Spring Cleaning for Fall

Four ladies, six hours, and several spray bottles of earth's "cheapest, least toxic, and still effective all-purpose cleaner": vinegar and water,  half and half.

It's unbelievable how much dust accumulates in our home, despite regular cleaning and keeping our windows closed most of the time. Aside from being a major nuisance, house dust is something most of us give very little thought to.  But it is important to recognize that it harbors many toxic chemicals, including phthalates, VOC's, flame retardants, and fluorinated chemicals, among other endocrine disruptors. These are man-made chemicals that get into our bodies through inhalation, touch, and ingestion, and disrupt normal hormone function.  And sadly, babies and pets are at greatest risk of exposure because they crawl on the ground and lick everything in sight.

So use a wet mop when cleaning to minimize spreading the dust around and inhaling it.  Consider getting a HEPA filter to remove particles from the air.  If you can only afford one HEPA filter, place it in your bedroom, which is likely the room you spend the most time in.  Also be sure to regularly clean your house to minimize dust build up.

To learn more about endocrine disruptors, check out www.EWG.org:

http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors#.WbtdHdOGPAw

Fill a spray bottle with half vinegar and half water.  If you're feeling fancy (and I usually don't), add a few drops of castile soap or your favorite essential oil (lemon, peppermint, or tea tree oil or whatever you wan to experiment with).  I keep it simple, and this works perfectly for our household with 3 little boys who have yet to learn to aim properly.