All the talk about showerhead bacteria could have people wondering how to best keep their bathroom at its best. The most common and effective bathroom cleansers may not be the most healthful. Many people use toxic cleaners because they are readily available, cost effective and get the job done, but how are those cleaners actually affecting the bathroom and the Earth's environments?
Chemical Soup
A quick glance at a bathroom cleaner label should be enough to alert the average consumer to their safety. Often we see "Danger," "Warning," or "Caution," lighting up the label in red, easily identifiable letters. It is a little known fact that the key term used actually specifies the amount of toxicity in the product, danger being the highest and caution being the lowest. Many products include some form of bleach, which in and of itself is a toxic chemical, especially when in high doses or mixed with other chemicals such as ammonia. One must also wonder if bathroom disinfectants, though effective at their job, are really necessary. Overuse of these products could contribute to the manifestation of cleaner resistant germs that have no enemies. A clean bathroom is an absolute necessity for healthy living, but is it really necessary to compromise our long- term health for a short-term spotless loo? The answer is a resounding no!
Cleaning Green
Cleaning the bathroom is not the most glamorous job in the world. In fact, many people today have their bathroom professionally cleaned due to time constraints and various other reasons. Luckily the demand for green cleaning is up, and many professionals are now offering a green, non-toxic cleaning service. A quick web search should help create a green cleaning connection.
For those who do clean their own bathrooms and prefer to purchase cleaning products, there are several different kinds non-toxic options available. Method and Seventh Generation each have a complete line of cleaning products that work just as well as the everyday chemical soup versions. Complete lines of these and many other environmentally safe cleaning products can be found at your local health food store.
Another bathroom cleaning option is making your own cleaners. Effective and safe bathroom cleaners are simple to whip up and pack a powerful punch in the bathroom. Here are some ideas for simple, inexpensive cleaners the won't require a gas mask!
- Baking soda makes an excellent tub and tile cleaner. Add a bit of cleaining horsepower by sprucing it up with some lemon juice or antibacterial essential oils such as tea trea or lavendar.
- Vinegar will make an excellent cleaner for mirrors, floors and or toilets. Vinegar can be combined with baking soda as well for an effective cleaning reaction that will help with stubborn stains.
- Essential oils such as peppermint, lavendar, tea trea, and or lemon can be used in cleaning products to produce an antibacterial effect. Peppermint oil,combined with a bit of water, makes a great spray the can be used to clean glass and mirror surfaces. Tea tree oil, with its excellent antibacterial properties, can be used in germ prone areas like the toilet bowl, showerhead, faucets and sinks. Lavender smells great and acts as an effective antibacterial. This oil can be combined with water in a spray bottle and used as an everyday shower cleaner, eliminating the need to struggle with a weekly dirty shower.
Cleaning the bathroom is a simple task that can be accomplished using everyday household items. Experimenting with natural products as cleaning tools is a safe, effective way to keep the bacteria out of the bathroom, without the chemical soup.
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