Green Cleaning: Safer Solutions For Getting Your Home Clean

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Green Cleaning: Safer Solutions For Getting Your Home Clean

Has your toddler just figured out how to get the childproof locks off of the cabinets? Are you tired of inhaling fumes every time you clean the toilet? Do you want to save money and save the environment at the same time? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we're sure you'll appreciate the following suggested alternative ways to keep your home and laundry clean without the harsh chemicals. There are many solutions that may be safer and that may be just as efficient as the chemical brands we purchase to keep our homes clean.

1. Disinfectants

The problem: Most disinfectants include phenol, formaldehyde, cresol, ammonia and chlorine. Some of these toxic fumes can even escape tightly closed containers.

The solution: Mix 1/2 cup of borax in 1 gallon of hot water. According to The Nontoxic Home & Office by Debra Lynn Dadd, this disinfectant was tested in a California hospital for one year by a bacteriologist and was found to have met all state germicidal requirements. (Borax, also known as washing soda, is hydrated sodium carbonate, a naturally occurring mineral. It is available in the laundry aisle of most supermarkets.)

2. Glass Cleaners

The problem: Glass cleaners emit ammonia mist which we end up breathing into our lungs. Although ammonia is a poison, glass cleaning products don't carry a warning.

The solution: Use rubbing alcohol to clean residual wax left from commercial cleansers. Then clean glass surfaces with a mixture of half white vinegar and half water.

3. Toilet Cleaners

The problem: Most toilet-cleaning products contain chlorine and hydrochloric acid, which can burn your skin and eyes. The fumes emitted from these products are highly corrosive and swallowing the product could cause death.

The solution: Use soap and borax to clean and disinfect, and baking soda to freshen. Remove stubborn rings with white vinegar or a pumice stone.

4. Aerosols

The problem: In the attempt to replace freon, a new generation of propellants has come into use. Although these propellants, including isobutane, propane and butane, don't destroy the ozone layer as did freon, studies do show that they are toxic to the heart and central nervous system of laboratory animals.

The solution: Identify non-spray alternatives. If a spray cleanser is necessary, use a pump dispenser.

5. All-Purpose Cleaners

The problem: Ammonia and chlorine are found in many all-purpose cleaners. Ammonia can harm the lungs, and chlorine can form cancer causing compounds when released into the environment. Mixed together, ammonia and chlorine form a deadly chloramine gas.

The solution: Clean with hot water, soap and borax, or use 1/2 cup washing soda per bucket of water. This works for all but aluminum surfaces.

6. Laundry Cleaning Products

The problem: Most laundry products are non-biodegradable detergents made from petroleum, which contributes to water pollution.

The solution: Use borax products rather than detergents, and boost with washing soda and borax. Borax brightens all washable fabrics and costs less than bleach.

7. Metal Polishers

The problem: The fumes from phosphoric and sulfuric acid and ammonia contained in metal polishes contribute unnecessary pollution to the air.

The solution: Boil silver flatware in 2 quarts of water with 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt and a piece of crumpled aluminum foil. You can polish silver and stainless steel with a paste of baking soda and water. For cleaning brass, use equal parts of salt and flour with a little vinegar. For cleaning copper, you can use lemon juice or hot vinegar and salt. For cleaning chrome, use rubbing alcohol or white flour on a dry rag. And for cleaning aluminum, dip cloth in lemon juice, polish and rinse with warm water.

8. Deodorizers

The problem: The cresol, formaldehyde and phenol in deodorizers and air fresheners desensitize your nose and may be associated with health problems.

The solution: Keep indoor areas clean so that deodorizers are never needed. If a deodorizer is needed: to absorb odors, place baking soda or white vinegar in small dishes. You can also sprinkle baking soda in trash cans and kitty litter pans. Houseplants also absorb pollutants and purify the air.

9. Floor and Furniture Polish

The problem: Most wood polishers contain phenol which may cause cancer in animals. Residual vapors from wood polishers can contaminate your home long after application. Wood polish may also cause skin irritation.

The solution: Dust furniture with a barely damp cloth. Use vegetable oil to replenish luster on unfinished wood. Polish finished wood with butcher's wax once or twice a year.

10. Mold and Mildew Cleaners

The problem: These cleaners contain pesticides and may have side effects such as eye and skin irritation and lung damage.

The solution: Avoid mold and mildew growth by keeping areas clean and dry and by keeping damp areas, such as bathrooms, well ventilated. To clean mold and mildew affected areas use a concentrated solution of borax or vinegar and water. Borax is an excellent inhibitor of mold growth.

Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:

http://www.shore.co.monmouth.nj.us/03230planboard/RecyclingNews/MainRecycling.htm (Monmouth County, New Jersey Recycling Directory, Household Alternatives article).

www.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=schoolmain (Guide to Less Toxic Products, Maintenance Chemicals in Schools)