Green Cleaning: Because Your Family Deserves A Toxin-Free Home

I didn't know about green cleaning until the mid-1990's. So this is how my toilet cleaning used to go:

"Okay, here goes," I would think, grabbing the toilet cleaner from under the bathroom sink. I would unscrew the cap, take a deep breath, and position the bottle.

I would hold my breath and keep my eyelids half-closed as the blue liquid squirted out. After I had run the blue stuff under the entire perimeter of the toilet bowl rim, I would slam the toilet lid down, put the cap back on the bottle, and run out of the bathroom.

Then my chest would heave as I allowed myself to breathe again. I couldn’t stand inhaling the fumes that came out of the cleaning chemicals. The few times I had, my eyes stung and welled up with tears. I knew breathing around the cleaner had to be a health hazard, but I didn’t know I had another choice.

Now it seems everyone knows about green cleaning. Even the conventional grocery stores now carry eco-friendly cleaning brands, such as Seventh Generation or Ecover. What’s more, some of the manufacturers of the chemical-based cleaners are recognizing the green cleaning rage and providing greener versions of their popular name-brand products.

As well they should, since...

The chemicals used in conventional cleaners are extremely toxic to you, your family, and the environment.

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• Laundry detergent contains chemicals that pollute the water and can irritate the skin, lung and eyes.
• All-purpose cleaners contain such ingredients as chlorinated phosphates, kerosene (!), and glycol ether.
• Glass cleaners contain, among other things, petroleum-based waxes and butyl cellusolve.
• Dishwashing detergents may contain chemicals like naphtha and chloro-o-phenylphenol.
• Disinfectants and antibacterials also contain chemicals like naphtha, butyl cellusove, and petroleum-based surfactants.

One nice thing about green cleaners is that you can read the labels! Just trying to pronounce the names of some of those chemicals could give you a headache, not to mention what they can do when you are exposed to them.

According to Horn, chlorine can form dangerous byproducts that are stored in human fat cells and may show up in breastmilk. Phosphates cause oxygen-leeching algae to form in water, killing aquatic life.

Glycol ethers can lead to anemia, intoxications, and irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.(1) Butyl cellusolve has caused serious reproductive damage to animals, and in humans can cause liver and kidney damage, as well as depress the central nervous system.(2)

Like butyl cellusolve, naphtha is a neurotoxin, and chloro-o-phenylphenol acts a stimulant. Both, says Horn, are considered hazardous waste and pollute both water and air. (pp. 82-83)

The city where I live will not let you throw conventional cleaners in the garbage. If you want to get rid of them, you have to call the city’s environmental waste department and schedule a special “Household Chemical Waste” pickup.

That alone should be enough to give you pause. To ask yourself the question, “What are the cleaners under my sink doing to our health, and how hard can green cleaning be?"

Non-toxic cleaning choices abound

First, you could replace the conventional cleaners with natural brands, such as Seventh Generation. With certain types of cleaners, you might find yourself having to use a little more elbow grease with the more earth-friendly brands. But I see that as a plus. We could all stand to add a little more exercise to our unnaturally sedentary lifestyles. ;-)

Your other choice would be to make your own green cleaning formulas. Reading the book Clean House Clean Planet by Karen Hogan was a lifesaver to me. The book was a culmination of years of experimentation on her part to find the most effective natural homemade cleaning formulas.

Hogan includes a recipe for every type of cleaner, and most of them are at least as effective as their conventional counterparts. For example, a solution of half vinegar, half water is all you need to mop your kitchen and bathroom floors.

“Merlin’s Magic,” a mixture of liquid castile soap, vinegar, and water, is a great disinfectant. Need to scrub your counters down? Put some baking soda and a few drops of essential lemon oil in a shaker container, sprinkle onto the counter, and stains and crusty spots come right up.

I use a mixture of homemade and eco-friendly store-bought cleaners. My dishwashing liquid (hand and automatic) and laundry detergent are natural brands. Most every other cleaner I have comes straight out of Hogan’s book.

So, how do I clean toilets nowadays?

One-fourth cup baking soda and one cup vinegar poured into the bowl. No holding my breath, no running out of the bathroom.

And a special bonus: my young son can watch me. Even help me.

After all, maybe, just maybe, one day he’ll take the chore over.

Do you notice? That when you use green cleaners you can freely delegate household chores to your children without worrying about what they might be tasting or inhaling? If nothing else I’ve said motivates you to get rid of your poisonous cleaning formulas, that should do it.

And when you do make the switch, I can promise you one thing: everyone in your house will breathe easier.

2. http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2007/10/18/what-is-butyl-cellosolve-and-why-you-should-avoid-it/