Keeping The Environment Safe From Harmful Chemicals

Think about recycling and maybe the first thing to pop into your head isn't damage that's done to the earth when we use products with harmful chemicals, but that's part of the cycle, too.  As well as reducing waste, recycling products and reusing what can be reused, protecting the earth from harm is all a part of the same cause.

Image via WikipediaIt's not something we set out to do, at the beginning of the day; the thought isn't, "Hmmm, how can I hurt the Earth today?"  It probably sounds something much more like, "Gee, I need to clean today, let me reach under the cupboard and see what I have," not realizing that whatever is done with the products I use to clean, once I've cleaned, can be harmful to not only the earth itself, but any living things that may come in contact with the wash off.  We live in a sterilized world, where the idea of a clean home, clean work place and clean where ever we take our children is the first order of business.  But we need to stop and think about what harm we may be doing in our quest for the cleanest living area. 

Is it worth a colony of ants to clean your kitchen floor with a harmful chemical, and that when you dump out the bucket that contains those chemicals, onto the ant hill, you risk wiping out the entire population?  Maybe you don't like ants, and that wasn't the best example, but you know what I mean.  We have a responsibility to the other creatures that share this Earth with us to not purposely do it, and them, harm.  We need to be mindful of what our actions are producing and how our actions affect all other living things.

There are so many options for safe-cleaning on the market today that you don't really have to look much further than your local grocery shelf.  Pay attention to the words that describe the items you are buying.  Do they contain the words, toxic, poisonous, or dangerous?  If they do, then keep reading the next product's ingredients, there is a better choice out there. (Try Earth Friendly, or 7th Generation for some good alternatives.)

Many synthetic chemicals are not easily broken down by natural processes after they have been used and may make their ways into the streams and lakes and have a disastrous affect on any forms of life that inhabit them. It will only take a little effort on the part of consumers to prevent these things from happening, but we must start somewhere.

Image via WikipediaWe need to be careful with the chemicals we have easy access to and become more responsible for what happens as the result of our choices.  It really isn't all that hard to make an informed choice and help the Earth; we certainly don't want to hurt it but being irresponsible with basic cleaning products can do just that; we can end up causing great harm to the planet on which we live.  Remember, it doesn't take much more than a little awareness to be an advocate for the health of the place we call home.

Be Smart.  Shop Smart.  Clean Smart.

For some suggestions for safe, truly natural cleaning products, check out earlier posts on this blog, or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html. (You can also find a free checklist there for reducing other toxins in your home as well.)