Why is green cleaning so much better than chemical cleaning? Here’s my ten reasons why…
1. You’ll make your home safer
A quick squiz at the labels of your conventional cleaners and you’ll note things like Toxic! Hazardous! Warning! Keep out of reach of children! Obviously, this indicates that there are hazardous chemicals and in fact – house hold cleaners are one of the top reasons for calls to the National Poison Control Center. Some of the common chemicals used, for just one example chlorine and ammonia, when mixed forms chloramine vapor, which can cause health issues including severe lung injury. And this is just from breathing the chemicals in. Ingesting is a whole different level. If you have young children in the house or visiting the house is this a risk worth having around?
2. It’s better for your health
There’s more to good health than just eating well and exercising. We are surrounded by toxins on a daily basis, a lot of which are unavoidable. Using green products means you won’t be causing you or your loved ones any harm. Some health conditions may mysteriously disappear once you make the switch.
Considering many of the hazardous chemicals in conventional cleaners are often carcinogens, neurotoxins, mutagens, teratogens or endocrine disrupters it’s definitely worth ditching them in favour of more natural products. Of the thousands and thousands of chemicals available very little testing has been done to indicate the long term effects. Personally I’ve known cases of eczema and asthma significantly reduce and even clear as a result of changing household cleaners.
3. You’ll help save the environment
We all should be doing our bit to be more sustainable and actually help out the environment. Ideally all green cleaning products are made using non-toxic, safe, biodegradable ingredients that are naturally derived and sustainably sourced. Things like baking soda, essential oils, and vinegars are obviously much safer than their toxic, hazardous, non-biodegradable, and from non renewable resources like petroleum that adversely affect the earth’s precious eco-system.
4. You’ll save money
Save some cash by making your own green products, or buy the eco friendly all purpose cleaners that do all the jobs. As the sustainable and eco friendly market gathers momentum more and more products are on the market which means more competitive prices. Check out prices at your local, some are even cheaper than their chemical cousins.
5. You’ll clean your air space
Did you know that using conventional cleaners indoors can contribute to higher pollution indoors than outdoors? Just because you’re not seeing smoke come out of the cleaner like you would a car, doesn’t mean your inside environment is less damaging. The Volatile Organic Compounds found in cleaners (commonly known as VOC’s) have been associated with a raft of health issues including liver, kidney and central nervous system damage. These VOC’s can linger in the air meaning your air quality is poor, and toxic.
6. It simplifies your cleaning regime
You’ll notice that you won’t need that many cleaners as a lot of them use the same ingredients anyway. Adding things like vinegar and baking soda to your cleaning kit will help you tackle all sorts of things that you may have had different cleaners for. The marketing in cleaning products is genius, we probably all remember that catchy spray n wipe jingle from years gone by, but do you really need a separate kitchen, bathroom, shower, mold, window, floor, or toilet cleaner when the same one could do all of them? No you don’t – don’t buy into the clever marketing!
7. You’re giving back to the community
Companies that operate in the clean green sort of space tend to care about the environment and things like social responsibility and sustainability really mean more than just a hipster catch phrase to them. More often than not these companies donate generously and are involved in larger environmentally friendly initiatives.
8. Antibacterial is out, probiotic is in
Antibacterial is what we’ve all been told we need to use for a long time now. From sanitising hands to toys to everything within an inch of it’s life – studies are now emerging showing that perhaps antibacterial agents are not that great for us. Antibacterial cleaners leave a residue after being wiped off. This residue is supposed to continue killing germs. However, using such cleaners can lead to the development of stronger germs that are resistant to these products.
Some cleaners are starting to feature unique beneficial probiotics, which still work to deconstruct biofilm but leave a layer of beneficial biotics. In other words – they clean up the bad stuff but leave the good bacteria too.
9. You’ll know what’s in your cleaner
Companies aren’t required to list the ingredients in their cleaning products, which is why you won’t find anything much other than warnings and the poison hotline’s number on the label of chemical cleaners. While not obligated too, often green cleaning brands tend to be transparent and will list their ingredients. Some even have the recipe written on it so you can refill with your own ingredients when you run out.
10. Green products are actually just as effective
Some people are hesitant to use green cleaners as they doubt their effectiveness but here’s the thing – they’re designed to work! Lots contain pure essential oils rather than fragrance which means they’re actually naturally very good cleaning agents and as a bonus your house will smell delightful and won’t burn your nostrils!
So there you have it. Ten reasons to make the switch today! I make a lot of my own and love the recipes by the Green Goddess herself Wendyl Nissen, but I also rate the products by Ecover and PureBiotics NZ if DIY is not your thing.
If you’re interested in knowing more about the chemicals in your cleaners here’s the list of some common ones and they symptoms they can cause:
Corrosives: Many toilet, drain, and oven cleaners are labeled "Danger. Corrosive." Corrosives include some of the most dangerous chemicals in the home, such as lye, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid. These chemicals can burn the skin, cause internal burns if ingested, and explode if used incorrectly.
Ammonia: Many home and commercial products contain ammonia. This chemical can irritate eyes and lungs and can cause headaches. Ammonia should particularly be avoided by anyone with asthma or other lung sensitivities.
Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite): If mixed with ammonia, vinegar or other acid-based cleaners, it will release toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to this gas can cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems. Never mix bleach with other substances.
Phosphates: These are naturally occurring minerals used in automatic dishwashing detergents as a water softener. When released back into the environment, phosphates can cause algae blooms in lakes and ponds that kill aquatic life. Look for phosphate-free dishwashing detergents.
Petroleum distillates: These hydrocarbon solvents produced from crude oil are found in a wide variety of consumer products including lip gloss, liquid gas, fertilizer, furniture polish, pesticides, plastics, paint thinners, solvents, motor oil, fuels, and hundreds of other products. Products containing petroleum distillates should be used carefully. Wear gloves to avoid skin contact and avoid breathing vapors of volatile compounds. Keep out of reach of children.
Phenol and cresol: These are found in disinfectants and can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage if ingested.
Nitrobenzene: Found in furniture and floor polishes. If inhaled, can cause shallow breathing. If ingested, can cause poisoning and death. This substance has also been linked to cancer and birth defects.
Formaldehyde: A colourless, strong-smelling gas widely used to manufacture building materials and numerous household products. In homes, it is most commonly used as an adhesive resin in pressed wood products. It is also used in glues, preservatives, permanent press fabrics, paper product coatings, and certain insulation materials. Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels, usually less than 0.06 ppm, in both outdoor and indoor air. When present in the air at levels at or above 0.1 ppm, acute health effects may occur including watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, skin rashes, and other irritating effects. Formaldehyde has caused cancer in laboratory animals and may cause cancer in humans. There is no known threshold level that does not present the threat of cancer. The risk depends upon quantity and duration of exposure.
Naphthalene: Made from coal tar, this volatile hydrocarbon is used for the manufacture of plastics, dyes and solvents, and is found in mothballs. It is a suspected carcinogen and may damage the eyes, blood cells, liver, kidneys, skin, and the central nervous system.
Paradichlorbenzene: Another chemical found in mothballs, toilet disinfectants, and deodorizers, paradichlorbenzene can harm the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate: These chemicas are found in toilet bowl cleaners, and can burn the skin and cause blindness if splashed in the eyes, or can burn the stomach if ingested.