Eco Friendly Cleaners - Safe for Your Home and the Environment

Not sure what eco friendly cleaners actually are? You've come to the right page!

Also known as non toxic, organic, or natural cleaners, they are good for more than just the environment. It's obvious how important environmental issues have become in recent decades. And an added benefit is that this attention has also turned out to be good for our families.

And they're a must-have for families with children fighting asthma.

If you're still stuck, here are some ideas from the EPA for what to stay away from:

• Ammonia (irritates the skin, eyes, and respiratory passages)

• Chlorine bleach (irritates lungs/eyes)

• Formaldehyde (irritates eyes, throat, skin, lungs)

• Hydrochloric Acid

• Petroleum distillates (irritates eyes and can cause long term damage)

• Phenol and cresol

• Nitrobenzene (associated with cancer and birth defects)

These chemicals can be found in common cleaners like disinfectants, glass cleaners, carpet cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, spray starch, polishes, etc.

I'm not the only one who thinks we should all be looking for safe alternatives to use in our homes and work places. The EPA has a page about Environmentally Preferable Purchasing on its website. The list I found most helpful is 'Environmental Attributes to Look For', which includes finding products that, among other aspects, have:

• reduced or no added dyes

• reduced or no added fragrances

• reduced or no skin irritants

• reduced or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

• reduced packaging

• reduced flammability

That's not a complete list, but you can check it out for yourself at the link above.

I'm glad to know, for the sake of my kids, that what we've chosen to use in our home is safe.

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