Buy environmentally-preferable cleaning products now
(or make your own)

Finding environmentally preferable cleaning products is not as straightforward as one might hope. There are no widely recognized environmental standards in place for household cleaners, and the word “green” on the label is not enough to ensure the product is really safer. Cleaning product manufacturers are not required to list ingredients, so it’s not even clear always what’s lurking behind that picture of a sparkling toilet bowl or immaculate countertop on the label.

To get you started, we’ve compiled some Green Home Cleaning Tips. One tip is to read the label so you know exactly what you’re getting. A number of companies do tell you exactly what’s in the bottle and offer products with less toxic alternatives to common cleanser ingredients such as ammonia and chlorine bleach. A few of the more popular brands are listed below. Find them at your local health food store, or (occasionally) at larger retail establishments. If you can’t find it locally, some offer online sales.

Companies that emphasize non-toxic ingredients and full disclosure:              

·                                 Earth Friendly Products

·                                 Ecover

·                                 Mountain Green

·                                 Naturally Yours

·                                 Planet

·                                 Shaklee

·                                 Seaside Naturals

·                                 Seventh Generation

·                                 Simple Green

·                                 Citra-Solv (use their "find our products" link to locate stores near you)

·                                 Green Living Now, an online shop, also offers kitchen and bathroom cleaning kits.

Why it’s important

Many common cleaners contain unnecessary environmental toxins and chemicals associated with cancer, reproductive disorders, respiratory ailments, eye or skin irritation, and other serious human health issues. Indoor air pollution, some of which is linked to cleaning product exposure, is ranked among the nation's top five environmental risks. Green Seal, a nonprofit environmental standards organization, estimates that cleaning products contribute approximately eight percent of total non-vehicular emissions of volatile organic compounds, which can cause eye, nose, and lung irritation, as well as rashes, headaches, nausea, asthma, and, in some cases, cancer.

Make it yourself!

You may already have everything you need for an effective, environmentally-preferable cleaning product!. Often, easy to make home versions work well and save you money without exposing you and the environment to toxins. A great resource with recipes for dozens of homemade cleaners can be found on the Care2 website.

Consumer Reports also has a comprehensive checklist of homemade green cleaners and suggested uses.

Learn more:

·                                 How to clean your house without hurting the planet - from Green Guide

·                                 Green Seal’s Choose Green Report on what to look for in a green cleaner

·                                 HEALTHeHOUSE - protect children from harmful household chemicals

·                                 Housecleaning Made Cleaner - A Greentip from the Union of Concerned Scientists

·                                 A Shopper's Guide to Home Tissue Products

Learn more about the Conscious Consumer Marketplace.