An allergy is a disorder of the immune system and is caused by reactions occurring from environmental substances known as allergens. Examples of allergic reactions include asthma, food allergies, eczema, and reactions to stings from wasps and bees. Treatments for allergies include the use of avoiding the allergen, anti-histamines, and steroids.



Avoiding the allergen can be an effective way of reducing the incident of the allergy occurring. For example, eczema, a painful skin condition, can be made worse when the person has come into contact with chemical cleaners used in the house. Therefore the use of non-chemical cleaners/environmentally friendly products can help to prevent a flare-up of the condition.

What are environmentally friendly products?

Environmentally friendly products are made from natural ingredients that have very few side effects. The advantages of environmentally products leans not only towards us but towards nature as well, which means the products are good for humans to use, and the products break down in the environment when they have been discarded.

Many companies manufacture environmentally friendly products across the world, and production is increasing as more consumers are realising the benefits to their health and the environment when they use the products. But some people are put off using such products because of the cost, and for people on a tight budget it is a major concern. However, there is a cheap and cheerful way to use environmentally cleaning products …and they are normally found in the pantry/larder:

Vinegar – white distilled vinegar can be used concentrated for tough jobs or diluted with distilled water for easier jobs. It is brilliant for removing lime scale on taps, shower screens, cleaning windows, as is a general disinfectant, and general cleaner. The ‘fish ‘n' chip' smell does dissipate and leaves the air smelling fresh and clean. Do not use vinegar on marble or some stone products.

Tomato ketchup – for cleaning brass, rub on and then rub off to a shine.

Lemon juice and bicarbonate soda – once the ingredients have been added together and made into a paste, it is great for cleaning dirty areas such as ovens…but some elbow grease is needed as well!

Bicarbonate soda – sprinkle on to carpets before vacuuming to freshen them up. Put some into a container and put at the back of the fridge to keep out odours.

Lemon juice and olive oil – one cup of lemon oil, half a cup of olive oil and shake together well. This makes a lovely solution for cleaning wooden furniture.

The cleaning products suggested above are nothing new as women have used them in the home generations ago. Unfortunately somewhere along the line recent generations have forgotten about the ‘back-to-basics' cleaning products when they fell for the clever marketing of cleaners that used a variety of chemicals.

Other environmentally friendly products that manufactures are making are:

Hand made paper – not only reduces pollution by 70% but also helps in saving trees as the process uses non-wood raw materials to a large extent

Use of ECO wheels, also known as electric vehicles, which can help in reducing air pollution

Eco friendly furniture uses raw-wood and recycled products, so is a good alternative to wooden furniture

Equipment using solar energy provides heat without causing air and sound pollution

Eco friendly paints have fewer chemicals in them and there is very little odour

Eco shoes are made up of recycled rubber and plastics

Conclusion

Environmentally friendly products are good for humans and nature. Some environmentally friendly products are more costly than ‘traditional' types of products but savings can be made if we go ‘back-to-basics.'