The season of spring has arrived! Spring is commonly associated with new life, vitality, growth and renewal. A time when gardens burst with colourful flowers, daylight hours are getting longer, and the weather feels warmer. Spring is also traditionally thought of as a time for spring cleaning!
Why spring cleaning?
The practice of spring cleaning is thought to date back centuries with connections to religious festivals occurring in early spring. Early origins aside, spring cleaning also makes sense from a practical perspective. During the cooler winter months, we tend to spend more time in indoors. Windows and doors are kept shut to keep the heat in and the cold air out. This lack of ventilation can see a build-up of dust, grime and mould and over time this can become hazardous to our health. Spring provides the perfect opportunity to embrace the warmer weather, open the windows, clean and refresh surfaces and fabrics and declutter your living space!
By spring cleaning your home, you’ll rid your household of harmful bacteria, viruses, mould and allergens which can contribute to illness and infection. This provides a safer environment for everyone living in your house including children and pets. Having a clean and decluttered living space may also make you feel more productive and improve your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Know before you clean
But before you rush out and start cleaning – do you know what is in your household cleaners? When it comes to cleaning products it is important to be aware of the ingredients they contain. Chemicals contained in many cleaning products can vaporise upon use, releasing dangerous compounds in the air called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs can cause headaches, irritate the eyes, mouth and lungs and trigger allergies. In addition, some chemicals such as phthalates found in synthetic fragrances and some parabens which are used as preservatives, can act as hormone disrupters. These types of chemicals may affect the function of the reproductive system and can also be toxic to the brain.
By using these products, your house may be clean but not necessarily healthy. In fact, the concentrated daily exposure to indoor pollution from toxic chemicals may be more harmful to your health than environmental pollutants you are exposed to outdoors.
It is also important to remember that when using cleaning products, to keep the area well ventilated. Open windows if possible and avoid using cleaning products in small, enclosed spaces. Mixing different cleaning agents together such as bleach and ammonia produce dangerous, toxic gases which can be deadly.
A natural alternative
The good news is there are natural, non-toxic cleaning options available. When considering natural cleaning products, the key is look for natural, plant derived, biodegradable ingredients without added synthetic fragrances. Your kitchen pantry can also be a source of natural cleaning products. Household vinegar and bicarb soda are two common and inexpensive household cleaning agents that have a multitude of uses.
Australian NaturalCare stocks a range of plant derived, biodegradable natural cleaning products designed to keep your home clean and fresh and protect your health at the same time!
Simply Clean offers options for all your household cleaning requirements including the bathroom, laundry and kitchen without using toxic chemicals or irritants.
Enjoy the natural cleaning benefits of Australian native essential oils contained in Koala Eco cleaning products.
So, hopefully this has motivated you to harness this seasonal energy and tackle some spring cleaning! By choosing to use natural cleaning agents, you will not only enjoy the benefits of living in a clean environment, but you’ll also be protecting the health and wellbeing of everyone in your household.
References
Environmental Protection Authority (US) (2022), What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? | US EPA
National Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIES) (2022) Phthalates: The Everywhere Chemical (nih.gov)
