Ecological cleaning products

Sometimes when life gets too frantic and the demands on our time mean we could do with 48 hours in every day we hearken back to the good old days when life was simpler. Or was it?

Are these the same good old days when if clothes were dirty we needed to find a handy stream and a good flat rock to bash the dirt out on – a practice which is still in use in some parts of the world today. Or, coming forwards to the beginning of the last century when Monday was washing day. The wash took all day. The house was filled with the stench of soap and dripping laundry hung over every surface.

No, maybe those days weren’t so good after all. It is certainly true that the invention of the washing machine, the tumble dryer and then the dishwasher freed people up from drudgery. Following on behind the invention of these machines, came the demand for complete cleanliness, removal of stains and sparkling whites. The detergent manufacturers responded by adding chemicals into their soaps and powders. One key chemical, phosphate, helped the cleaning elements within detergents to work and added to cleaning power.

Whilst phosphates occur naturally and we all need a small amount of phosphate in our diet, in large quantities they can be extremely damaging to the environment, particularly in the water. In the UK in 2004 a law was passed restricting detergent ingredients to no more than 0.5% phosphates. This has been followed by legislation which came into force earlier this year and which further limits the use of phosphates in detergents from 2015.

If you are concerned about the use of phosphates, some cleaning products such as Ecover contain no phosphates at all. There are also ways in which you can maintain your home’s cleanliness whilst using fewer cleaning products and detergents. Consider having your home steam cleaned from time to time. This is great for removing mould, grease, bacteria and by using no chemicals is helpful for the environment. Steam cleaning curtains both cleans and irons them in situ without the need for them to be taken down.

Or how about dry carpet cleaning or dry upholstery cleaning. These should involve the use of environmentally friendly phosphate free ingredients and the clean will leave your whole home feeling fresh.

Looking at toilet cleaners, they can contain chlorine, petrochemical products and acids. These are not only potentially damaging for the environment, they can also affect those with allergies. Again some toilet cleaning products contain only plant based ingredients and are more beneficial for the environment. Vinegar is also a great cleaning product for the toilet and the smell won’t linger once the vinegar dries.

So do we want to go back to the old days? Well, no we quite like the benefits of modern living. With a little thought on what we pour on our floors and down our drains we can enjoy the benefits of a clean home and not harm the environment and that is a win-win for all.