February 8th, 2010
Not too long ago, there weren’t any options on the store shelves for “green” commercial cleaners. While it’s true the available cleaners did a great job cleaning our homes, they contained questionable chemicals that got absorbed in our skin and in the food prepared on these cleaned surfaces, inhaled in our lungs, and flushed into our waterways. In short, their labels contained poison control information.
Consumers started giving feedback about the types of cleaners they wanted and companies started listening. Now there are many green cleaners available. Just check the store shelves and you’ll find many new products that are much better for your environment.
The fact is, it’s not always easy to choose new cleaners when you’ve been using the same ones for years and years. Start by looking at the label of ingredients. If the product is green, it will shout green from the rooftops. They’ll proudly list their ingredients and some will even tell you what each ingredient does. Go with plant-based over petroleum-based as it’s usually better for you. If you’re not sure about an ingredient and if it sounds sinister to you then go online and get the facts.
Another thing that can help you is to look for 3rd party seals like the one by the EPA because they are done independently and show the product has passed measurable criteria regarding the environment. When a product has an independent seal of approval, it carries more weight than the company’s own self-promoting.
Since you’ve made the commitment to go greener, consider your cleaning instruments as well. Paper towels should be chlorine-free and made from recycled paper. Better yet, use soft, absorbent cloth diapers as they do an excellent job cleaning, weren’t made from trees, and last a long time. New on the market are microfiber kitchen cloths. They are multi-purpose and are great for spills as they are super absorbent. In the spirit of reduce, reuse, and recycle, use old t-shirts when painting or for garage tasks.
Way back in the day, cleaners consisted of regular household items like baking soda, vinegar, and elbow grease. These “old-fashioned” remedies work just as well today as they did back then. These products are another non-toxic option for cleaning that you might consider revisiting. Here’s a short list:
Baking Soda
clean surfaces
remove odors
clean silver
remove scuff marks
remove grease
clean hairbrushes and combs
remove burnt food from the grill
remove mildew
clean outdoor furniture
Vinegar
clean windows
clean silver, pewter, brass or copper
clean spills
clean no-wax floors
clean wood paneling
spray shower stalls to prevent mildew
keep ants away
remove odors
remove soap residue
Some commercial green cleaners are more expensive and some are not, but expense may certainly weigh in, along with health and environment issues, when considering your choice of cleaner. If you can, choose the products that are better for you and the environment AND that do the job.
Filed under Environment | Comment (0)
