July - Ban Unsafe Cleaning Products

 Everyone has cleaning products that they use at home, but barely anyone ever questions the safety of these products. If you've ever turned these bottles over and read the label, they don't offer much information. Often times there's nothing further than a "Keep out of reach of children" label. We all take for granted that industry and government regulators have our best interest in mind, but that couldn't be farther from the truth! Companies aren't required to disclose all there ingredients if they claim that the recipe is proprietary (which nearly all companies do). I mean who would want to use their products, if the consumers found out that the main ingredient caused cancer? They would go out of business because no one would want to buy it! But we, the consumer, continue to blindly spritz about our poison air freshener, because it smells good! It is time to take our blind fold off and realize that what we're using is poisonous garbage that only harms us and makes the corporation's wallets fatter!

 Let's take a look at some of the companies selling these products.

• Amway Corp- A known awful corporation, Amway owns: Artistry, Atmosphere, Body Blends, Body Works, Clear Now, eSpring, Fulton Street, Glister, iCook, Kahve, Legacy of Clean, Nutrilite, Peter Island, Perfect Empowered Drinking Water, Personal Accents, Ribbon, Satinique, Tolsom, XS, and Zsenso. Check out how their products are scored on EWG (Environmental Working Group) here.
• Bi-O-Kleen Industries Inc- Just because this company says bio and clean in their name doesn't mean anything about how safe they actually are. Check out how their products scored here.
• Citra Solv, LLC- Not all their products are as safe as you might first assume. Check out how their products scored here.   

I encourage everyone to check out some more companies and their products at EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. 

Some dangerous cleaners and safe substitutions. 

• Drain Cleaners- This is an extremely dangerous product and oftentimes doesn't really work. Substitutes include:  Plunger and if that doesn't work drain cleaners probably won't either, so it would be best to call a plumber. Before you have a full fledged clog, regular use of the following will prevent it from forming: Pour 1 handful baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain pipe and cover tightly for one minute. Afterwards rinse with hot water. Hydrogen peroxide can also be poured into a clogged drain than plunged as a last resort method.  
• Ammonia and Other All Purpose Cleaners- Ammonia causes skin irritation, and its fumes are extremely irritating to the eyes and lungs. Substitutes include: A teaspoon of safe liquid soap or borax with a splash of lemon juice or vinegar in water make safe alternatives.
• Basin, Tub, and Tile Cleaners- High concern especially since not many bathrooms are well ventilated. Substitutes include: A sprinkling of baking soda followed by a hot water rinse, or use one of  Bon Ami's non chlorinated scouring powders.
• Chlorine Bleach- Most dangerous if swallowed, it's also relatively harmful if the fumes are breathed in. Substitutes include: Bleach your whites in the sun (not recommended for colors), add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your regular laundry detergent, and soaking clothing in 1 part vinegar to 6 parts warm water over night.  
• Glass Cleaners- Oftentimes glass cleaners are only ammonia mixed with water and a little blue dye. Ammonia bottles are labeled "Poison", but glass cleaners have very few if not any warning labels at all!  Substitutes include: Spray a fifty-fifty mixture of water and vinegar and use as you would regular glass cleaner. Or just use the same mixture accept apply it from a bucket with a sponge. Some glass cleaners contain a wax that can build up on the glass and cause it to streak terribly when you use vinegar and water. Use a little rubbing alcohol  to get it off, than you can wash your windows without chemical products. 
• Air Fresheners and Odor Removers- Strong chemicals that only cover up existing bad fumes, but the strong smell of the air freshener can interfere with your ability to smell. Substitutes include: Just opening a window, essential oils applied to a cotton ball in the room, or directly address the area that is producing the odor.  

Assess your level than follow the guidelines for your level below. 

Level One- Cleaning products are your life, you can't even imagine living in a non sterilized house! Here are some ideas for you: 

1. Reexamine your cleaning products and look one or two up on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. 
2. Take some time to think about how much you care about your family, and how you can make some product changes to protect them. 
3. Try some safe substitutes I listed above. 

Level Two-You try to limit yourself to good cleaning products, but not all of them are so great. Here are some ideas for you: 

1. Examine how some of your cleaning products are rated on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. 
2. Try some safe substitutes 
3. Encourage your family to use only safe cleaning products. 
4. Share this article with your friends and family  

Level Three- You mostly make your own cleaning products, but a few bad ones occasionally slip in. Here are some ideas for you:  

1. Examine how some of your cleaning products are rated on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. 
2. Try to eliminate all your bad products  
3. Encourage your family to use only safe cleaning products.  
4. Share this article with your friends and family   

Resources 

• Home Safe Home by Debra Lynn Dadd
• http://laundry.about.com/od/ecofriendlylaundry/tp/5-Green-Laundry-Alternatives-For-Bleach-Green-Tips-To-Replace-Chlorine-Bleach.htm