Hello. We hope you are enjoying the beauty of North Carolina's warm and beautiful climate. If you're a transplant here, you might think this is a waste. Wait, the pollen dispersal will start soon. You may end up regretting your actions.
You'll probably end up using several products when removing pollen. Maybe you choose to use some products on your skin when you go outside. Yes, I know it's coming. Click here for an article about toxic chemicals in the home. And for good reason, this is when we start spraying the air, furniture, and people.
Sunscreen, bug spray, dusting spray, hairspray for spring dancing, shaving cream and lotion to put on your legs that have been hidden all winter, nail polish, candles you light to give your home a peaceful “vibe”, etc. . , sprayed laundry stains onto the red mud on softball slider pants. Even if you name it, there's a good chance it contains a rather long and unforgettable list of ingredients with unpronounceable chemical names that makes you wonder if you should have paid more attention to your chemistry studies. there is.
Perhaps some of them might make sense, such as “aqua” at the beginning and “fragrance” or “parfum” at the end. I know I have to remember this because convenience is the enemy of health. our physical health and the environment.
The simple fact is that we need to clean, and we need a relatively clean home (I don't mean a 100% germ-free home; getting rid of all the bugs tends to be a problem). However, it can clean with less mess than most store-bought products. And after all, that means far fewer unknown substances are ingested and absorbed into our skin, the water we drink, the food we eat.
I'm in a season where I spend my days caring for, feeding, bathing, and cleaning up after a 5-year-old, an 8-year-old, an older dog, and a recent addition, a puppy. Now is not the time to make things inconvenient by adding “make your own eco-friendly cleaning supplies” to your to-do list.
But if I'm trying to reach for something to sweep the floor (my kids enforce the 5-second rule on candy, not broccoli), or on clothes that I've been wearing all day. If you are going to soak, then for the health of your family you need to choose the best product. It's often a very simple solution and not something you'll find in the cleaning aisle.
Look at the long list of ingredients in sprays and cleaners and think about what makes you trust them. What's that familiar name? Very clever marketing?
In an effort to increase transparency in 2015, Smart Label, a website and app, became available that allows consumers to find out what ingredients and details about those ingredients are available from product manufacturers. . Let's applaud manufacturers who are trying to be more transparent. It came from a lot of public pressure to know what exactly we're paying for.
Knowing what's in your products is a starting point, but you also need to know what those chemicals do from a source you trust. So I did a little more research on the internet and found that government sites (FDA, EPA) and several third party groups like the EWG (Environmental Working Group) help decide what products to offer. I understand this. Find out what you put in your home, wear, and on your body, and the risks you may be ingesting, as well as research and alternatives you can consider.
When it comes to cleaning your home, you can also look into the many “homemade” recipes (which, if you have the time and patience, use baking soda, vinegar, and often lemon juice). Alternatively, you can look for the EPA-mandated “SaferChoice” label. was designed as a screening system to help you choose all-purpose cleaning products, car cleaners, floor cleaners, dishwasher, and laundry detergents for when you don't have the time or energy to DIY like a homesteader.
Choose green when cleaning this spring.
When you wear that product, double check to see what ingredients you are exposed to. We have a choice and we vote with our money just like anything else. Will you take action or choose to do nothing? Maintain the status quo or grow? What are you doing to protect your family and stay clean and healthy this season? As always, we'd love to hear from you at becca.hurd@gastongov.com.
Becca Hurd is the recycling coordinator for Gaston County.
