So you think you’ve cleaned your kitchen, right?
Spring has sprung! It’s usually this time of the year that people start feeling the brunt of pollen in the air and we assume hayfever has set in. We resort to wanting cleaner living spaces for our family so they don’t get sick and we really want to protect their immune systems. And so, we embark on the Spring cleaning journey of our lives…
You’ve tirelessly scrubbed your kithcne and home with all kinds of cleaning aids and chemicals, wiped all your counter surfaces with wet wipes that claims to kill 99% of bacteria. You’ve mopped your floors with an industrial grade bleach solution and washed your cloths and kitchen towels. You’ve scrubbed the kitchen sink, dishwasher and the fridge from top to bottom. You’ve even wiped all the shelves inside and some of your children’s toys lying on the floor!
It smells clean and it looks clean. But is it clean?
The truth is that we do more damage than we know. We compromise the health of our families on a daily basis. We follow off the shelf packaging advisory for effective cleaning, we douse our homes with chemicals to rid it of bacteria and germs, we think we’re doing the right thing. We think it is all ok. When we get sick, we assume that we’re just having poor health due to another common flu circulating. Little do we know how our cleaning habits are bringing chemicals into our private spaces are affecting us, how we come into contact with all kinds of allergens in our homes, by touching surfaces “cleaned” with general store cleaners and breathing in chemicals and toxins released into the air. We are responsible for the health of our loved ones and it’s time we realise that we are probably not cleaning as responsbily as we should.
Explore more below about allergens and what you can do clean your home in a safer way!
Respiratory Allergens
Almost 20 per cent of the Australian population has an allergic disease, and it is predicted that by 2050, the number of patients affected by allergic diseases in Australia will increase by 70 per cent to 7.7 million (Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Limited 2013).
Source: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/your-health-report-of-the-chief-health-officer-victoria-2018/child-health/allergies
Australian children have the highest prevalence of food allergy in the world (Prescott et al. 2013). A Melbourne-based study showed that 40–50 per cent of their population-based study participants experienced symptoms of an allergic disease in the first four years of their life (Peters et al. 2017).
Are you struggling with excessive sneezing and watery, itchy eyes?
Allergens: The Hidden Culprits
Did you know that respiratory allergens are everywhere in your home, especially your kitchen? This type of allergy symptom usually occurs when we inhale some sort of allergen. And while household cleaning products are a significant concern, allergens in your environment can also play a role in triggering allergies. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common respiratory allergen causes:
- Dust Mites: These microscopic creatures are a common source of allergens in many homes and can exacerbate sinus congestion and headaches in sensitive individuals.
- Pollen: Allergic reactions to pollen can cause sinus inflammation, leading to headaches, particularly during allergy seasons.
- Mould: Mould spores can be inhaled and trigger allergies, causing sinus headaches and other discomforts.
- Animal Dander: Pet hair and dander is a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria and often lead to pet allergies.
- Bacteria
- Chemicals
See how Norwex fights allergens that compromise your air quality!
Kitchen
The Norwex promise is all about living a safer, cleaner better life with less chemicals and harsh pollutants affecting your family and the planet.Norwex offers a wide variety of kitchen cleaning products tha can help you achieve better air quality for your family, such as:
- Norwex® Microfibre EnviroCloths: Just add water to Norwex® Microfibre to remove up to 99% of bacteria throughout your home.
- Probiotic Hard Surface Cleaner: This formula harnesses the power of probiotics to trigger enzymes that break down visible and hidden stains and soils in hard-to-reach areas like deep cracks and uneven surfaces.
- Foaming Hand Wash: A hand wash powder that is made from 99.9% natural origin ingredients.
- UltraZyme™ Dishwasher Powder: A powerful, enzyme-based detergent that gets your dishes clean and sparkling without harmful chemicals.
- Fresh Produce Wash: Clean fresh fruits and vegetables naturally with this plant-based concentrate made with biodegradable ingredients. It effectively removes unwanted chemical residue from fertilisers, dirt and bacteria. Formula contains no phosphates, sulfates or parabens so you can feed your family without worry. Plus, it helps to extend the shelf life of your fruits and vegetables! Free from: Phosphates, Sulfates, Parabens
Cleaning with bathroom sprays on a regular basis equals smoking approximately 20 cigarettes a day.
Beate Hjeltnes
Global CEO – Norwex
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Welcome to The Norwex movement
At Norwex we believe that it is essential for all of us to be increasingly conscious of the presence of chemicals in our daily products and routines as well as how how they can affect us and the long term effects or potential consequences they may pose to our well-being.
Every child deserves a home that is clean and safe and chemical free. Did you know that it is estimated that worldwide about 1 in 100 children has Autism.1 Families and children are continously exposed to harmful chemicals that we cannot begin to understand the impact of.
The Norwex Mission is about chemical awareness, helping people clean their homes in a chemical free way and introducing families to the Norwegian way of cleaner, safer, better.
You can join the Norwex mission too!
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