Doesn't it seem as though every time we pick up an eco-friendly newspaper or venture online to a green-news site, we are bombarded with advertisements for eco-friendly products that all claim to be the latest and the greatest, or la creme de la creme of household cleaning greendom? The plethora of promises these products promulgate tend to overwhelm even the most discerning of minds. One after the next claim to exterminate, sanitize, and eradicate germs whilst remaining "green" and "safe"  (a now vastly broad umbrella of loosely thrown around terminology).  If you've browsed the internet lately for green news, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. Advertisements for these seemingly endless companies are more predatory and prolific than pornographic pop-up ads.  And this exponentially growing niche of internet marketing seems to be, like a clan of zombies, growing faster and more prevalent than any other sector of direct-to-consumer-advertising! 

       Don't get me wrong, it's wonderful that green products are becoming widely available on the net, but like any other growing sector: a few bad seeds fall through the cracks, then a few more, then before you know it, you no longer have the resources to devise the effective from the fraudulent, or the real quality green products from the "on the bandwagon" corporate green products whose ingredients are still overloaded with toxic residue, but they've thrown in a few eco-friendly after-thought ingredients to qualify their product as green-marketable (i.e. Green Works products are actually manufactured by Clorox and claim to have 95% "natural" ingredients... that could mean a lot of things). So we start asking ourselves questions like, "why is one product more expensive than the other? Does that make it "greener", or does that make it more effective? Or maybe both? Or neither?" We green-conscious consumers, who should be rewarded for our efforts to clean up our homes and environment, are now suffering from information overload, and have fallen victim to that all-too predictable capitalistic green band-wagon paradigm of market infiltration by companies who, having witnessed the lucrative exponential growth in a previously tiny niche, have jumped at the opportunity to cash in on this financially promising movement.  After browsing a few of these sites and reading the testimonials, it becomes glaringly evident that most of the "testimonials" are strategically placed internet marketing promos or release statements from the companies themselves, shrewdly disguised as "satisfied customers" who have bought and utilized their company's products (It doesn't take a genius to figure this out, but it does take some research and pattern recognition).

        Amidst the thunderous clamor of claims and promises, one could get lost in the seemingly never-ending feat to discover which cleaners are perfect for you and your family in pursuit of an eco-friendly home. As far as I'm concerned, as a targeted demographic of eco-conscious consumers, we have to be even more captious and well-researched in our consumer/brand-based decisions than our fellow non-green consumers, as we have stricter standards and safety precautions to uphold. Knowing this, how to we safeguard ourselves with the proper knowledge to make educated decisions with the confidence that we have not become victims of green marketing propaganda? How do we, without going out and trying every single product on the market (which would take about 50 years) determine the legitimacy, effectiveness, and "greenness" of the products which we choose to spend out hard-earned money on? Well, here is a list of how to effectively stream-line and expedite your green-cleaning decisions without or causing a mental nuclear breakdown:

1.     Know that you've made a valuable decision ALREADY by choosing a green product over a standard commercial product. First and foremost, I think it can be agreed upon that the most important part of investing in green cleaning products is to ensure that the products we purchase for cleaning do not poison us while doing so. Over the course of our green-cleaning education vis a vis trial and error, I think we would be considered lucky if the worst outcome of our product experimentation was the conclusion that the product wasn't a strong enough disinfectant. A far cry from "my cleaning product caused my 3 year old son to have a severe a asthma attack". If I haven't already convinced you that the SAFETY of your green-cleaning product is of much more vital importance than the absolute effectiveness of the product (although we will address this pertinent issue later as well), here are a few less than somber facts to be aware of: 

• According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the  average American uses approximately 25 gallons of toxic and hazardous chemical products at home, much of which is eventually washed down the sink, flushed down the toilet or placed in a garbage can, potentially affecting the health of the people, plants, animals, land and water in and around our neighborhoods.The department also concludes that there are 17,000 petro chemicals available for home use. Only 30% of which have been tested for exposure to human health and environment.
• There are 63 different synthetic chemical products found in the average American home, translating roughly gallons of harmful chemicals.

