And you are going to great lengths to reduce the amount of stress in your life and decrease your cortisol levels, trying to balance your hormones. But chances are you are skipping the most important endocrine disruptors: the home cleaning products. Just think of the content of your cleaning kit! It’s probably filled with bleaching agents and other harsh chemicals which alter your health in many ways. The more you use these products, the more harm you do to yourself, as they leave tiny amounts of chemical residues on your home surfaces; in time, these small deposits grow and lead to allergies, mood changes and hormone imbalance. Household chemicals are linked to many ailments and conditions, so you need to give up on them and go green. But this can pose other issues…

Going green with household chemicals

Before you go shopping for “green” cleaning products you need to know that most so called eco-friendly products are not regulated by the government. The manufacturers are not forced to disclose the ingredients, which often means your “green” cleaning products are more dangerous than regular ones. To avoid these products, simply turn to the nature: lemon, salt and vinegar are the most effective cleaning agents and they are completely safe for your hormones.

1. Coffee for a fresh fridge

Coffee has multiple unexpected uses, among which is the ability to deodorize spaces. If you want to deodorize your fridge, oven or an item, just place a bowl with used coffee grounds in the funny smelling space for one day, then enjoy the fresh smell. The same effect can be achieved with lemons.

2. Sponge sanitizing

Sponges gather bacteria faster than any other object, so you need a strong solution to clean them. This solution is easily made from cold water and lots of salt. Dip the sponges in this solution for two hours to remove the germs.

3. Baking soda cleaning

Baking soda is one of the most versatile cleaning agents in your house, so stock on it. You can use baking soda to clean the oven or the microwave, without risking to eat traces of chemicals. Sprinkle baking soda on the oven, spray water on it and leave it to action for a couple of hours. Wipe out everything and rinse with a mixture of water and vinegar to remove the baking soda. Baking soda also works great as a carpet deodorizer and cleaner: sprinkle baking soda on the dirty carpet and leave it sit for a couple of hours before vacuuming it. You can also spray the baking soda area with water to remove stains and dirt. One of the most dangerous chemicals in your household is the product used to unclog the drains – ditch it and use baking soda to do the job. Pour ¾ cup of baking soda in the drain and then pour ½ cup of white vinegar. Put on the plug and leave the drain sit for 30 minutes, then pour a kettle of boiling water. Commercial products are rich in chemicals, so you can use baking soda to disinfect your clothes (add one cup to your laundry), floors and other germ-loaded areas, such as the kitchen counters or even the remote control.

4. Pay attention to the vacuum cleaner

If you have carpets you need to rely on a good vacuum cleaner and baking soda. To make sure your vacuum doesn’t spread the dust around the house, causing allergies and respiratory issues, pick one with a HEPA filter. Other features to look for in your vacuum are strong suction power and rotating brushes, which you need to remove the baking soda and water mixture from the carpets. A steam cleaner is also handy to clean the floors, furniture and other surfaces which require disinfecting.

5. Do the laundry the eco way

Regular detergents are loaded with toxic substances, so switch them with orange oil cleanser, which is safe for your health. You can use this natural product to do the laundry, clean the dishes and even the mirrors, thanks to the astringent power of the orange oil. Featured photo credit: Maurizio/Flickr via flickr.com