How Do You Buy Green Household Cleaners?
Synthetic and solvent-laden, today’s cleaners, brighteners and bleaches fight dirt with less effort than ever before. But many of these products get their strength from chemicals that pollute your household air and water runoff and threaten your health during normal use. You can be clean and green, though, if you’re alert to product contents. Read labels and packaging to determine each product’s ingredients. Environmentally friendly cleaners contain nontoxic, biodegradable ingredients and non-petroleum based surfactants. They don’t create fumes or leave residues and are never tested on animals. Don’t be fooled by the terms natural or nontoxic. These are not regulated and can be used as the manufacturer wishes. Keep household products in their original containers so that safety information and directions for use always remain with the product. Choose cleaners that do not contain toxic ingredients. Formaldehyde and ammonia irritate the skin, eyes and lungs. Benzene is classified as a car
