Greener Is Cleaner

Pick cleaning supplies that are hard on dirt but easy on your lungs.

By Emily Main • Photograph by Ilan Rubin • Styled by Jeffrey W. Miller

 

Until recently, cleaning was sold as a quasi-industrial task. If your cleaning products didn’t emit noxious fumes, require protective gear or have labels covered with poison-control information, they really couldn’t make your counters shine. Lately, though, concerned for the health of their families and the health of our waterways, more consumers are buying less-toxic all-purpose cleaners. But how do you know you’re getting the right thing? Here’s how to choose.

WHAT’S IN THAT BOTTLE?

Hmm . . . Take a look at the labels of most conventional cleaners, and you probably won’t learn much, thanks to government trade-secret laws that protect cleaning-product manufacturers from having to reveal their ingredients—great for them, but not so great for you if you want to avoid ingredients that could trigger asthma, allergies or any other respiratory problems.

And your lung complaints aren’t the only issue. Some cleaning chemicals have been found to interfere with the way your body produces estrogen, testosterone and even thyroid hormones. Commonly called “hormone disruptors,” these chemicals have been linked to a variety of health problems, from obesity to reduced fertility.

Once the chemicals swirl down the drain, they go through wastewater treatment plants, where they’re not removed completely, and then into waterways, where aquatic wildlife suffer their ill effects more severely than humans do.

5 TIPS TO FINDING A
BETTER SPRAY

1. Look for products that disclose all ingredients. The greenest cleaners list every ingredient specifically on the label, but other good products list generic ingredients, such as “coconut-derived surfactants” and “plant-based emulsifiers.” Plant-derived ingredients are, in general, better for the environment and your health than their petroleum-based counterparts.

 

2. Look for what’s not inside. Check labels for phrases such as “no petrochemicals,” “no chlorine” and “no ammonia,” as well as any other chemicals to avoid (see list, p. 62), to find out what’s been left out of a cleaner.

 

3. Watch out for meaningless claims. Words like “biodegradable,” “natural,” “ organic” and “non-toxic” are not verified by government agencies or independent third parties.

 

4. Look for independent certifications. Cradle to Cradle, the EPA’s Design for the Environment program and Green Seal are all reliable, independent certifications that analyze cleaners and their ingredients to ensure minimal impacts on your health and the environment.

 

5. Don’t base your decision on price. Healthier products aren’t always linked to a high price tag.

DIY Cleaners

The best way to ensure a cleaner won’t harm your health or the environment is to make your own with less-toxic ingredients, like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and borax, available at any grocery store.

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER

¹/₂ cup borax (look for borax in your grocer’s laundry aisle)

11 gal. hot water

Mix in pail or use smaller amounts in a spray bottle (¹/₈ cup borax to 1 qt. hot water). Dissolve the borax completely, and wipe surfaces clean.

GLASS CLEANER

¹/₄ cup white vinegar or 1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2+ cups water

Fill a clean spray bottle with water and either white vinegar or lemon juice; wipe surfaces with an old newspaper.

TIP: If you want your cleaners to
have a nice scent, add some lemon
juice or a few drops of an essential
oil (available at vitamin stores
and natural food stores). Lemon juice
cuts grease, tea tree oil is an
effective mold killer, and lavender oil
is a natural disinfectant. For more
recipes, see the DIY Diva blog at
thegreenguide.com.