Conventional cleaners are full of chemicals that can make chores simpler, but at what cost? Many cleaners give off unhealthy fumes that can irritate the lungs or cause headaches. Some contain chemicals that are linked to cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. Cleansers are registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency to ensure they do what they say (e.g. brighten whites, get rid of soap scum, etc.), but there are no mandatory health tests.

 

• Cabinet Confidential: Toxic Products in the Home
• Household Products Database
• The Dirt on Cleaning Product Companies

Take action

Green Clean Schools
A National Partnership to Green America’s Schools – Healthy Schools Campaign -The initiative brings together the cleaning industry, educational leaders, parents and advocates in a rapidly growing Green Team whose mission is to encourage schools to adopt environmentally friendly policies, practices and products. The Green Team will spearhead a nationwide educational effort designed to engage school decision-makers at the national, state and local levels through distribution of The Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools, the GreenCleanSchools.org website and other outreach activities.

Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator
Quantifies the projected environmental benefits of purchasing and using "green" janitorial services and products. It is designed to forecast the environmental benefits of reducing chemical use by doing some or all pollution prevention measures typically involved in the routine interior cleaning of an office building. This tool also enables users to identify which green cleaning measures will have the greatest impact in reducing their use of hazardous chemicals and in preventing pollution.

Green Schools
From Center for a New American Dream, This comprehensive website has sample letters to send to school or city officials, a quick and easy guide to green cleaning in schools, a list of safer cleaning products, information on why safer cleaners are important to schools, a list of schools using safer products and much more.

Resources

Eartheasy
Non-Toxic Home Cleaning
Very extensive list of homemade cleaners, as well as healthy cleaning habits and commercial non-toxic household products

Healthe House
Children's Health Environmental Coalition
Information on just about every environmental health topic you can think of. Type “dry cleaning” into the search box to view a list of articles relating to perchloroethylene and health safety. Likewise type in “antibacterial soaps,” “cleaners,” or any other topic for other information. You can also take a quiz to see how healthy your own home is.

The Safe Shoppers Bible: A Consumers Guide to Nontoxic Household Products
Written by David Steinman and Samuel S. Epstein

1. Use homemade cleaners. Ingredients from your kitchen are effective, cheaper and safer than their chemical counterparts.

**Always store homemade cleaners out of reach or in a locked cabinet and make sure to label the container.

• All purpose cleaner - Add 3tsp. Liquid soap or ¼ cup Borax to 1 gallon water.
• Window cleaner - Use ½ cup vinegar mixed with one gallon of water.
• Disinfectant - Mix ¼ cup Borax with ½ gallon of water. Or, make a solution of 3 tbs. liquid soap, 2 cups water, and 20-30 drops of tea tree oil (which is a natural disinfectant). Hydrogen peroxide is also a proven sanitizer.
• Mold - If you discover mold and mildew in your house, first find the source of moisture and stop it. It's pointless to clean mold if it's only going to return! Remember to wear gloves and a facemask, since mold spores can be inhaled. Use a stiff brush and hot water to scrub mold off of non-porous surfaces. Straight vinegar will kill 82% of mold, 99% of bacteria and 80% of germs. Pour some white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing. It will dissipate in a few hours.
• Mild abrasive for soap scum and stains - Sprinkle baking soda on the area and wipe with a damp rag.
• Tub and Tile Cleanser - Mix 1 and 2/3 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup liquid soap, and 1/2 cup water. After mixed, add 2 tbs. vinegar (adding vinegar too soon will cause it to react with the baking soda). Apply, wipe, and scrub.
• Clogged drain - Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 3 cups of boiling water. Repeat. If you still have a clog, try pouring down 1 cup of vinegar. The vinegar will mix with the baking soda causing some foaming and gurgling, which hopefully dislodges the grime.
• Oven cleaner - Sprinkle a ¼-inch layer of baking soda all over the bottom. Then spray the baking soda with water until it is thoroughly dampened. Let it set and dampen the baking soda again if it is drying out. Leave it overnight and in the morning, the baking soda and grime can effortlessly be scooped out of the oven with a sponge.

2. Clean with pump spray bottles. Aerosols spray tiny droplets of chemicals around that linger in the air, irritate airways and persist in the lungs. Our body’s natural filters, like nasal hairs, are unable to keep out these miniscule droplets. Pump sprays are safer.

3. Avoid antibacterial soaps. Antibacterial soaps kill good germs as well as bad germs, and contribute to the growing problem of bacteria becoming antibiotic resistant. Also, research shows antibacterial soaps are no better than plain soap in preventing infectious disease. It’s how you wash your hands that maintains good health. Rub hands together vigorously for at least 15-20 seconds. Don’t forget the spaces between your fingers, your wrists, and under your nails.

4. Buy clothes that don’t require dry cleaning, or use “wet cleaners” instead. If “wet cleaning” is not an option, hang dry-cleaned clothes outside or in the garage for a few days to air out the dangerous cancer-causing chemical, perchloroethylene, used to clean them.

5. Use hydrogen peroxide to whiten. In addition to respiratory problems, exposure to chlorine bleach fumes can interfere with normal development of a fetus or child, can cause severe eye irritation and could potentially damage the liver, kidney, blood, heart and immune system. Use hydrogen peroxide to whiten and to sanitize. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will (be sure you put the mixture into a bottle that filters out sunlight.) You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. Remember, though, hydrogen peroxide is a bleach, so use with caution around colors just as you would with conventional chlorine bleach.

6. Take off your shoes at the door. Removing shoes before entering the home not only keeps your home cleaner by keeping dirt out, it also reduces exposure to pesticides, gasoline and other chemicals that can be tracked in.

QUICK GLANCE CHART: TIPS FOR HEALTHY CLEANING