THE DIRTY TRUTH ABOUT HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS
Some of the top-selling daily products are the most dirty and toxic: antibacterial spray, some ads encourage parents to spray wherever children play, contains denatured ethanol (which can cause central nervous system depression) and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, a known pesticide.
Most glass cleaners contain glycol ethers that have been shown to cause reproductive effects if exposed to high enough levels. Pledge contains silicones, butane gas, and propane. All, while good at cutting through gunk, are bonified VOCs. Most air fresheners contain formaldehyde (which is highly toxic and is a known carcinogen) and phenol (a delightful chemical that can cause cold sweats, convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma, and even death). Even the most skeptical of consumers would prefer not to expose their children or pets to such harmful chemicals.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS
As Consumer Report’s and Greener Choices’ Eco-Label’s website reports, claims such as “non-toxic,” “eco-safe,” and “environmentally-friendly” are practically meaningless without a standard in place. Inhabitat readers are already pretty savvy consumers, but if you need a bit of extra help sussing out the best green cleaning products, use their nifty green report card function to research eco-labels. Otherwise, cut through the marketing by looking for a few obvious things. Look for specific ingredients that perform effectively in lieu of VOCs, rather than buying into the labels and witty names. For example, look for products that have grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve. Use borax instead of bleach. Also, look for products that are “petroleum free” and avoid products that include phosphates (such as dishwasher soaps). You’ll also want to avoid any furniture polishes or PVC products that include phtalates.
No comments:
Post a Comment