Many store-bought cleaning products are harmful to the environment. By using natural products you could help to lessen the effects these chemicals have on the Earth.
How clean is your house?
Enchantrix has an extensive range of chemical-free, organic cleaning products, from all-purpose and window cleaners to fabric softener and detergents. Available from selected pharmacies and health shops, and Pick ‘n Pay stores in the Western Cape. Check out the range and stockist details at www.enchantrix.co.za
Pick ‘n Pay also has a small selection of earth-friendly products, the Green Range, that includes all-purpose cleaner, dishwashing liquid and toilet paper.
Or, if you have the time, take a leaf out of your grandmother’s book and make your own cleaning products from ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda.
Have an eco-baby
Cotton nappies have come a long way since our mothers struggled with safety pins. You can now get user-friendly alternatives to disposables that are shaped to fit and can be used with flushable or reusable nappy liners.
They’ll cost you more upfront but you’ll save money in the long run compared to disposables (not to mention the benefit to the environment) – especially when you consider that one baby is likely to use over 6 500 nappies from birth to potty training.
Mother Nature Products and Stegi Eco Nappy both offer cotton alternatives, and you can buy a trial pack before investing in the complete system. Go to www.mothernatureproducts.co.za or www.stegi.co.za for more info.
A baby’s skin is about five times thinner than an adult’s. Enchantrix and Pure Beginnings have a range of organic baby products, free of any synthetic ingredients, that includes baby wash, lotion and creams for baby’s bottom. Check for stockists at www.enchantrix.co.za and www.purebeginnings.co.za
Natural pets
There isn’t a huge selection of natural petcare products available, but Enchantrix do have a natural, organic dog shampoo. PetAlive also have a range of natural petcare products, with herbal remedies for all manner of pet-related problems, from asthma and allergies to dental care and parasites. For more info go to www.petalive.co.za
DIY cleaners
Get back to basics and make your own natural cleaners with a few household ingredients:
Descalers: Distilled white vinegar for limescale in kettles and toilets. Lemon juice for teapot stains.
Oven cleaner: Leave a paste of baking soda and water on your oven for three minutes and then wash off with a scouring cloth and hot water. Sprinkle salt on spills while still warm and they’ll be easier to remove when the oven cools.
Windows, mirrors & tiles: Mix 2 T distilled white vinegar and a few drops liquid soap in a spray bottle. Some smearing may occur on first use due to a build-up from the previous cleaner. You can remove this with surgical spirits.
Scourers: Bicarbonate of soda for sinks and baths, and for polishing chrome. Salt is also abrasive but not as effective.
Blocked drain: Dissolve 1/4 C baking soda and 50 ml of vinegar in boiling water and pour down the drain.
Green your garden
Make the change in your own backyard. Stop using chemical pesticides that are toxic to animals and humans, and go for green alternatives. The Margaret Robert’s range is available from most nurseries and garden centres and includes insecticides, compost maker and fungicides that are harmless to wildlife, birds, pets and humans. Other brands to look out for include Biogrow, Talbourne Organics and Sea Gro Organic plant feed.
About 40-60% of your household waste is organic – so instead of throwing away your fruit and veggie peels, egg shells, tea bags and other organic waste, toss them into a compost bin (which you can buy from most garden centres) and use to fertilise your garden.
Get to grips with nature and invest in a Can-O-Worms. It’s not as strange as it sounds – simply toss your organic waste into this compact worm farm and let the little wrigglers turn it into compost and liquid fertiliser. The practical design means you won’t have to actually handle the earthworms yourself. Phew! For more info go to www.fullcycle.co.za
I suffer from extremely bad eczema on my hands, which gets worse when it gets in contact with any harsh soaps or degergants, and I’ve found a wonderful dishwashing liquid from Earthsap, the citrus one, that truly works with your skin whilst it cleans the dishes. I would highly recommend it! I’ve yet to try their other products in the range, but I’m sure it’ll be just as great!