Many people use a wide variety of chemical cleaning agents and products in their homes on a daily basis.
What they may not realize is the fact that many of these chemicals can be harmful to their health when inhaled. In addition to the inhalation aspect, skin irritation often occurs in contact with many chemical cleaning agents.
Many disinfectants contain phenol (or carbolic acid) or cresol. These can attack the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, spleen and pancreas.
How adding loads of chemicals to your home environment can be good for your health and cleanliness. They can kill bacteria, sure, but human beings will gradually kill themselves too if they continue this way. Many people strive to keep their homes germ-free, but if our homes are kept so germ-free that our immune systems don't have to work as hard, we risk weakening our immune systems.
Another chemical (and one of the most dangerously toxic) household products is oven cleaner. I personally have never used it because I remember the fumes when my mother used it when I was a kid and that alone was enough to put me off for life! How right I was. Many oven cleaners release fumes that can affect the respiratory system and contain ammonia and lye that eat away at the skin. I prefer to use baking soda and water sprinkled inside the oven and leave overnight. A good scrub in the morning completes the treatment. It does an amazing job. You will also not smell any chemical residue the next time you use the oven.
Many artificial air fresheners release nerve dead tissue that can interfere with your sense of smell. Natural aromatherapy oils would be a much safer bet.
At a time when respiratory diseases like asthma are at an all-time high, we should be looking for a more natural and gentle way to keep our homes clean.
Using all-natural, non-toxic household cleaners is the best defense against dirt and grime while keeping our bodies healthy, environmentally friendly and not tested on animals. Everyone is a winner.
Many companies claim that their products are "natural", but it's best to check the labels as they may contain only a few natural ingredients and yet be loaded with chemicals.
Buying from a known ethical cruelty free company is the best way to go. Their products should not only be natural, safe and non-toxic, but also environmentally friendly and not tested on animals.
Eights, capitalize on mango season. Costa Rica abounds with natural fruit and vegetables, but many of the trees only bear fruit once summer has ended. One example of this is the mangos – if you visit from June onwards, you can literally pick up ripe juicy mangoes off the floor as you go about your day.
Ninth, swimmers and surfers will enjoy better waves. Costa Rica is famed for its killer surfing all along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Although great all year round, the green season is when the swells tend to be bigger, and the surf better.
Tenth, experience rainy season mornings. Dawn after a heavy night of rain is a magical experience in Costa Rica. As the sun is rising and the clouds are clearing, sip your coffee as you watch the jungle glistening with freshness and inhale the fragrant cool air.
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