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 Buying Natural Household Cleaners
Synthetic and solvent-laden, today's cleaners, brighteners and bleaches fight dirt with less effort than ever before. But many of these products get their strength from chemicals that pollute your household air and water runoff and threaten your health during normal use. You can be clean and green, though, if you're alert to product contents.
Steps:
1. Read labels and packaging to determine each product's ingredients. Environmentally friendly cleaners contain nontoxic, biodegradable ingredients and non-petroleum based surfactants. They don't create fumes or leave residues and are never tested on animals.
2. Keep household products in their original containers so that safety information and directions for use always remain with the product.
3. Choose cleaners that do not contain toxic ingredients. Formaldehyde and ammonia irritate the skin, eyes and lungs. Benzene is classified as a carcinogen. Lye fumes almost instantly corrode respiratory passages. Even minimal exposure to bleach and hydrochloric and sulfuric acids cause coughs or headaches; further contact can easily damage lungs.
4. Reduce allergies and skin or eye irritation by buying products without artificial fragrances and colors. Many of these additives do not degrade in the environment and may have toxic effects on fish and mammals.
5. Shop green at food cooperatives, farmers' markets and natural foods stores. Look for the healthy home products aisle in your supermarket. Search online.
6. Make your own cleaner recipes from lemon juice, Borax, baking soda and white vinegar. Label these mixtures so they're not mistaken for a beverage.
Overall Tips:
Use any cleaner in a well-ventilated area.
Practice prevention first. Wipe spills quickly to avoid stains. Line the oven bottom to catch spills. Use screens over drains and don't pour grease down them.
Overall Warnings:
Reject any product that does not list ingredients and anything labeled with Caution, Warning, Danger or Poison.
Some common household cleaners are extremely dangerous when combined: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia -- the result is toxic chloramine gas.
Install childproof locks on your supplies cabinet.
What to look for:
Clear labeling
No toxic ingredients
No artificial colors and fragrances
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 Copyright © 2004-2006 Sparky Boy Enterprises. All rights reserved.
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