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Written by Greeniac24   
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008

Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Household Cleaners

Chemically infused cleaning products have an undeserved reputation of immaculate cleanliness. The truth is these products that are intended to rid our homes of germs, may be perpetuating the very thing we are trying to avoid - illness. The chemicals found in conventional cleaners contribute to indoor air pollution, which can have detrimental effects on human health. In addition, many of the cleaning chemicals end up in our water systems, affecting not only the water but wildlife and air quality as well. Making your own cleaners or purchasing natural cleaners benefits both the earth and your health.

BENEFITS for the Environment:

Many of the cleaners that go down the drain are treated with the rest of our sewage. Most of the chemicals break down, but the ones that don't end up polluting water and harming wildlife. Phosphates found in cleaners require a more expensive treatment in order to be removed from water. If those phosphates reach a body of water, they can cause an overgrowth of algae, killing other plants and aquatic life. Another concern with cleaners is the use of petroleum-based ingredients, which when extracted and refined, release toxic chemicals such as benzene into the air.

There is also the issue of waste. On average, Americans accumulate 176,000 tons of waste every year from the use of household cleaning products. Many cleaners are sold in plastic bottles and many are made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, a material that has a particularly polluting manufacturing process. Manufacturing PVC releases a carcinogen (dioxin) into the air, and it is very difficult to recycle, resulting in a 1% recycling rate. If it’s not being recycled, it’s going directly into a landfill, where it could take more than 250 years to decompose. If you make your own cleaning products you can reuse your spray bottles and cleaner containers. It’s totally safe, and you don’t have to feel guilty about adding another bottle to our growing landfills.

BENEFITS for Your Health:

Butyl cellosolve is a known neurotoxin found in many commercial all-purpose cleaners. Inhaling it, coming in contact with it, or ingesting it can be toxic to forming cells, the liver, and the kidney. It can also cause tissue damage. This is one of the chemicals we know about, but there are potentially many others that we don't know about.

There are no laws in effect that require testing the chemicals used in cleaning products in order to determine the effects on our health and safety. Of the 17,000 or so chemicals found in household cleaning products, only 30% have been tested. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 150 of the common chemicals found in homes can be linked to allergies, cancer, birth defects, and mental disorders. Even if products are used as directed, users are still at risk because the effects of repeated exposure and the effects of inhaled chemicals mixing in the body have yet to be studied.

To make matters worse, the untested, toxic chemicals used in many products are not always described on packaging. Under the banner of trade secret protection, manufacturers are not required to list all of their ingredients.

Fragrances added to products are also protected under trade secrets. It was found that more than 30% of the chemicals used in fragrances are toxic and may cause respiratory problems, watery eyes, headaches, and sneezing. By making your own cleaners, you will have peace of mind because you will know exactly what is in them.

BENEFITS for Your Children's Health:

Household cleaners are the second leading cause of poisonings in children. Of the more than two million poisonings that occur each year, 50 percent of them involve children under the age of six. Eliminating toxic household cleaners from your home can help prevent their accidental ingestion by children.

Simply inhaling the fumes of cleaners can also be harmful to your children. In a study conducted by the EPA, levels of common organic pollutants were 2-5 times higher inside the home than outside, and the use of cleaning products was a contributing factor. Children do not have the same abilities as adults to detoxify and excrete chemicals from their bodies, so they are at a higher risk for chronic diseases that develop over longer periods of exposure. Contact with these chemicals has also been linked to an increase in the incidence of asthma and the occurrence of attention deficit disorder.

Many chemical heavy cleaners can also be very dangerous for household pets. Many cleaners contain harmful acids that are tough on dirt, but tough on a pet as well. If ingested, these acids can cause serious tissue damage. Ever seen a dog drink from a toilet bowl or lick something off the kitchen floor? Pine oils and dish washer detergents are particularly acidic and dangerous for pets. Better to be safe than sorry and stick with homemade and safe cleaning products.


Cost: Low

Making your own cleaning products can cost substantially less than store-bought, chemically laden cleaners. Most of the ingredients you need are probably already in your kitchen.

Time and Effort: Low

Depending on what type of surface you want to clean, you can use different recipes. Generally it only takes a couple minutes to mix up your cleaning brew, although this can vary from cleaner to cleaner.

Making your own cleaning Products:

It is generally a good idea to have these basic items on hand. Once you do, you’re set to clean pretty much anything in your house without chemical cleaners:

Baking Soda
Liquid Castile Soap (usually vegetable based)
Vinegar
Lemons
Olive Oil (for wood polishing)
Hydrogen Peroxide (bleach alternative)
Borax
Spray bottle


All-purpose cleaner Instructions:
Dissolve 1/8 cup borax completely in 1 quart of hot water. Mix in a bottle or in a bucket. (If making larger quantities of cleaner, use ratio ½ cup borax to 1 gallon of hot water)

Toilet Bowl cleaner Instructions:
Sprinkle baking soda in toilet bowl as needed. Add vinegar and scrub with a toilet brush. The foaming reaction will help break up stains and deodorize toilet bowl.

Tub and Tile cleaner Instructions:
Cut a lemon in half. Dip the lemon half in borax and use the lemon to scrub the tile. Rinse surface with warm water after scrubbed.

Drain de-clogger:
Instructions: Boil a pot of water. Add 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup baking soda to the water and pour down clogged drain. Rinse with tap water.

Making Your Own Carpet Cleaner

Option 1:

Materials: 1/2 teaspoon of pure castile soap 2 cups of water Spray bottle

Directions: Mix the soap and water in the spray bottle. Spot test the area you are cleaning to prevent discoloration. Use a sponge or brush to scrub the stain away.

Option 2:

Apply club soda to the stained area. Pat dry with a towel and repeat. Follow up by using a sponge and warm soapy water to clean the area.


If you opt to buy cleaners, don't be misled by the labeling. Phrases such as "eco-friendly" and "environmentally safe" are generally not regulated, so there is no guarantee they are safe or natural. Seventh Generation and Ecover are both reputable natural product companies offering cleaning products. You can find them at most major retailers including Whole Foods, Target, and Wal-Mart. Trader Joe’s also has its own, chemical-free multi-purpose cleaner for sale at all Trader Joe’s locations.

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