Sustainable Cleaning Supplies and Eco-Friendly Alternatives
Isabella Cannon
| 3 min read
Did you know that many cleaning supplies can not only be bad for the environment, but also for your health?
Health risks of cleaning supplies
While cleaning is a necessary part of our everyday lives, many cleaning supplies can irritate the eyes or throat, cause headaches or other health problems. Some products release dangerous chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals that vaporize at room temperature.
According to the American Lung Association, VOCs and other chemicals released when using cleaning supplies contribute to chronic respiratory problems. Cleaning supplies and household products containing VOCs and other toxic substances can include, but are not limited to:
- Aerosol spray products
- Air fresheners
- Chlorine bleach
- Detergent and dishwashing liquid
- Dry cleaning chemicals
- Rug and upholstery cleaners
- Furniture and floor polish
- Oven cleaners
Never mix bleach or any bleach-containing product with any cleaner containing ammonia. The gases created from this combination can lead to chronic breathing problems and even death.
What is a “green” cleaning product?
Green cleaning products prioritize both human and environmental health.
When it comes to cleaning products, understanding what makes a product “green” can be difficult because many companies brand their products as “green” without ensuring ingredients meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice guidelines. Safer Choice-certified products ensure every ingredient is the safest in its class. Studies have shown Safer Choice products are a better alternative to traditional cleaning products.
Make sure to read all labels on cleaning supplies and household products before you buy them. For your safety, choose products that do not contain or have reduced amounts of VOCs, fragrances, irritants and flammable ingredients.
Saving the earth one cleaning product at a time
In addition to potentially reducing health risks, cleaning products made with safer ingredients can help minimize your carbon footprint and prevent harmful chemicals from winding up in our ecosystems.
Paper product swaps
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), paper and cardboard waste, with paper towels being a leading contributor, make up the largest percentage of waste materials in the United States.
Paper towels don’t deteriorate like other paper products because they are often made with harsh chemicals and bleaching agents. Not only does this cause paper towel waste to pile up in landfills, these chemicals can also soak into soil and water systems and cause further contamination. Try these paper towel alternatives:
- Microfiber clothes
- Cotton napkins
- Polyester and viscose cleaning cloths
Even if you aren’t quite ready to become a paper-towel-less household, there are more eco-friendly paper towels, including those made from 100% recycled materials. According to the EPA, the production of recycled paper towels requires about 40% less energy to produce, potentially cutting greenhouse gas emissions by almost half.
Powder detergent vs liquid detergent
Powder laundry detergent generally outperforms liquid detergent in key sustainability metrics like packaging waste, transportation emissions, and water consumption.
Many powder laundry detergents contain ingredients that are biodegradable, meaning they can break down naturally without harming the environment once they enter wastewater systems. By choosing powder detergent with biodegradable components, you’re opting for a product that is designed to have minimal ecological impact after use.
What's old is new: less toxic household cleaning
With just a few basic ingredients, you can create household cleaners that are safe to breathe, nontoxic, and eco-friendly.
As a safer cleaning alternative, warm water and soap often will do the trick, especially at home. Other classic cleaning methods such as baking soda for scrubbing or a mix of vinegar and water to clean glass work great and are safe for everyday use. The American Lung association provides Safer Cleaning Recipes as a resource to learn how to create your own safer cleaning products.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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