green home environmental friendly cleaning

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) has recorded many exposures to household cleaning substances that were serious enough to require treatment in a health care facility. Incredibly, according to the AAPCC the largest numbers of occurrences of poisoning in 1993 were due to cleaning products - drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, soaps and detergents.

AMMONIA: is a very volatile organic compound. Solutions of ammonia (5-10% by weight) are used as household cleaners, particularly for glass. These solutions are irritating to the eyes and mucous membranes (respiratory and digestive tracts), and to a lesser extent the skin. They should never be mixed with chlorine -containing products or strong oxidants, for example household bleach , as a variety of toxic and carcinogenic compounds are

Chlorine:

Chlorine is a respiratory irritant. It also attacks mucous membranes and burns the skin. As little as 3.5 ppm can be detected as an odor, and 1000 ppm is likely to be fatal after a few deep breaths. Exposure to chlorine has been limited to 0.5 ppm (8-hour time-weighted average - 40 hour week) by OSHA in the US. [1]

Another hazard is the when hypochlorite bleach comes into contact with substances containing ammonia , such as urine , forming acrid chloramines fumes, which, though not nearly as dangerous as chlorine, can cause severe respiratory distress.

For these reasons, some consumers prefer the use of natural cleaning products as an alternative to bleach.

FURNITURE POLISH: contain petroleum distillates, which are highly flammable and can cause skin and lung cancer. They contain nitrobenzene, which is easily absorbed through the skin and extremely toxic.

OVEN CLEANER: one of the most toxic products people use. They contain lye and ammonia, which eat the skin, and the fumes linger and affect the respiratory system. Use sea salt and baking soda instead.

TOILET BOWL CLEANERS: usually contain hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive irritant to both skin and eyes that damages kidneys and liver; and hypochlorite bleach, a corrosive irritant that can burn eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Toilet bowl cleaners also may cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes, which may be fatal.

Are you one of the millions of consumers who tend to think anything sold must be safe? Think again. Since WWII more than 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been invented. Most have been created from petroleum and coal tar for the purposes of chemical warfare. The sad thing is that hardly any of these substances have been tested for safety, but have been added to our food, water and cleaning products without our consent and most often without informing us of any dangers. There is a lot of intentional suppression in this industry that adds approximately 1000 new chemicals each year.

According to the National Research Council, "no toxic information is available for more than 80% of the chemicals in everyday-use products. Less than 20% have been tested for acute effects and less than 10% have been tested for chronic, reproductive or mutagenic effects." Most have not been tested for combined or accumulated effects, or for their effects on unborn children.

What can you do to protect your loved ones from chemical injury and poisoning?

First of all, educate yourself, and find safer alternatives as much as possible.

Secondly, minimize use of harsh chemicals. Clean spills and stains immediately, remove food waste promptly, keep home moisture/humidity down to 30-50%, and use entryway mats at all entrances.

Third, store all cleaning agents in their original containers out of the reach of children. Follow the directions on the label and use only the amount of product recommended. Read labels, follow safety precautions and contact the manufacturer if you have questions.

By definition, we clean our homes to reduce damage or harm to human and pet health, and to protect our valued possessions. Let's not make the solution worse than the problem!

Reprinted from ArticleCity.com

Clean alternatives to everyday products

Product	Chemical cleaner	Natural alternative
Toilet Cleaner	Often contains bleach with in turn contains sodium hypochlorite. This is highly causative agent, which pollutes water and destroys the bacterial balance in sewage.	A strong solution of a natural acid such as vinegars, will remove most limescale without causing water pollution. Or try Simple Pure Clean Scouring Powder.
Laundry detergent	Synthetic detergents pollute water and play havoc with the skin. Many ingredients, such as perfume, have no practical value at all.	For washing machines, phosphate-free powders will reduce water pollution.
Furniture polish	Most synthetic furniture polishes are based on synthetic silicones and solvents. They often contain artificial perfumes, which pollute the indoor air.	A natural furniture polish can be made by combining 2 parts olive or vegetable oil with 1 part lemon juice. Green Home uses Simple Pure Clean Dusting Spray. It Gives furniture the nutrients it needs to stay beautiful. Cleans and does not build up.
Metal polish	Most contain ammonia, which can burn the skin and petroleum distillates, which are highly poisonous if swallowed. They may also be hazardous when inhaled.	Lemon juice will clean brass and copper and apple cider vinegar will clean chrome. Aluminum foil in a salt solution will remove tarnish from silver.

Helpful Links:

America: Ten Things You Should Never Buy Again

Greenpeace: A non-profit organization, with a presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific

The Home Page for the Sierra Club : America's oldest, largest, and most effective environmental organization. Explore, enjoy and protect the planet

www. sierraclub .org

Household Cleaning Chemicals Linked to Asthma Epidemic in Children

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