Toxic Cleaning

Manufacturers of traditional household cleaners are not required by law to disclose the noxious ingredients appearing in their products. Despite words on the label such as "poisonous," "toxic" and "corrosive," these dangerous substances appear in our homes where they end up in the groundwater and the air we breathe-jeopardizing not only our environment, but also the health of our families.

Traditional cleaners affect the environment significantly. Cleaners and a whole host of other chemicals adversely affect the environment by contaminating the water or polluting the air with fumes that are dangerous to you. For example, chlorine bleach, a very common cleaner, is extremely dangerous. If you mix ammonia and chlorine you get chloramine, a deadly gas. Since most people have both items in their house, mixing them can easily happen.

Environmentally friendly cleaners don't harm the people using them and are safe when released in the environment. They use renewable resource cleaners made from vegetable, coconut or corn oil, rather than chlorine bleach or petroleum. Many cleaning products are made with petroleum-based ingredients. When petroleum is refined, aside from it being a nonrenewable resource, it's highly toxic to the people working in the plant.

Chorine bleach is especially harmful. If you bleach paper using chlorine you get dioxin, a deadly chemical. There are also many other hazards with chlorine bleach. For example, if there is chlorine in your automatic dishwashing detergent, the bleach in the detergent mixes with the food and steam and creates a gas. When the dishwasher is opened and this gas comes out, it's highly toxic. The same is true even in laundry machines but at a lower level.

Healthy Cleaning

Avoiding unhealthy chemical cleaners isn't as difficult as you might think. New awareness of the harmful effects of commercial cleaning products has resulted in the introduction of a wide variety of safe and effective alternatives. These products use natural, biodegradable materials like vinegar, citrus oils, enzymes, and minerals to do the dirty work. In fact, you can even make your own effective cleaners.

Choosing a Healthy Cleaner

Before you select any of these "green" cleaners, make sure they really are healthier to use. Some manufacturers make misleading claims about the environmental benefits of their products. Inspect labels carefully and ask yourself the following questions:

Do you see warning words like "Poison", "Caution", or "Danger"? If so, do they refer to serious hazards or are they simply common sense statements based on the fact that even some natural ingredients can be harmful in large doses.
Are there any ingredients listed that appear to be synthetic in nature?
Are all ingredients listed clearly on the label or are only acutely hazardous or active ingredients listed? Be suspicious of products that don't appear to offer a full disclosure of all the ingredients they contain.
If a product says that is biodegradable does that mean in 5 days or 5 years?

Find More Information

The answers to these and other questions may not be found on the label itself, but many manufacturers offer a toll-free phone number you can use to ask them directly. A wise consumer will understand that a company's refusal or inability to answer these important questions is grounds for refusal to purchase the product.

In addition, manufacturers will often send you Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for their products. Though companies are not legally obligated to provide such information to consumers, many do. An MSDS will list detailed information about the specific hazardous ingredients a product contains.

Though MSDSs are technically oriented, they can be a source of useful information. Keep in mind, however, that an MSDS only covers substances declared dangerous or toxic. Hazardous ingredients that have not yet achieved this regulatory status will not be listed.

Swtiching to Natural Cleaners

If you decide to make the switch from chemical cleaners to natural alternatives, you'll need to remove any synthetic products you have in your home. As you round up the offending suspects, keep one important thing in mind: These materials are literally hazardous waste. Don't throw them out with your garbage or pour them down the drain. Instead, take them to your local hazardous waste collection center. Your state or local environmental, public health, hazardous waste, or solid waste agency can tell you where to go.

Choosing Toxic Cleaners

Many believe that synthetic chemical-based household cleaners are simply too dangerous to use under any circumstances. However, if after careful consideration you decide to continue to use these products, we've created this list of safety precautions. Just remember that no amount of precautionary action can completely prevent the dangers associated with the use of chemical cleaners.

Don't use chemical cleaners when children are present. Even minute quantities can affect them. Don't use any chemical cleaners in children's bedrooms because of the disproportionate amount of time children spend there playing and sleeping.
Ventilate. When using cleaners, keep fresh air coming into your house to remove airborne cleaner pollutants and reduce their concentrations.
Wear protective clothing. This includes heavy-duty gloves, a breathing mask, long sleeve clothing, long pants, and safety goggles. (If you feel like you're dressing up for hazardous waste duty, you're right!)
Buy limited quantities of toxic cleaners. Buying only what you need prevents the accumulation of hazardous waste in your home.
Avoid using hot water. Hot water allows the volatile chemicals found in many cleaners to more easily evaporate and enter the air in greater amounts.
Never mix cleaners. You may accidentally create substances more hazardous than any of the individual cleaners alone.
Rinse cleaned surfaces thoroughly to remove as much cleaning product residue as possible. The more cleaning product you remove, the healthier your home will be.
Avoid using products like spray waxes and floor polishes that are intended to make surfaces shiny. These products are specifically designed to leave residues behind and usually contain dangerous solvents.
Instead of spray cleaners, use cleaners that are applied via sponges and rags. Spray cleaners diffuse their chemicals into the air and distribute them across greater distances. Cleaners you apply by hand stay more self-contained and are easier to control.

In general, keep synthetic cleaners away from eating, cooking, and dining areas to prevent them from being ingested. And finally, remember to try to use natural solutions whenever possible. You'll be doing your family and the environment an enormous service.