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Monday, November 14, 2011

Ideas to Help You Use Green Cleaning Products

By Jan Litton

While a good scrubbing of the home creates a good environment, it's crucial to find out how certain cleaning products can really be damaging to your family's health. It's also equally important to explore safer, earth-friendly possibilities.

Cleaning frequently involves the use of probably damaging products, which can on occasion be noxious, corrosive, irritating and combustible. Every time you utilize a cleaning product, you are absorbing its contents into your skin and respiring it into your lungs.

What Are In Cleansers?

Phosphates "These can be found in dishwasher pills. When they reach waterways, they cause algae to bloom. Algae consume oxygen and block the daylight from reaching other marine organisms. As a result, the other organisms die from a lack of much-needed nutrients.

Phthalates "These come from phthalic acid which is used to make dyes and perfumes and has been connected to health effects such as organ system poisonousness (non-reproductive), reproduction and fertility issues and birth and/or development effects. It can also harm the endocrine system, the brain, nerve system and even the immune response (including sensitization and allergies).

Ethoxylated alcohols "Found in washing liquids, these can be dangerous because they are comprised of chemicals like sodium laureth sulphate, which assist in creating frothing but are also a probable carcinogen.

Chlorine "Chlorine, a deadly, greenish-yellow gas, is a corrosive and dangerous chemical used in bleaches and creates poisons in waterways. It is crucial to never mix chlorine with other products like ammonia, as this may create highly toxic fumes. It also creates organochlorines, compounds that pose an adverse human health danger. Some are even cancer causing agents. Exposure to chlorine gas can produce chest pain, vomiting, coughing, breathing difficulties and/or excess liquid in the lungs. Exposure to 430 ppm in air for 30 minutes or more will cause death.

Ammonia and nitrobenzene"Commonly found in floor polish/glass cleaners, such chemicals could cause respiratory issues and are skin and eye irritants. It's important to never mix ammonia and bleach. This mix produces perilous chlorine gas, which in small doses can result in irritation to the eyes, skin and the breathing tract. In large doses , it can kill.

Triclosan "This is an antimicrobe agent found in antibacterial liquid hand soap, detergents and other sanitizing/cleansing products. The approval for antibacterial products has led straight to increased client use of triclosan. But the American Medical Organisation (AMA) has advanced an official advice against using antiseptic products in the home due to worries about antimicrobe resistance. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel reviewed the current research and found no evidence that households that use anti-bacterial products are more healthy than homes that use water and soap and other basic cleansers.

Avoiding Toxic Chemicals Any product carrying the words CAUTION, Caution, DANGER or POISON is damaging to living things and may be evaded. Folks can try avoiding tough chemicals in their cleaners by buying natural, non-damaging household cleaning products atenvironmentally-friendly stores like Henry's Farmers Market. Natural cleaning products are made with biodegradable materials and do not contain dangerous chemicals.
Tips for Green Cleaning:

Use alcohol as a sanitizer in place of "antibacterial" products.
 
Pine oil or citrus-based solvents make great renewable resources, and they won't injure your lungs or cause cancer.

There's eventually a great use for full-fat mayonnaise: it's a amazing furniture cleaner.

Buy bio-degradable sponges that may break down or be composted when their handy life is thru.

Indoor air can be up to 90 percent more polluted than out of doors air. Open your windows whenever it's possible.

As well as non-toxic products, switch to hypoallergenic laundry detergents and fabric softeners, dishwashing liquid and household cleaners, as well as green paper towels and bath tissue. You can also use things in your pantry to create home made cleaners.

10 Tips for Making Natural Cleansers:

1. Use olive oil combined with lemon juice to bring out furniture shine.

2. White vinegar and sodium bicarbonate will keep your toilet bowl clean.

3. Sodium bicarbonate absorbs odours, so place a bowl near smelly areas, and/or open a window.

4. Lemon slices placed down the rubbish disposal will keep your sink smelling fresh.

5. Spray vinegar and luke-warm water on glass and then wipe off with crumpled paper.

6. To clean chrome steel, use bread soda as a. Paste, and leave on for awhile to remove hard stains.

7. Silver can be cleaned with toothpaste, and copper can be cleaned with vinegar and lemon juice.

8. Use hot soapy water to sterilize cutting boards.

9. Tea tree oil makes a great disinfectant to dump mold and mildew.

10. A drop of lemon essential oil in rinsing water makes a great disinfectant when cleaning out the fridge, refrigerator or kitchen surfaces.
 
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