How to Buy Green Household Cleaners

Synthetic and solvent-laden, today's cleaners, brighteners and bleaches fight dirt with less effort than ever before. But many of these products get their strength from chemicals that pollute your household air and water runoff and threaten your health during normal use. You can be clean and green, though, if you're alert to product contents.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Read labels and packaging to determine each product's ingredients. Environmentally friendly cleaners contain nontoxic, biodegradable ingredients and non-petroleum based surfactants. They don't create fumes or leave residues and are never tested on animals. Don't be fooled by the terms natural or nontoxic. These are not regulated and can be used as the manufacturer wishes.

2. Keep household products in their original containers so that safety information and directions for use always remain with the product.

3. Choose cleaners that do not contain toxic ingredients. Formaldehyde and ammonia irritate the skin, eyes and lungs. Benzene is classified as a carcinogen. Lye fumes almost instantly corrode respiratory passages. Even minimal exposure to bleach and hydrochloric and sulfuric acids cause coughs or headaches; further contact can easily damage lungs.

4. Reduce allergies and skin or eye irritation by buying products without artificial fragrances and colors. Many of these additives do not degrade in the environment and may have toxic effects on fish and mammals.

5. Shop green at food cooperatives, farmers' markets and natural foods stores. Look for the natural products aisle in your supermarket. Check online at sites such as SeventhGeneration.com and PlanetInc.com.

6. Make your own cleaner recipes from lemon juice, Borax, baking soda and white vinegar. Label these mixtures so they're not mistaken for a beverage.

Tips & Warnings

• Use any cleaner in a well-ventilated area.
• Practice prevention first. Wipe spills quickly to avoid stains. Line the oven bottom to catch spills. Use screens over drains and don't pour grease down them.
• See How to Buy Green.
• Reject any product that does not list ingredients and anything labeled with Caution, Warning, Danger or Poison.
• Some common household cleaners are extremely dangerous when combined: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia--the result is toxic chloramine gas.
• Install childproof locks on your supplies cabinet.

[MIHealthCoach]

on 5/29/2008 Great info, thanks!

[amylaine]

on 2/13/2008 Great tips!