• According to the EPA, there can be up to 100x the amount of indoor air                              pollution compared to outdoor air pollution levels.

• Commercial cleansers are among the most toxic substances used in the home. Not only do many of these products give off fumes as you use them, their vapors can also remain in the air for days. Toxic ingredients include lye, chlorine, ammonia, petrochemical solvents and aerosol, dioxane (also known as agent orange). Many ingredients are suspected carcinogens, and many are KNOWN cancer-causing carcinogens (including dioxane).

• The Consumer Products Commission believes that the higher percentage of cancers among home-makers may be due to the toxins they are exposed to while cleaning up the house.

• Where cleaning products are kept (even tightly sealed) the average home normally reads about 50 pars per billion VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

• 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." More than 4.5 billion chemicals are known and 50,000 are commercially distributed.

•  In Canada, respiratory illness is now the leading cause of admission to hospital for children. Childhood asthma has jumped by 400 per cent

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Chemicals Commonly Found in Homes identified 150 as linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities. Ten percent cause high blood pressure (HBP) and migraines and 20% are responsible for mental disturbances.

• Indoor air in the home has been found to have five times higher toxic chemical concentrations than outdoor air. This is also true in rural areas. A five-year study conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed many indoor air samples to be 70 times more toxic.  

• A scientific paper at the "Indoor Air Conference" in 1990 in Toronto stated "because of household cleaners, housewives have a 55% higher risk of contracting cancer."

 

2.    What NOT to buy. In the case of the home and your health, what NOT to buy is soo much more important than what to buy. Now that we've established how far ahead of the game you already are with your decision to find a green cleaner, we can focus on some specific ingredients to avoid. With the above-referenced "safety-first" motto in mind, no matter which product you pick up (certified or not), and no matter if you buy it online or in a health food store, it is elemental that you are duly informed of which toxic ingredients to steer clear.  As mentioned above, there are many toxic ingredients that companies are NOT required to list, or that have not been fully tested because of lack of funding or goverment incentive. So the tiny bread crumbs of knowledge that DO get thrown our way regarding toxic substances to avoid, we should take to heart in no casual way.  So the first thing to do when shopping at your local health food store for green cleaners, is to pick up the product, flip it over and read the list of ingredients. Whether you are selecting face wash, laundry detergent, surface disinfectant, dishwasher detergent, soaps, shampoos, or cosmetics, here are a list of ingredients you need to avoid at all costs, as more and more studies accrue supporting scientific evidence of both bodily and environmental harm:

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

• Propylen Glycol (Antifreeze)

• 1,4 Dioxane

• Dioxin

• Aerosol

• Lye

• Ammonia

• Petrochemical or petroleum based solvents

• Many bathroom disinfectants, car waxes, and window cleaners, oven cleaners and dish detergents contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated, it irritates the skin, eyes, and respiratory system and is the #1 cause of childhood poisonings according to poison control centers. Some cleaners contain hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive irritant to both skin and eyes that can damage your kidneys and liver.

• Furniture polish and car waxes contain petroleum distillates, chemicals that can cause skin and lung cancer; entry into the lungs may cause fatal pulmonary edema. Carpet cleaners may contain perchlorethylene, a known carcinogen, and ammonium hydroxide, a corrosive that's damaging to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.

• Bathroom cleaners often contain sodium hypochlorite, a corrosive that irritates or burns skin and eyes, and causes fluid in the lungs, which can lead to coma or death. They also contain formaldehyde, a highly toxic known carcinogen. Drain cleaners can contain trichloroethane, an eye and skin irritant and nervous system depressant; it can also damage your liver and kidneys.

• Anything over 500 parts per billion VOCs can cause reactions in sensitive people, Clorox wipes tests at more than 1000 pars per billion, and Lysol disinfecting spray tests at 1,200 parts per million (1,000 times stronger than Clorox).

• Lysol anti-bacterial spray lists denatured ethanol at 79%which can cause irritation of the eyes and mucuous membranes, may cause central nervous system depression if inhaled or ingested.

