It is truly amazing how the green revolution has changed our lives. We separate our garbage, carpool to work, and even consider buying hybrid cars just to help save Mother Earth. Ironically, many of the everyday household cleaning products we still use are loaded with dangerous chemicals that are anything but environmentally friendly. The good news is that there are now a growing number of safer alternatives that can keep your home sparkling and your mind at ease. But before you run out to the store to find these new innovative products, it helps to know a little about what nasty chemicals may be lurking in the cleaners you have under your sink right now, so you can be sure to pick greener replacements that will also get the job done.
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The Nose Knows the Truth About Common Cleaning Supplies
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Consider some of the most widely used cleaning products like all-purpose glass and surface cleaners, bath and tile cleaners, mold and mildew removers, floor waxes, laundry detergents, and even oven cleaners. If you use any of these, then you're probably well aware of the strong and sometimes sickening chemical smells these products often have. Over the years, we've come to erroneously equate these smells with strength and effectiveness. Remember the old ad slogan for Ajax? "Stronger than Dirt" made up an entire campaign for this company that helped shape beliefs about other cleaners. In other words, if it doesn't have a strong chemical smell then it must not be doing the job.
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The truth is that the chemicals that give these products their noxious smells are not only toxic to inhale but in some cases can even kill you. Take a common and widely used product like Windex for example. This is a product people have used for generations, but did you know that it contains ammonia? Ammonia is a dangerous chemical that can easily make you pass out if you breathe too much of it and potentially lethal when combined with something like bleach. This seems like a steep price to pay for clean mirrors and windows and yet most of us apply it or similar products liberally and frequently without a second thought.
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Everyone knows how dangerous and even toxic a mold or mildew infestation can be, so it only seems natural that we would buy a simple spray to prevent it from happening. However, a spray like Tilex may be even worse for you to breathe in than the mildew it is eradicating. That's because it contains concentrated bleach, which means it can stain anything that isn't white, will burn your lungs if you don't cover your nose and mouth while you spray it, and can be quite harsh if it comes in contact with your skin.
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Speaking of cleaners that stink up your entire home, oven cleaners are notorious for making your eyes water and your skin sting. Products like Easy Off contain ingredients like Diethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether, sodium hydroxide and other chemicals that cause kidney damage in humans, create chemical burns, and can even cause blindness in some cases.
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Even your laundry detergent or dish soap can be problematic. Environmental activist Barry Commoner did a study that demonstrated the increase in phosphates found in one city's wastewater from 20,000 tons in 1940 to 150,000 tons in 1970. Phosphates, though made from naturally occurring minerals can damage the level of oxygen in the water, which in turn has disastrous effects on fish and plants alike. And the extra fragrances that are typically included in both detergents and dryer sheets often contain phthalates - chemicals used by industry to soften plastics. Studies suggest that these toxins can affect brain development in children, among other things.
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A Better Way: The Green Clean Difference
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Thankfully, natural cleaners have made great strides in the United States and abroad so you no longer have to go to specialty stores to find them. Most major grocery chains carry at least one brand of all natural cleaning products. But how do you know what to choose? Here are some general tips on what to look for:
Phosphate-Free & Bleach-Free Laundry Detergents. Phosphates are water-softening mineral additives once widely used in detergents to enhance their stain-removing capabilities. In addition to threatening aquatic and plant life, they can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if ingested, and skin irritation due to their corrosive nature. Bleach is harmful to your lungs and mucous membranes and produces trihalomethanes - toxins linked to cancer - as well as absorbable organic halides, which are harmful to marine organisms. Look for dish and laundry detergents that are free of both phosphates and bleach.
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Chlorine-Free Dishwasher Detergent. Just as too much chlorine in your pool can irritate your lungs and eyes, chlorine fumes in steam that leaks from dishwashers can irritate your eyes and make it harder for you to breathe. Chlorine also tends to contain organocholorines, which have been known to cause cancer and leave a chemical residue on your dishes that can transfer to your food.
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Ammonia-Free Bathroom Cleaners. As mentioned earlier, ammonia can be harmful to your lungs as well as an irritant to eyes and skin, which frequently comes in contact with bathroom fixtures that have been cleaned with it. You're better off with an all-natural cleaner that uses vegetable enzymes or natural mineral polishers like borax or an old standby like Bon Ami polishing cleanser.
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Plant-Based All-Purpose Cleaners. Look for plant-based cleaners as these are biodegradable which means they can be broken down by fungus, bacteria, or other naturally occurring organisms, and are safe to release into the environment. Look for cleaners with surfactants made from natural sources like coconut or olive oil, and use citrus essential oils rather than "fragrances" that smell like citrus that may combined with harmful chemicals like ethoxylates, butyl cellusolve (a skin-penetrating neuro-toxin) or ortho-phenylphenol (a harsh eye and skin irritant).
The key with any green cleaner is to carefully look at the ingredients and claims involved. If you're dealing with a cleaner that is made primarily from harmful chemicals instead of organic extracts, all natural oils, or things like baking soda and calcium carbonate, you should probably be shopping for a better option. Keep in mind that few cleaning products actually provide a list of ingredients on the bottle. Don't be fooled by claims like "Citrus Power" or "Oxy Active." It can have natural claims on the label without actually being a natural product, or as is often the case, it may contain a combination of natural ingredients and harsh chemicals. If you want to take your all natural, earth friendly cleaning a step further, consider making your own green cleaning supplies at home.
穢 Copyright 2010 Dropwise Essentials
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