The use of chemical cleaning products have been linked to asthma, sinusitis and bronchitis.

By MELISSA SULLIVAN
Copy Editor

Saving money isn’t the only benefit of using homemade household cleaners. These cleaners are free of toxins, making them safe to use around kids and animals.

Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education instructor Chris Schlueter is teaching a class in April that will include recipes to make “green and clean” products for the home.

“Green cleaning products is a new name for an old way of cleaning,” Schlueter said. “Cleaning the ‘green way’ is just a different way of thinking about what you put on the surfaces in your home. Green cleaning saves you money, helps the environment and is healthier for all of us.”

Chemical solutions can contribute to environmental pollution and affect long-term health.

According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, the use of chemical cleaning products have been linked to asthma, sinusitis and bronchitis.

For example, when sodium hypochlorite, a key ingredient in chlorine bleach, is mixed with ammonia, a toxic gas is released that may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or respiratory problems. Ammonia, an ingredient in glass cleaners, has been found to cause eye and lung irritation along with headaches.

Children and babies are more sensitive to toxins because they play on the floor and put objects into their mouths. Using nontoxic cleaners at home ensures the safety of kids, pets and the environment.

Schlueter recommends looking through the pantry to find the ingredients.
“Often the ingredients are right on your kitchen shelves or handed down from generations. The formulas are nontoxic and natural,” she said.

“Green cleaning is just as effective as all those boughten products and you will notice a more fresh smell that is not covered up by a perfume or faux scent. Your home will really smell like a breath of clean air.”

If you go
Green Cleaning by Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education

When: 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 21

Where: Hutchinson Middle School, room 304, 1365 South Grade Road, S.W.

Instructor: Chris Schlueter

Fee: $15

Common household items and their uses
Baking soda: An all-purpose, nontoxic cleaner that deodorizes, removes stains and softens fabrics.

Cornstarch: Can be used to starch clothes, absorbs oil and grease.

Herbs and essential oils: Used for disinfecting and adds fragrance.

Lemon juice: Cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other stains from clothing. Can be used as a bleach alternative.

Salt: Used as an abrasive.

Vinegar: Cuts grease, removes stains and is a good water softener.