Well, the actual reason is that I find so many other interesting things to do… but I knew the sprays and other substances often used to clean and “dust” are toxic to my body. Now there is proof it isn’t just me, and it’s not a figment of our imaginations!
Follow this link to the BBC article: Doing Housework can Cause Asthma.
So what is a conscientious housekeeper (who doesn’t like to clean) to do? Start by trying to eliminate clutter. A reasonable person won’t eliminate it entirely, but the fewer things you have out to collect the dust, the more effective a quick swipe with a damp rag or microfiber duster is. I have found that forced air heating (which is what our home has), even with good filtration, causes and spreads dust like anything. If you have a choice, find a radiant heating system of some kind.
Love your animals, but if you are allergic make sure you keep them off the bed (and out of the bedroom), and keep their own bedding clean. Sweep often (vacuum if you have carpets) and make them wipe their paws before they come in (this works for dogs, might not for cats).
I use vinegar for most cleaning, a mild bleach-based cream cleaner for bathroom sinks and counters (needs to be clean), “Lysol” type wipes for quick sanitization in between cleanings, and for toilets and showers (we have hard water) we use a non-aerosol calcium-lime-rust remover that is effective. That last is my only real concession to the “spray-on, wipe-off” culture. When we tried to go without, the showers got gradually more and more orange until no amount of elbow grease would clean them. A whole-house water softener is out of the question, we are in a sensitive ecosystem and use a septic system. We put the least amount of salts as we can into the environment.
I don’t generally use scented candles (allergies), NEVER use air fresheners of any kind, and open my windows frequently when it’s warm enough to get air exchange.
For our family, this works well enough, though our home would hardly win awards for beauty or neatness.