This article was originally written by Kay of Showroom411.com
I love a
clean Home! My favorite aisle in the grocery store had always been the one
in which the cleaning products resided. Ah! Those wonderful cleaning
products promising everything from "100% germ free" to the
destruction of every bacteria known to man. Although, looking back, I
must admit that passing through this isle of a minefield of misinformation the
toxic smells did raise a few red flags....But to get a "germ free"
home these toxic odors are a necessary evil and worth it, right? Wrong!
on both counts.
There is little regulation on the claims manufactures
make on their bottles...so are you really getting a "germ free" home
after all? Most probably not. And, the toxic odors are NOT
necessary..their presence being a real health hazard.
According to
Starre Vartan, founder of EcoCheck.com and author of "The Eco Chick Guide
to Life: How to be Fabulously Green": First of all, we need to change our
idea of what clean smells like. A clean home doesn't smell like
chemicals." She goes on to say:" The EPA estimates that
pollutants in the home are 2-5 times higher indoors than they are outdoors,
even if you live in a city."
So now that
we know we want to start cleaning green, what products are out there and at
what price? And, can they really satisfy the most chemically-addicted
among us?
First of
all, Vartan suggests offsetting the extra cost of 1 or 2 more expensive
products with homemade cleaners that cost very little. For example, for
cleaning basic countertop dirt and grime: Add a teaspoon of baking soda, 4
teaspoons of borax, a teaspoon of liquid Castile soap and 4 cups of hot (not
boiling!) water to a 16 oz. spray bottle. Shake well. Add a drop or
two of orange or lavender oil if you prefer a scent.
Scott
McDougal, president of TerraChoice, a company that certifies products with the
official EcoLogo, recommends looking for either the Green Seal on product
labels or his EcoLogo seal---"both independently verified as well as
environmentally sound." If you see ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide,
sodium carbonate or sodium citrated listed as main ingredients you know
that the product is a safer alternative. Also, "All natural"
whether on labels for food or cleaning products means nothing.
"Plutonium is natural. That doesn't mean you want it in your
home." says McDougal.
And finally,
just a few recommendations to get you started "Cleaning Green": A
must have product costing about $5.00 (the same amount of Ajax costs $2.70) is Mrs.Meyers surface
scrub. Or for a more reasonable price there's Clorax Greenworks line,
made from 99% natural ingredients and available everywhere. Also, you
might want to try Smarty Dishwashing Detergent (this will even destroy baked on
food and is safe for the environment). Then, theirs a real gem of a
household cleaner called Maison Belle Household Cleaner for Kitchens.
Now that we
have hopefully become more informed and more aware, let's each do our part to
keep our planet not only clean but healthy for our children and generations to
come!
For More Help, Click on the following Links:
Eco-Friendly Cleaning and Cleaning Products
LivingGreen.com Cleaning Products
If you have a specific question, Just Ask Rick!