Trashing The Chemicals

I am trashing the chemicals.
This hasn't been a quick decision, although I'll have to admit, I never thought I'd do it.
Not that I hadn't thought about it.
I had those "practice what you preach" moments. 
Like "Come on Jenny, I can't believe you're using that stuff."
As my children came along, my cleaning tools got more and more convenience oriented.
I wonder why.

One of my goals this year is to do more to protect the environment and live a healthy life.  Someone like me, who has seasonal and "other" allergies should probably go as basic as possible, right?

So, I happened to tune into this docu-movie called "Chemericals," and one line got me within the first 8 minutes of the show.  The narrator said that stay at home moms have a 54% higher chance of developing cancer. 

Why?  Because they are surrounded by cleaning chemicals all the time! (I mean why else do you decide to stay at home, right?)  But, wow, that is a high percentage don't you think?

So this evening, while my husband put the kids to bed, I pulled together as many chemicals as I could find.

Several carpet cleaners, two "light" bleach sprays, several air scents, a few hardcore bathroom and kitchen cleaners and the ever popular Drain-O.

Needless to say, I am sure I will find more as the days go on and I start looking in dusty corners.

Here are some things I think I am going to use up and then most likely not replace with store bought items.  I will look for a good homemade replacement.

I am not just afraid of developing cancer, although that should be a large enough reason to make this change.  I am concerned about chemicals that we ingest, breathe, smear on, spray on, paint on, walk through without even thinking about it.  I also have allergies, and so do my children, and I would like to see that improve.

Check out these informative websites:
www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
or
Trying to Eat, Bathe and Breathe Something That Won't Kill me at:
https://www.facebook.com/T2EBB

So, what have I purchased upon the advice of others?

A really big box of baking soda.

That's it.

I already have in my pantry, vinegar, lemon juice and some essential oils and Borax, washing soda and Fels Naptha (a mild bar soap which I purchased at the hardware store).

Don't you want to know what I am going to do with all that stuff?

Well, thanks to the miracle of the internet, I will be researching recipes for different types of cleaners avidly for the next week.

I already feel cleaner and healthier!

Next week: homemade cleaners ..... tested!