Ever Get A Headache After Cleaning?

This article is contributed by Sheri-anne Woolley, Sr Service Consultant of Mona Cleaning - an all natural home cleaning service provider. You can find out more about Mona Cleaning's approach to healthy home cleaning services at www.monacleaning.com

We all know that everyone wants a clean home, but not everybody likes the job of cleaning. Some of us, in our personal zeal for clean, are even using dangerous cleaning products to hasten the task in our bathrooms, kitchens, on our floors and windows. What we’re not seeing behind the shiny results of those chemically based cleaning products are the harmful substances like phosphates, and flammable toxins such as nitrobenzene, peroxide and other chemicals which are dangerous to our own health and the environment.

Generally, these products can cause skin, lung, and even eye irritation. They can also contaminate surfaces and leave a nasty deposit of toxins in so many ways. You’d be shocked to know that the air inside your home is much more harmful than the air outside… At least 67% more! What’s worse is that you could be the culprit behind it all by using chemical-based products in your home.

John Travolta himself admitted that he was obsessive about cleaning. He even claims that excessive use of chemicals to keep his home clean (particularly his carpets) attacked his son’s immune system and caused Kawasaki syndrome. It ‘s pretty evident that the commercial cleaning products we’re using for our homes are simply not safe for our health. Couple this with the new and improved energy efficient homes that promise to lock in heat and prevent your AC from seeping out your windows, and you can only imagine how these new features trap pent up air (and toxins) from things like new furniture, plastics, faux finishes on objects and other items that are brought into your home.

No need for alarm, there are alternatives! Avoid dangerous, toxic and non-biodegradable ingredients that can lead to serious illnesses and try using natural cleaning products instead. They’re not only better for your health, but also less expensive than conventional cleaning products. Many homes and offices have already switched to using natural cleaning products, so what are you waiting for?

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Change your furnace filter regularly.
2. Keep ceiling, floor and wall vents clean of debris and dust.
3. Ensure your dryer has breathing room, 6-10 inches from the wall so that the ventilation can vent!
4. Let the fresh air in! Open up windows for at least 20 minutes per day creating a cross breeze and allowing fresh air to replace stale toxic air.
5. Use a paste of vinegar and baking soda for those hard to remove stains or soap scum instead of a harmful commercial product.
6. Try vinegar and very warm water on glass and mirrors instead of commercial brand glass cleaners.

There are many cleaning alternatives for cleaning your home thoroughly and efficiently without causing harm to you or your family’s health. Try buying green products that don’t contain phosphates, bleaches and other harmful chemicals instead. By using biodegradable and natural solutions not only do you preserve your own health, but the health of our environment too.

Sheri-anne Woolley

Sr. service consultant
Mona home and office cleaning inc.
www.monacleaning.com

RECIPE: Coconut Chickpea Curry

This honestly has to be the absolute tastiest meal I've made in a very long time. SOOOOO cream and delicious! Great on some brown rice with a side of steamed swiss chard (a dark leafy green that has a mild, almost buttery flavour and goes great with the curry in this dish). If you haven't read my article about the health benefits of coconut, check it out here: Coconuttyliciousness!

SERVES 6
Ingredients
• 2 cups dried garbanzo beans (chickpeas) (400g) or 4 cups of cooked or canned chick-peas, drained
• 1 cup desiccated (shredded) unsweetened coconut
• 1/2-1 teaspoon thinly sliced and chopped fresh ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric powder
• 1/2-1 teaspoon of ground pure red chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander powder
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 6 fresh curry leaves (optional) (substitute bay leaves or kaffir lime leaves)
• 1 cup coconut milk
• cilantro, for garnishing

Directions
If using dried chickpeas, soak overnight in plenty of water, then drain. Place soaked chickpeas in a large pot with plenty of fresh water, bring to the boil for 15 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer for about an hour, or until chickpeas are tender. Alternatively you can pressure-cook the dried chickpeas according to the manufacturer's instructions.

When the chickpeas are cooked, or if you are using canned chickpeas, put them aside.

Next, heat a wok or skillet over medium-high heat, and dry-roast the desiccated coconut, reducing heat as necessary- it is important to stir continuously, as the coconut will readily catch and burn. As soon as the coconut starts to brown remove the skillet from the heat, and immediately place the coconut in a blender bowl - if left in the skillet it will become dark brown and bitter.

Add ginger, turmeric, chilli, coriander powder and a little water to the blender bowl and grind to a fine paste.

Heat the oil in a clean pan and saute mustard seeds until they start to pop and release their aroma.

Add onion, garlic, and curry leaves and saute and stir a further minute or two.

Add coconut paste and cooked chickpeas, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more water if necessary.

Add 1 cup coconut milk and simmer for a further 10-15 minutes.

Serve with brown rice and garnish with fresh cilantro.

References
Recipe courtesy RecipeZaar http://www.recipezaar.com/Chickpea-Coconut-Curry-kadala-112176