Next on Dr. Mao’s list is the use of unbleached paper products. His rationale behind this tip:

Paper products are not naturally white. All white paper products are bleached with chemicals that leave behind a harmful residue of dioxin, a known carcinogen. This residue is found in coffee filters, diapers, lunch bags, napkins, paper towels, tissues and toilet paper. When dioxin enters the landfill as waste, it leaches into the soil, contaminating groundwater.

Sounds good to me. Wouldn’t it feel a bit strange having toilet paper that is not white? Come to think of it, I don’t really see those products in the supermarket all that much. However, the idea of using unbleached paper products – visual aesthetics aside – is a very good one. The question is whether or not these can easily be found where we shop. It won’t hurt to try looking for them, though.

Another point that Dr. Mao brings up is the use of natural cleaning agents. He suggests:

The first step is to completely stop using cleansers containing bleach or chemicals. These days, there is an abundance of natural cleaning products on the market, which are safe and will not pollute the environment.

This one I totally agree with. Vinegar is one of the best cleansers that I have used. I particularly like using it to clean my coffee maker. It also helps remove those odors that can be irritating. Of course, make sure you dilute it – one is to one is a good ratio.

Got any green tips for the health?