home deteriorating our children’s health?” Just because they pass the manufactures, approval does not necessary mean their safe. They still can be a hazard.
Maybe now, is the time to focus on what is best for the environment because if live in an environment filled with toxins, chemicals in our dirt, soil, air, and home how is this going to affect us?
We can contribute by using converting to natural products in our home. Did you know that lemons can be used us a cleaning product inside the home?
Some helpful tips and facts about lemons…

1. The citrus smell of a lemon is refreshing and energizing. Many people relate the lemon smell of lemons as a symbol of a clean home. Most major cleaners on the market today have a lemon or a citrus scented version for consumers to enjoy.
2. Lemons are acidic and can provide some antibacterial and antiseptic properties for cleaning.
How to Clean With Lemons

1. Cleaning copper-bottomed pots and pans with lemon juice - Copper fixtures can also benefit from a lemon juice cleaning. Cut a lemon in half. Dip it in some salt, and clean spots from your copper.

2. Add To Vinegar - Vinegar can be a great cleaning ingredient, but many people dislike the vinegar smell. Adding lemon juice to vinegar when cleaning can help neutralize the vinegar smell.
3. Countertops - You can clean countertop stains allowing lemon juice to sit on the stain for a few minutes. Also, Scrub the area with baking soda and watch the stains disappear. Do not leave the lemon juice sitting for too long. It is a powerful cleaning tool.
4. Drains - Lemon rinds can be ground in the garbage disposal to freshen the drain. Hot water with a little lemon poured down a drain will clean the drain and leave a fresh smell.
5. Bleaching - Lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent. Put lemon juice onto white linens and clothing and allow them to dry in the sun. The stains will go away.
I hope this helps you. Now, is the time to start thinking about how the chemicals we use affect our loved ones. I was never an environmental nut, but with global warming, the rise if breast cancer, epilepsy, autism, other types of cancer, the number of kids in my area with asthma. It makes you think about being more concerned about the conditions of our environment. It makes you wonder how the environment affects our health. In addition, what we can do to improve our environment and the health of the people who live in it.