By Eva Finkelstein
The interest in better indoor air quality is a hot topic as the facts about traditional cleaning products are being uncovered. The paradox is crystal clear: cleaning isn’t always clean.
The EPA does not require full disclosure of chemicals in cleaning supplies, and the mystery in the bottle is up to the consumer to contemplate.
The good news is very good: simple, low cost solutions are available and very effective! The bad news is quite bad: our health is at stake in the majority of our buildings that often rely on carcinogenic or toxic chemicals to be “germ free.” “The most offensive common ingredients, according to a 2006 study by the University of California Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, are ethylene-based glycol, used commonly as a water-soluble solvent in cleaning agents and classified as a hazardous air pollutant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and terpenes, a class of chemicals found in lemon, pine and orange oils that can morph into carcinogenic compounds when they mix with ground-level ozone. Also, chlorine, often labeled as “sodium hypochlorite” or “hypochlorite,” is almost ubiquitous in household cleaners, unfortunately for the inhabitants of many homes. Breathing in its fumes can irritate the lungs, and as such poses a serious health risk to those with pre-existing heart or respiratory problems.” [Earth Talk, The Environmental Magazine]
So, what are our schools, stores, and hospitals using for cleaning supplies? The above mentioned chemicals are ubiquitous in public areas as well as in homes. The employees and homeowners simply aren’t taught to use pH balanced ionic water, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, borax, castile soap, or lemon juice instead of Clorox, Windex, or Soft Scrub. And, yes, the non-toxic products also kill germs!
When reading labels isn’t even a possibility in many cases (since the ingredients are not required to be listed by our government and often the labels are only in English), then what are our options? As usual, be an educated consumer. Avoid petrochemicals, phosphates and formaldehyde. Seek 100% biodegradable, non-toxic, plant based ingredients as well as septic safe and greywater safe products.
Greywater safe means that the cleaning product will not contaminate water used for flushing toilets or washing machines or watering lawns, for example. Greywater is not drinking water, but it won’t hurt the environment. And finally, use a recyclable bottle if you buy ready-made cleaning supplies. There are many options for “Earth Friendly” cleaning supplies. Even Clorox has started a green line that appeals to those who want healthy indoor environments. Shouldn’t we all want clean, honestly clean, air to breathe? Seems logical.
