The Family Groove | Green Washed | Eco-Me Founder Robin Kay Levine Gives You the Dirt on Green Cleaning

GREEN WASHED
ECO-ME FOUNDER ROBIN KAY LEVINE GIVES YOU THE DIRT ON CLEANING AND
GIVES YOU TIPS FOR SCRUBBING IN LIVING COLOR

These days it seems like everything is turning green.
Today the word green takes on more than the trees in
spring bloom, it carries a hefty responsibility to act socially,
politically and, most importantly, ecologically. That’s a lot
of pressure for a color to bear.

The increased popularity of natural household cleaning products
is good news since recent studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the air in our homes is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Our homes are our sanctuary, a safe and healthy place for our family to rest and play, but what happens when this environment turns toxic from household cleaning products? The average home contains 25 pounds of toxic cleaning products. Synthetic chemicals in our household cleaners are being linked to a host of health-related issues, including asthma, eye irritations, neurological conditions and most recently the possible link to the rise in cancer. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) confirmed this in a recent study, when 150 common household chemicals were found to be the cause of allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities. What better reason to go green than for the safety of your home and family? But are all natural cleaners really safe and chemical-free?

Dirty Little Secrets
Companies manufacturing household cleaning products are not required by law to reveal their ingredients in their products, claiming it would jeopardize their company’s “trade secret.” Government regulations under the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act are designed to protect corporations rather than human health and the environment. General warnings on labels that state “danger,” “do not induce vomiting,” “corrosive, rinse skin immediately,” “poison” and “flammable” should be avoided.

The Triple Threats
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health analyzed 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products, and 884 were found to be toxic. The most dangerous chemicals to watch out for and remove from your homes are chlorine, formaldehyde and phenol. Many household cleaners contain the hazardous chemical chlorine. Breathing in the fumes of cleaners containing chlorine can irritate the lungs and may damage skin and eyes since it is a corrosive substance. It is particularly dangerous for people suffering from heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. Chlorine can be found in products such as automatic dishwashing detergents, laundry bleach, disinfectant cleaners, mildew removers and toilet bowl cleaners. A World Health Organization panel has upgraded its assessment of the danger of formaldehyde, declaring for the first time that the chemical is carcinogenic to humans. Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance. It is an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Phenol is an extremely caustic chemical that burns the skin. Absorption of phenol through the lungs or skin can cause central nervous system damage, respiratory tract infection, heart-rate irregularities, skin irritation, kidney and liver damage, and can be fatal. Both formaldehyde and phenol are commonly found in cleaning products, furniture polish and air fresheners.

Label-Conscious
So how can you be sure a product is safe and free of harmful chemicals? When you buy natural cleaning products, look for manufacturers that list all the ingredients on the label. Terms like “all-natural” and “nontoxic” are used widely with relatively no regulation. Take a look at the product. Is it fluorescent yellow, bright green or, better yet, purple? This is an immediate clue that harmful synthetic chemical dyes are present. Read warning labels for more insight on the safety of the product.

Back to Basics
Your best bet is to create your own cleaning products from scratch. Basic kitchen products like white vinegar, baking soda and olive oil can do the trick and cost just pennies compared with many store-bought natural products.

White vinegar is one of the oldest natural household cleaners. It is effective in killing most mold, bacteria and germs due to its high level of acidity.

Baking soda is a naturally occurring material that is nontoxic, multipurpose (used in baking, household cleaning and deodorizing) and carries a low price tag. It is a safe and effective cleaner for kitchen and bathroom surfaces and works well as a gentle scouring powder.

Olive oil is a natural lubricant used in cooking and cleaning. Mixed with vinegar, it will clean, polish and protect the natural beauty of wood products in your home. You can clean your entire house naturally with these three products.

If you’re not sure how to use these products together, then pick up a prepackaged natural cleaning kit from Eco-Me (www.eco-me.com). These 100 percent natural kits make it easy to mix your own cleaning products for home, body and bath. Save your health, the environment and money—just mix it!