A Deadly Clean

A little while ago I came across news about a recent study that links the use of household cleaners with breast cancer in women. The study noted that women who use strong household cleaners more have a higher tendency to get the disease.

I was chatting this week with a friend of mine about the study – she said she still likes to use powerful cleansers, as she feels if she doesn't, her house isn't really clean. She was actually in the middle of bleaching all of the sheets in her home during our call because of a cycle of winter illnesses in her family.

I, too, have been known to use strong cleansers, especially in the bathroom. I know vinegar can be used as a green cleaning agent for the toilet and elsewhere, but somehow, I suspect that the vinegar won't really get rid of all the germs. And recently, I tried to use some really toxic-smelling spray-on cleaner in the  shower (to remove really stubborn soap scum), but I had to leave the room because the stuff was actually making me feel sick and faint. Also, I recently used a whole bunch of Lysol wipes in our bathrooms, thanks to a visit by the Strep virus in our home.

I have been known to clean the kitchen counters with just soap and water, or with some vinegar (to the chagrin of my husband, who hates the smell of vinegar). I've also purchased "green" cleaners I've seen in the supermarket – although I never feel that they do a good job.

There's a lot of advice online about how to make your own green (and supposedly healthier) cleansers, like the recipes for all-natural cleaners I found at thedailygreen.com.  I guess I'll have to go back to using just green cleansers – I don't think a "clean" home is worth sacrificing my health. Plus, if I forgo the brand-name cleaners, I might be able to save a little money, too.

Have any suggestions for cleaning your home without using harsh chemicals?