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Dubai: There are infinite ways to go green, but have you ever tried washing your clothes with vinegar or airing out your house with baking soda?
Dubai-based Sparkle and Shine Home Learning Centre teaches domestic workers and individuals to narrow the focus in environmental conservation and look closer. According to managing director Claire Peirson, "to truly go green, you have to start at home."
Co-partner and managing director Jacqueline Dyer said she agreed to be part of Sparkle and Shine only if the company prohibited the use of chemicals and harmful products. She said: "All our trainers are required to go green if they want to work with us."
The group has received phenomenal response from parents and individuals who are eager to become more eco-conscious, Peirson said. "Emiratis especially, are very interested and many people send in their domestic workers to learn eco-friendly techniques to keep their homes clean," she said.
"Chemicals are everywhere, and many people don't realise how badly it is affecting their health," Peirson said.
She attributed the spread of allergies and respiratory illnesses, especially among children, to the frequent use of products that consist of chemicals. "Hand sanitisers are used more often than soap and water these days, and the use of detergents, liquid antiseptics and bleach has increased," she said.
While such products kill bacteria, they also help in the formation of a more resistant strain of bacteria, or "super bugs", which can be extremely harmful in the long run, Peirson said.
But why has there been such a move away from natural products? "We have become the victims of advertisements and branding. We want quick-fix solutions to all our problems," Peirson said. She added that in the UAE's fast-paced cities, people often do not have the time or energy to go the extra mile to protect the environment.
According to Dyer, the solutions are simple, lasting, and have been tried and tested over centuries. "Vinegar is a natural antiseptic, antibacterial cleaner that is much cheaper than bleach," she said.
At Sparkle and Shine, clients are taught to wash off stains with a combination of vinegar and water, instead of chemically loaded detergents and soaps. Once it dries, the liquid leaves no trace or odour, said Peirson.
According to Dyer, there are many green alternatives that can help radically reduce a household's carbon footprint.
An aromatic, eco-friendly substitute is baking soda, which is a natural deodoriser and can be mixed with essential oils such as lemon grass and lavender to produce perfume when placed in bowls around one's home.
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