Buy natural household cleaners
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Natural cleaning products avoid chemical agents that may affect ecosystems by contaminating soil and groundwater. You can generally find biodegradable household cleaners in local health food or grocery stores, or if you've got a little time, you can make your own natural cleaners.
Find it! Natural household cleaners
When shopping around for natural cleaners, look for products made with plant-based ingredients, few additives, and little, if any, fragrance. You may also want to look for cruelty-free options. Most importantly, check to see that the products biodegrade rapidly in the environment. Third-party verification of their claims are helpful in determining a product's green claims.
- Biokleen Natural Household Cleaners
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Biokleen offers a full line of biodegradable, eco-friendly household cleaners. It also has a complete line of toxin-free soy-based cleaners. - Earth Friendly Shower Kleener
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Free of enzymes, phosphates, chlorine, cocamide DEA, DEA, petroleum, and alcohol, this shower cleaner is scented with tea tree and lavender oils. - Eco-Products Eco Cleaners
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Eco-Products features a full line of bathroom, kitchen, glass, and surface cleaners, free from toxics and harmful ingredients. - Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Products
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Mrs. Meyer's aromatherapeutic cleaning supplies are made with natural essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free, and never tested on animals. - Natural Choices Home Safe Products
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Natural Choices offers a complete line of cleaning products that are environmentally safe, nontoxic, and derived from natural raw materials whenever possible. - Seaside Naturals simple. pure. clean natural cleaners
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This all-natural line of cleaning products combines the power of plant- and vegetable-based ingredients with pure essential oils for their cleaning properties and aromatherapy health benefits. - Seventh Generation Free and Clear All Purpose Cleaner
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Seventh Generation products use plant-based cleaning agents making them nontoxic, free of unpleasant fumes, petroleum, and dangerous chemicals. They are biodegradable, vegan, and cruelty-free. - Shaklee Basic H2™ Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate
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These ultraconcentrated products add up to powerful cleaners when mixed with water. A mere 16 ounces becomes 48 gallons of a versatile cleaner that's nontoxic and biodegradable. They've got several products for every cleaning job in the house. - Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit
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This complete set of natural home products will be all you need to start cleaning your way to a healthier home. The kit contains thirteen products plus a caddy filled with accessories. - The Clean Environment Company Natural Cleaners
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This full line of cleaning products is safer for the environment and human health and has a proven record in commercial operations.
Before you buy
Do-it-yourselfers can save money by concocting home-grown cleaning products. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) for example, can be used to deodorize drains and refrigerators, polish porcelain and stainless steel, and remove fabric stains. Another environmentally safe substitute is borax (sodium borate), which can be used as a disinfectant and inhibits mildew and mold growth, while white vinegar or cornstarch can be used to clean windows. For recipes, check out OrganicAuthority.com, Lakewinds, or Charity Guide.
Choosing natural cleaning products helps you go green because...
- They avoid chemical cleaning agents that may affect wildlife reproductive systems and contaminate natural ecosystems.
- They do not contain chemicals that may be potential skin irritants or carcinogens.
- They are biodegradable and therefore break down in the environment more quickly.
Conventional household cleaners often contain chemical cleaning agents like alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), which do not easily break down in sewage treatment after they are washed down the drain. About half a million tons of APEs are produced annually for a variety of products, including paints, detergents, personal care products, and pesticides.[1] The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified APE as endocrine disruptors, which can affect the reproductive systems of birds and mammals and disrupt the ability of some fish to reproduce. Measurable levels of APEs have been found in some lakes and streams.
The EPA lists drain cleaners, toilet cleaners, bleach, and shower cleaners on its list of common household items containing potentially hazardous ingredients. If these products are improperly disposed of—including pouring them down the drain or toilet or putting them out with the trash—they are considered to be household hazardous waste (HHW). Americans generate 1.6 million tons of HHW per year, which pollutes the environment and threatens human health.[2]
In addition, chemical household cleaners are responsible for many poisonings. According to the National Capital Poison Center, 89 percent of all poison exposures occur in the home, and most poisonings involve everyday household items such as cleaning supplies, medicines, cosmetics, and personal care items.[3]
Poisons under our sinks
The EPA recommends carefully monitoring the use, storage, and disposal of potentially hazardous substances in order to avoid the potential risks associated with HHW. Such products should be kept in their original containers and their labels should be consulted for instructions on proper disposal. Your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency can also give instructions on proper use and disposal of HHW products and provide information about local HHW drop-off programs and upcoming collection days.
Watching out for all creatures, great and small
While the disposal of toxic cleaning chemicals is important, so too, is production methods used to create these products. Animals are just as much a part of our environment as rivers and streams, so you may also wish to join the cruelty-free movement when considering the green attributes of your cleaning products. Just keep in mind: a company may claim that they don’t employ animal testing for their products, but without third-party verification, it’s hard to know whether these statements are in fact completely true. So stick to those products certified as cruelty-free by looking for products with the Leaping Bunny Logo or the Certified Vegan Logo. You can rest assured that no bunnies (or monkeys or cats for that matter) were harmed in the making of these non-animal-tested products.
Controversies
In a recent study that shook the natural products industry, 100 “natural” and “organic” soaps, shampoos, dish liquids, lotions, and body washes were tested and nearly half contained 1,4-Dioxane, a carcinogenic chemical. This toxin has been found in conventional personal care products, but this study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) was the first to test green products.
In scientific studies, 1,4-Dioxane has caused cancer in animals; scientists have not yet confirmed the long-term effects on humans. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says current levels do not pose a hazard to consumers but they have advised manufacturers to lower amounts in cosmetics as much as possible. None of the products tested that were Certified Organic by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) contained 1,4-Dioxane. In response to this study, some of the affected companies have said they will work toward removing 1,4-Dioxane from their products.
Glossary
- 1,4-dioxane: A petroleum-derived contaminant classified as a probable human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
External links
- Care 2 - Green living: Make Your Own Nontoxic Cleaning Kit
- Green Seal - Certified Cleaning Products
- Friends of the Earth (UK) - An Environmental Assessment of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenols
- Thrifty Fun - Poisons Under Your Sink: Hidden Dangers of Cleaning Products
- VideoJug: Clean your house without harming the environment with some handy ideas
- Worldwatch Institute - Good Stuff? Cleaning Products