• Air fresheners contain synthetic fragrances, or pthalates, chemicals that have been inked to cancer and reproductive-system harm in rodents. Some groups cite evidence linking phthlates to the same problems in humans.

• Don't assume that because a product says it's "natural" that it's safe. The word "natural" is undefined and unregulated by the government and can be applied to just about anything.

• Because no standards exit, claims like "eco-safe" and "environmentally friendly" are meaningless (according to the Consumers Union). Since only food and herbs can be certified as organic, the word "organic" on the label of a dish or laundry soap doesn't mean much.

• Most conventional dish and laundry detergents are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable synthetic resource. So look for naturally derived or plant-based formulas that are biodegradable and contain no phosphates. (anything with "fragrance" on the label usually means that synthethic, or petroleum based chemicals were used, and should be avoided.

• Choose non-chlorine bleach cleaning solutions and scouring powders. Fumes of cleansers containing high concentration of chlorine can irritate the lungs (dangerous for asthma, emphysema or heart conditions).

• Use only non-aerosol air fresheners with citrus peel extracts, which are effective odor-removers.

3.         Research the Companies & Look for Products that have Certifications or Seals. ALWAYS research the company for whose products you purchase.  As mentioned earlier, Green Works products are manufactured by Clorox, and claim to have 95% "natural ingredients", without really listing what these "natural" ingredients are. Be smart people. Do your homework. Look for companies whose mission statements are to better the world and the environment we live in, and whose entire purpose and reason for existence is to create and manufacture only green, sustainable, non-toxic and people/animal-safe products, like Planet products. Try to stay away from companies who manufacture and distribute mostly toxic products, but have also squeezed out a "green" line of products. Nothing is worse than this kind of hypocritical manipulation, as the unwitting consumer then unintentionally ends up supporting organizations that pollute our earth under the guise of living and purchasing green. We as consumers, are so little protected by the very few agencies and organizations that are out there looking after the public's best interests.  Since we cannot very well conduct our own double-blind, $300,000 case-studies on hundreds of different chemicals over the course of several decades, we must rely on these organizations to publish the latest health news and to certify products that pass stringent restrictions and standards regarding optimal public health. Here are a list of green seals and certifications to look for when shopping for products:

• The GREEN SEAL, offered by a private certification agency, was the first widely accepted seal for Green products. As fees are collected from both sides of the transaction, this certification has become prohibitive to many retailers. For more information about Green Seal certification, please see www.greenseal.org

• The DfE, Design for the Environment (www.epa.gov/dfe), has a set standard for certification for the manufacture of Green products. Products with this seal must be formulated with elements supplied by Greengredients®, a producer of certified plant-based surfactants which insure neutral impact to the environment.

• Some companies have their own "seals" that claim their products have been tested  by third parties and according to U.S. Government published guidelines. These seals may require further research, especially if these "guidelines" or "third-party testings" have not been listed or published on the company's website, but as long as the product does include official green seals accommodating the company's seal, I don't see how it could detract from the legitimacy of the product.

 

4.        Some head-starts. Listed below are a few well-known, effective, safe green cleaning products and their websites. It is always recommended, of course, to do your own research and use your own best judgement. After all, it is your home and your health, so don't be afraid to test out a few different products to see what works for you, and what doesn't. Never fall victim to the easily mistaken rhetoric of blindly buying into a product's "claims" . Always check for official green seals and certifications, and always double check the listed ingredients for any of the aforementioned toxic chemicals (or any suspicious looking chemicals). Remember to always use your best judgement and logic during the selection process, and remember take pride and merit in the fact that you have already done yourself and your family a huge service by deciding to go green with your cleaning products! Here are a list of just a few green products that are recommended:

 

• Seventh generation 

• Plant Products 

• Ecover 

• Earth Friendly Products 

• Berkeley Green Products 

• Here is a great article on how to make potent and safe cleaners from kitchen ingredients such as vinegar, salt, borax, lemon, baking soda, essential oils etc.

• To check up on a household product that you may already be using (green or not), you can go to the government-organized household products database site.

• Web shopping sites include the following:

• Ecomall
• Green Market Place 
• Healthy Environments