How to clean green: Non toxic cleaning products
We clean our homes to remove the dirt and germs that get in from our day to day living. But some green companies argue that by using conventional cleaning products, we might be bringing in more pollutants than we get rid of. Here’s a look at some of the products and services available today that offer a greener, cleaner alternative.
By Tracy McGinnis
Seventh Generation
The company offers a wide variety of cleaning products for kitchen, laundry, bathroom, baby, paper products, feminine care and a new scented line. In an interview with Martin Wolf, Director of Product & Environmental Technology at Seventh Generation, he said some of the major differences between their products and conventional ones is that they do not use ingredients that have a suspected toxic effect.
“Seventh Generation’s laundry products, dish liquids, and spray cleaners use only ingredients that are biodegradable and are designed for minimal impact on the environment, to be safer to use, and to work as well as premium conventional brands.”
Wolf says that when you’re shopping for an eco-friendly cleaner you need to decide if the product truly represents one that is eco-friendly.
“Be particularly careful of products that offer fragrances that sound natural, but are not specifically identified as such. Products that claim to be eco-friendly but do not list all their ingredients, or which use generic terms like “anionic surfactant,” cannot be adequately evaluated for their effect on human health or the environment.”
Dapple
These products were created for moms by moms, who felt there weren’t specific products available that cleaned everything their babies were getting into each day. The company’s products which include a dish liquid and dish detergent are free of chemicals including phthalates, which according to a company spokesperson, were recently banned from children’s products in California because of health concerns. Dapple’s products are made from 100% naturally-derived ingredients that are biodegradable and environmentally safe.
“The market is replete with products for babies’ hair, skin, and clothes, but nothing for the bottles, cups, and dishes they put into their mouths each day. And with recent warnings about chemicals like SLES and phthalates, we’re more aware than ever of the need to make sure the products we use for our children are safe,” said Tamar Rosenthal, Dapple co-founder and mother of three. “We’ve worked with a team of leading chemists and experienced pediatricians to create a line of cleansers that combine the best things found in nature to tackle even the toughest residues left by baby foods, both safely and effectively.”
Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
This affordable, non toxic cleaning product can be found in almost every home in America, but most may not realize how green that little box really is. A spokesperson for the company noted that Arm and Hammer was the first sole corporate sponsor of Earth Day in 1970 and began using recycled packing for their product as early as 1907. “They were also the first to introduce a non-phosphate detergent.” The product has a wide range of uses some of which include: deodorizing everything from drains to toys, cleaning fruits and vegetables, shining silver, to cleaning everything from microwaves to carpets.
How to clean green
If you’re ready to start using everyday household items at home, but not sure how to get started or what to use that will really work to get your home clean, books like “The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps” by natural healthcare expert and best-selling author Brenda Watson, C.N.C. may be just the motivation you need.
A sample of recipes from Watson’s book shows that you only need a few main ingredients to get the job done. For example, a window wash cleaner uses only white distilled vinegar, liquid soap and water. Watson’s Lemon Floor Wash requires liquid soap, lemon juice, white distilled vinegar, lemon essential oil and water. To find more books like Watson’s visit your local bookstore or sites like Amazon.com
Green cleaning done for you
No time to clean, even if it’s green? Maid Brigade launched a green cleaning service last year with over 400 of their franchises nationwide and is the first national cleaning service to develop its own green cleaning system.
The company says their taking the “gray” out of green cleaning by using certified Green Seal products as well as micro-fiber cloths, HEPA-vacuum cleaners and allergy-free and anti-bacterial cloths and mops in their cleaning techniques. They have also launched Green TV where you can watch educational web casts about green living and hidden dangers in your home created by cleaning products and other pollutants.
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