Use less toxic products. Avoid products marked “Danger” and “Poison,” and reduce the use of those labeled “Cau- tion.”
• Avoid products containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especial- ly if anyone in the home has asthma. Aerosol sprays, cleaners and disinfec- tants, moth repellents and air freshen- ers are likely to contain VOCs.
The Dirt on Cleaning Choose to Have a Green, Clean, Toxin-free Home
by Erin Switalski
a clean home isn’t always a healthy one. The laundry deter- gents, tub and tile sprays, air fresheners, drain cleaners and antibacterial soaps that promise “fresh and clean” may hide unseen and undis- closed dangers. According to
D
espite what our moth- ers told us,
Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), a national women’s en- vironmental organiza- tion, there are some 85,000 chemicals contained in prod- ucts in the consumer marketplace, and only a fraction have been tested for their impact on human health. Labeling on cleaning products is not regulated, and not every manufacturer voluntarily discloses ingredients. To safely power through household dirt and bacteria without using question- able chemicals, try WVE’s green
54
The Environmental Working Group’s analysis of 20 common cleaning products used in California schools found hundreds of airborne contaminants not listed as ingredients by manufacturers. A test that chose three green-certified classroom cleaners versus three common conventional cleaners cut the total number of air contaminants detected from 66 to 15.
cleaning tips.
Use fewer products. An all-purpose cleaner can handle many cleaning jobs around the house. It is not necessary to use a differ- ent product for each room (bathroom cleaner, kitch- en cleaner, etc.). Check out the Nation- al Geographic
Green Guide list of all-purpose clean- ers at
TheGreenGuide.com/buying- guide/all-purpose-cleaners.
Never mix products. Chemicals in cleaning products can have dangerous reactions with one another. For exam- ple, combining bleach and ammonia creates deadly chloramine fumes.
2010-2011
• Avoid chemicals linked to repro- ductive harm. Products that contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as butoxyethanol and other glycol ethers include: all-purpose, glass, oven, tub/tile, carpet and floor clean- ers; degreasers; stain removers; floor strippers; and metal polishes. The surfactant alkyl phenol ethoxylate (APE) is found primarily in: laundry detergents; non-chlorine sanitizers; deodorizers; floor care products; and multi-purpose, carpet and toilet bowl cleaners.
• Seek products that have been certi- fied by an independent institution such as Green Seal (
GreenSeal.org) or EcoLogo (
EcoLogo.org).
Avoid air fresheners. They contain fra- grances and other irritants associated with watery eyes, headaches, skin and respiratory irritations, asthma and al- lergic reactions. They may also contain VOCs and the known carcinogens, benzene and formaldehyde.
Reduce the use of disinfectants. Exposure to antimicrobial chemicals has been linked to potential health impacts, and their overuse has con- tributed to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “super- bugs.”
Scientists agree that soap and
water are effective for most routine cleaning jobs, and research has dem- onstrated that safer alternatives, such as vinegar and borax, have antibacte- rial properties. Two simple solutions to prevent bacteria growth on sponges and cloths are microwaving sponges for one minute and regularly launder- ing washcloths.
Arizona
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