QUESTION: I enjoy your books immensely, but I have an important question. Following a stem-cell transplant, my immune system is compromised. Are commercial "green" products sufficiently strong enough to disinfect thoroughly? Which ingredients are the most effective and what should I be looking for? What about "homemade" products i.e. vinegar solutions?
-- Patty (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: During the past few years there has definitely been a trend toward manufacturing products with labels that sight themselves as being, "green", "non-toxic", "environmentally friendly" etc. Unfortunately there are no legislated guidelines as to what is allowed to be considered "green". In fact, if a manufacturer produces a product in a green bottle he can then label it green. Consumers are "greenwashed" into thinking that they are making healthier choices about cleaning products and some (not all) of the products are actually developed with more toxic chemicals than ever before. Your best bet is to look for genuine independent certification on products. If the item has the Environment Canada's EcoLogo or Energy Star certification that is a good bet that it is a safe choice. You can read more about Greenwashing in my newest book, Household Solutions with Green Alternatives.
As for vinegar, or King Vinegar " as I like to call it, here is some interesting information. In a study by Good Housekeeping, they reported that vinegar kills 99 per cent of bacteria and 82 per cent of mould, while some common products claiming to be disinfectants have proven to be ineffective at cleaning. Now if you take vinegar one step further and add a few drops of essential oils such as the ever popular tea tree oil, your cleaner becomes an even more powerful antiseptic.
Another product that you can use to clean is three per cent hydrogen peroxide. This is a product that has gained in popularity because it is the only germicidal agent composed only of water and oxygen. Like oxygen it kills disease by oxidation and is considered the world's safest sanitizer. Hydrogen peroxide kills microorganisms by oxidizing them.
In the same study by Good Housekeeping, Lysol was one of the products that scored high at killing germs. The question that you want to ask yourself is how much you want to use commercial products in your home, on your counters and throughout the air. In other words some strong commercial cleaners do kill germs but does that really mean that they are the healthiest choice?
Baking soda and borax are great as abrasive cleaners and odour eliminators but not hugely effective at killing germs. A combination of baking soda and vinegar is a powerful choice.
The decision as to what you should use must be yours and remember that just because we see something on TV doesn't make it true. All the best with your recovery!
QUESTION: We have yet to find a phosphate-free, environmentally friendly dishwasher product that does the job as well as regular detergents. Do you have any suggestions?
-- Ólöf (Selkirk)
ANSWER: When it comes to dishwasher detergent, there are a few recipes that you can use and some have shown great results. However, in most cases glasses tend to etch after several uses. Therefore, instead of replacing your commercial dishwasher detergent, pour the regular detergent from the box into a bucket and add one quarter cup borax and one quarter cup baking soda. Mix well and use as normal. Baking soda and borax are inexpensive and work well to save money. Also, replace dishwasher rinse agent with white vinegar and a few drops of your favorite essential oil such as lavender or tea tree oil. Both oils have effective properties that will clean the dishes and the dishwasher.
QUESTION: How do I clean road salt stains from my rubber car mats? I tried vinegar and it doesn't clean very well. I can't find any information about this in your books.
-- Cecilia (Holland, MB)
ANSWER: Begin by beating the mats with a broom to remove most of the loose dirt and dust. Next vacuum the mats until no dirt remains. Using either dish soap or carpet shampoo and water, create lather onto the salt stains and scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse and let air dry.
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
Rubber tends to darken silverware, so never put anything made of rubber in the silver drawers. Use cord or ribbon to hold silver together-not rubber bands.
A tin muffin pan may be painted with bright enamel and used for serving drinks; glasses won't tip over and serving is much easier.
Save all left-over pieces of soap, either hand or laundry soap, and place in a can. Pour a small amount of water over them and place on stove, the soap will melt and form a jelly. This is ideal for hand washing dishes or clothes.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national best sellers, "Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions", "Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets" and the soon to be released book "Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives" available on-line and in stores across Canada.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming! Please join me on Saturday May 9 for Gardening Saturday hosted by the Friends of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, at the Canadian Mennonite University. My topic? Organic Solutions for the Garden.
Check out my web site! www.householdsolutions.org
