Can We Ever Be Clean Enough?

Have you ever stopped to question how much of the stuff that fills your local Big Box store is really necessary?  I've been questioning this lately and have come to believe that advertisers have really made us go crazy.  I could write a book on all the excess and useless products, but the focus of this post is cleanliness.  


Madison Avenue would have us convinced that we are filthy beings, who need to maintain constant vigilance against creeping dirt, by purchasing a variety of cleaning, deodorizing, and disinfecting products. Should we fail to purchase these products, we will be unfit to live in society and will likely be shunned by our fellow man.  


For example, to do a load of laundry, marketers would have us believe we need at least 3 products: laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets.  Not to mention the special stain fighting spray or stick.  Less is best when it comes to using detergent both in the laundry and dishwasher.  I use a few tablespoons of detergent per load (for a front loading washer) and my laundry is just as clean as when I was using many times that much. As far as fabric softener and dryer sheets, I no longer use these and don't miss them.


Another completely silly line of products, related to the myth that we are inherently unclean, is the vast array of air fresheners and artificially scented sprays and oils.  These are particularly ironic because if we keep our surroundings relatively clean there should be no need to mask any unpleasant smells, and if there is a foul smell in my home I'd want to address the source rather than mix it with an unhealthy, chemical scent.  It's amazing what opening the windows for a few minutes, even on the coldest day, can do to freshen the air in the house.


Before placing a product in your shopping cart, ask yourself if it will really add value to your life?  

What a time to be alive!  Everyday, discoveries are made to improve our lives through medicine, technology, and knowledge. Yet at the same time society seems to be getting less healthy and less happy.  People are spending time doing things they don't want to do, and seeking comfort in unhealthy ways such as excessive eating, drinking, and shopping.  There's more interest in Hollywood celebrities than our own communities, and what interest remains in politics or world events must be captured in 20 second sound bites.  As a result, we're destroying our planet.


I've decided to get off that treadmill and seek a slower, more balanced pace in my life.  I eat real food, I stay fit by exercising and getting outdoors regularly, and I'm committed to learning new things and seeking out information, not talking points.  I'm determined to minimize my footprint.  


I've been on this path for sometime now, and I've realized I often feel quite like a freak.  People look at you kind of funny when you don't know who the latest pop star is, or refuse to buy Oreo cookies for your kids.  But that's ok, if we're not true to ourselves then what's the point?