Greener Cleaning

Did you know that you pollute your environment by using conventional cleaning supplies? As a result, you and your family are unnecessarily exposed to chemicals commonly found in traditional cleaning products that have been linked to asthma and cancer.

Here’s a list of some of the toxic ingredients of conventional cleaning products:

• Carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxins

• Heavy metals like lead, chromium, and selenium

• 2-Butoxyethanol is a widely-used ingredient that damages red blood cells

• Phthalates are frequently found in fragrances in cleaning products.

• Alkylphenol ethoxylates break down into alkylphenols, potent hormone-disrupting chemicals. A Centers for Disease Control study found that the bodies of at least 51% of Americans are contaminated by alkylphenols.

Green cleaning products do not contain chemicals of concern and are better for the environment - they must meet stringent criteria to ensure they are environmentally preferable.

Green cleaners are often highly concentrated, so you might get a smaller bottle for your money, but in the end you save because this bottle will last a long time.

How do you know it’s green and environmentally friendly?

• Learn how to read the labels, almost like with your packaged food (The shorter the list of ingredients, the better the product for you and the environment)
• If you can’t pronounce the name of an ingredient, it’s probably something you don’t want to inhale
• Most cleaning jobs can easily be done with the old water-vinegar solution, essential oils (thieves oil is proven to kill over 99% of bacteria!), lemon and castile soap, baking soda,…
• Keep the real dirt out of the house by placing a doormat by the door and/or taking shoes off inside
• If you have a cleaning person or agency, insist on providing green cleaning products instead of letting them use conventional cleaners

We use green cleaners for many years and it works just as well, if not better, than anything we have used in the past.

My next project is to get my son’s school on board with the green cleaning. I’ll keep you posted.

Please feel free to share your own stories and opinions!