by Stacy Diève

One of our passions here at RootedHealth™ is creating completely natural, non-toxic cleaning products.  Let us help you transform the indoor air quality in your home, office or school with easy, inexpensive and environmentally friendly solutions.

Benefits of Green Cleaning
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, there are a number of important attributes of greener cleaning products, including:

• Minimizing exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, including:
  
• Carcinogens, reproductive toxins and other damaging substances
  
• Ozone-depleting compounds as listed in Clean Air Act regulations
  
• Regulated hazardous materials 
  
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 
  
• Limiting adverse effects on water quality and aquatic life 
  
• Adaptable for use in cold water in order to conserve energy

How to Find Safe Products
Manufactures are not legally required to disclose ingredients on product labels, which can be protected as “trade secrets.”   Cleaning supplies independently certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo meet green standards.  A helpful resource is the Environmental Working Group’s searchable database with toxicity ratings for over 2,000 cleaning products.  http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners. 

Homemade Cleaning Products... What’s Cooking in the Kitchen
Our favorite solution for safer alternatives is homemade cleaning products.   Doing it yourself is easy, budget-friendly and fun!  RootedHealth™ is available to conduct workshops for schools, fairs, groups and individuals on how to make your own cleaning products.  We provide the following:

• Safer alternatives for all of your cleaning needs, including dishwashing and laundry
  
• A detailed description of how to use common items in your home (e.g. baking soda, vinegar, salt, etc.) for specific cleaning needs
  
• Hands on step-by-step instructions on how to make common household cleaners for the kitchen, bathroom, furniture and more
  
• Printed recipe guide
  
• Guidance on determine the right essential oils to add to your cleaners 
  

Tips and Recipes
We are happy to share our favorite tips and recipes to get you started:

Carpet Cleaner:
1 C. borax 
1 C. baking soda
10 drops essential oil (suggestions: lavender, sandalwood, lemongrass)  
Mix all ingredients together in a container, sprinkle over carpet, let sit for 20 minutes and vacuum.

Drain Opener (for metal pipes only, not plastic):
½ C. baking soda
1 C. white vinegar
½ C. salt
4 quarts of hot water (or 1 tea kettle full)
Dilute the salt in the hot water and have it ready.  Pour the baking soda down the sink first, followed by the vinegar.  When it starts to fizz, cover the drain and let sit until the fizzing stops. Pour the hot water/salt mixture down the drain.  The process may need repeating for heavy clogs. 

Woodland Glass Cleaner:
1 C.  water
½ C. vinegar
¼ C. rubbing alcohol
10 drops essential oils (suggestions: pine, fir or spruce)
Mix ingredients into a spray bottle and apply.  Rub with a cotton cloth or newspaper.  To avoid streaks, do not use in sunlight.

Toilet Cleaner:
½ C. baking soda
½ C. vinegar
10 drops essential oil (suggestion:  tea tree)
Mix all ingredients together and scrub with a toilet brush.

TIPS: 
•Re-purpose empty washed yogurt containers to mix carpet and toilet cleaners
•Substitute dryer sheets with a few drops of your favorite essential oil on an extra piece of cotton fabric




© 2010-2012 RootedHealth™. All rights reserved.  

Rooted Health has joined the California Right to Know Coalition in support of the Genetically Engineered Food Act of 2012, a ballot Initiative that would require the labeling of genetically modified (GMO) foods.  

What are GMOs?
A GMO food is a plant or animal product that has had its DNA artificially altered by genes from other plants, animals, viruses, or bacteria, in order to produce foreign compounds in that food.   In the US today, over 91% of the soy, 88% of the cottonseed, 88% of the canola and 85% of corn crop in the U.S. is genetically engineered.  These GMO crops and their derivates (e.g. high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, etc.) are found in over 80% processed foods on store shelves, such as baby formula, cereal, ice cream, breads, salad dressing, and many other products. Currently, the majority of GMO crops are designed for one purpose: to withstand greater amount of pesticides and insecticides.

What are the concerns with GMOs?
GMOs have not been tested for health or safety in humans.  Studies show that GMOs can create new, unintended toxicants and increase allergies, and other serious health problems.

What are the requirements for GMO labeling today?
There is no requirement in the US to label GMO foods, but polls show the vast majority of consumers support it.    50 countries including the European Union, Japan and China already label GMOs.  California is the 8th largest economy in the world, so a labeling law here would have national influence.  We as consumers have the right to know what’s in our food!

How can you help?
Volunteers are needed to collect signatures for the ballot initiative.  The signature gathering period will start February 18th and run through April 22nd, with the goal of having the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act  on the November 2012 ballot.

For additional information or to find a training near you, please visit www.labelgmos.org orhttp://carighttoknow.com.




© 2010-2012 RootedHealth™. All rights reserved.  

Visit this piece in the press, co-authored by RootedHealth™’s Stacy Dieve, found on the site for the SanAnselmo-Fairfax Patch.


© 2010-2012 RootedHealth™. All rights reserved.