To Bleach Or Not To Bleach: Is That Really A Question?

Did you know bleach has to sit on a surface for 30 minutes before it works? Did you also know bleach is a pesticide? And it doesn’t work if the surface is dirty.

Women that work at home have a much higher risk of cancer than those that work at home. And repeated exposure to cleaning products is a big factor in this. Pretty scary right?

So why eat organic food when you are cleaning your home with a pesticide? A pesticide that cause all kinds of health problems from asthma to hormone imbalances that can cause cancer. There are tons of products out there to get rid of your “need” to use bleach. I’m sure this post will only show a few of them!

Laundry:
This should be a very easy one. My favorite way to “bleach” clothes is sun bleaching. It’s free and works great on a lot of stains. All you do is dry the stained item in the sun. (It can yellow some whites.)

You can also make your own color safe bleach. This is another way to save money.

Seventh Generation makes a chlorine free bleach. In addition to other stain fighters, Biokleen also sells a chlorine-free bleach. And many other eco-friendly companies make safe chlorine-free bleaches.

Cleaning:
Bleach doesn’t clean, it removes stains and kills everything. So clean with good old hot water and soap, or an eco-friendly all purpose cleaner. For stain removal what you use depends on the stain, but hydrogen peroxide is a pretty good bet for most stains you will encounter on a daily basis.

Disinfecting:
Vinegar Of Four Thieves is a great natural disinfectant that even was shown in tests to kill MRSA! Plain old vinegar disinfects too, and guess what, so does hot water and soap! Here is a recipe to make your own disinfectant:

Grapefruit Seed Extract
1 gallon warm water
20 drops grapefruit seed extract
Mix and pour in a spray bottle

Cleaning Mold:

Tea tree oil will kill even toxic molds! Just use 2 teaspoons tea tree oil mixed with 2 cups water. The above grapefruit seed extract recipe about will also kill mold, and vinegar does, too.

So have no fear germ freaks! You can kill those germs without killing yourself!

Do you have more tips on how not to use bleach? Or do you have something else you use bleach for you still need help with? I want to hear about it!

Originally posted on Retro Housewife Goes Green. Read more about Lisa’s quest to be more green at Retro Housewife Goes Green.

8 Responses to To Bleach Or Not To Bleach: Is That Really A Question?
  1. […] To Bleach Or Not To Bleach: Natural Mold Cleaning Recipes […]

  2. NinjaPrincess
    February 9, 2009 | 10:18 pm

    “Women that work at home have a much higher risk of cancer than those that work at home.”

    I’m assuming you meant to say that those at home have a higher risk than those who work outside the home. Do you have a source for this information? I would be interested in reading more about it.

  3. Mimi
    February 10, 2009 | 7:00 am

    I think I would like a source for all this information as well.

  4. Lisa (Retro Housewife Goes Green)
    February 10, 2009 | 12:35 pm

    Yes that is what I meant, oops. haha

    “National Cancer Association released results of a 15-year study concluding that women who work in the home are at a 54% higher risk of developing cancer than women who work outside the home.”

    Let me know if that doesn’t answer your questions. :)

  5. Mimi
    February 13, 2009 | 9:27 pm

    Not American then? We have the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute and many smaller specific-to-one-type cancer organizations. I think we are looking for more of where I can read the study. Thanks though! :D

  6. Lisa (Retro Housewife Goes Green)
    February 17, 2009 | 12:32 pm

    I am trying to find the study. I read it in a book and I can’t remember which one.

  7. Lindsey@A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts
    March 25, 2009 | 10:54 pm

    I was wondering how to start going more natural with my cleaning products and you’ve helped so much! Thank you! Making a list now…

  8. Lindsey@A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts
    March 25, 2009 | 10:54 pm

    Oh, how do the “green cleaners” on the market nowadays compare? Are they really better?