Mardi Lee lives what she calls a "low-tox, sustainable lifestyle".
She's not a fan of chemical cleaning products. Instead, she opts for eco-friendly alternatives.
"Low-tox cleaning doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. And it doesn't mean spending hours scrubbing with ineffective alternatives," she said.
She'll be speaking at an "eco-friendly cleaning workshop" at Warners Bay on Sunday about common chemicals in cleaning products and the "effective, low-tox" alternatives she uses.
While some people aren't worried about using standard products on supermarket shelves, others fear the chemicals may be doing them some kind of harm.
Melbourne University has looked into this question. Its research found that household products contain potentially harmful chemicals. The study looked at 37 popular products, including some promoted as "green or organic". They were found to emit 157 volatile organic compounds, 42 of which were toxic or hazardous.
The study looked at cleaning, laundry and personal-care products, along with air fresheners and deodorisers. It found that scented products, in particular, were problematic. Fragrances may smell nice to some, but the research found they contain a mix of chemicals, many of them synthetic.
Another Melbourne University study of 134 common consumer products found fewer than 4 per cent of volatile chemical emissions were listed on product labels.
Mardi, an advocate for protecting the planet, is a critic of the "greenwashing" that companies engage in to falsely promote their products as environmentally friendly.
"There's a lot of cleaning products that are harsh on the environment - the fish, birds and bees," she said.
She said the workshop would "make people more mindful and aware", encouraging them to be "more conscious and empowered in buying habits".
She suggests alternative cleaning products that "really work".
"Eco-friendly cleaning is finding the right kind of alternative that works just as well as the fully-loaded chemicals," she said.
Mardi publishes the French for Tuesday sustainable living blog, which focuses on creating resourceful communities and the wellbeing of people and the planet.
Since childhood, she has practiced the "now familiar sustainable living lifestyle".
"It didn't have a name then," she said.
The Warners Bay Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group event will be held at Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre. Spaces are limited but tickets remain available through eventbrite.com.au.
Wash Your Hands
A skywriter wrote the words "wash hands" above Sydney on Thursday.
"What a time to be alive," one tweet said.
Meanwhile, former Newcastle Herald journalist Michael McGowan was receiving a lot of interest in this straight-to-the-point tweet: "Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says anyone who has been in close contact with Tom Hanks will need to self-isolate and quarantine".
