Cleaning Products
When we set out the cleaning products, mops and air fresheners, we may not actually be making our homes any healthier.
According to the US EPA, levels from pollutants indoors can be more than 100 times higher than outdoors. One reason for this indoor pollution is all the cleaning products we use, and some of the most common products are the most harmful.
Most antibacterial sprays contain denatured ethanol, which can cause central nervous system depression, and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, a known pesticide. These ingredients can also be found in some perfumes and hand sanitizers and have shown detrimental effects to humans and animals in high concentrations.
Most glass cleaners contain glycol ethers that have been shown to cause repro¬ductive side-effects as a result of frequent exposure. Most air fresheners contain formaldehyde, which is highly toxic, and phenol, a chemical that can cause cold sweats, convulsions, and circulatory collapse, among other things.
There are currently 17,000 petrochemicals available for home use, and only 30 per cent have been tested for exposure to human health and the environment. These products cause endless harm to the environment when their plastic pack¬aging ends up in landfills or worse, when the toxic material itself is poured down the drain and into the water stream.
There are currently 17,000 petrochemicals available for home use, and only 30 per cent have been tested for exposure to human health and the environment.
The healthier bet for your home and the planet is to buy eco-friendly products with biodegradable packing (or concentrate refills) with ingredients you can pro¬nounce. With a little research you can learn how to make tried and true cleaning products that can be just as effective, and cheaper, than store bought solutions.
Bio-Vert All Purpose Cleaner
Nov 2011
The Bio-Vert website lists some very generic ingredients for the All Purpose Cleaner, including “non-ionic surfactant” and “preservative.” Although they may be harmless, the exact composition of these ingredients is unclear. Bio-Vert has put substantial effort into package design and composition. Their nearly square bottles allow for compact packing and efficient shipping in 2010. In More >
Eco Mist Kitchen Plus Cleaner
Nov 2011
This cleaner contains easily pronounceable ingredients such as “corn” and “tree sap.” No Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training is required for home or industrial use. Eco Mist claims their products are safe enough to drink, and in fact their President has done this! All labels are printed with vegetable ink, and the use More >
Green Cricket All Purpose Cleaner 18L Bulk
Nov 2011
Green Cricket offers a variety of bulk-style household cleaners. These come in 18 litre, recyclable, plastic jugs that are wrapped in a cardboard cases. This significantly reduces their shipping emissions in comparison to the exact same quantity of cleaner shipped in conventional packaging. Green Cricket’s All Purpose Cleaner contains sodium hydroxide, which is toxic at More >
Nature Clean All Purpose Cleaner
Nov 2011
Nature Clean uses recyclable packaging and offers full disclosure of ingredients used in its products. The company is 100% Bullfrog powered, and all but one of their products are manufactured in Canada. However, Nature Clean’s All Purpose Cleaner does contain sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Although this ingredient is not officially a “baddie,” it has been shown to More >
Kim’s Home Services – Green Cleaner Recipe
Nov 2011
Since 2008, Kim Haverkort has been cleaning homes with old-fashioned cleaners that she makes using ingredients all purchased locally at grocery and health food stores. She found conventional cleaning products were causing headaches and coughs. Her cleaners now contain things your grandmother might have used, including vinegar, organic dish soap and essential oils. Kim also More >
