Household Cleaning Supplies

It's not always possible to open your windows and let in the fresh air. We all know that fresh air is good not only for your state of mind but also for your health. The EPA has found that concentrations of pollutants inside homes can be two to five times higher than outside. A major source of indoor air pollutants is conventional cleaning products, because they're loaded with fragrances and petroleum-distilled chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that vaporize into the air.
"There's definitely a cause-and-effect from using petroleum-based cleaning products, especially in poorly ventilated areas. As the chemicals build up in the air space you're working in, the toxicity also builds up," says Mike Vogel, head of the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes program.
A Spanish study of over 4,000 women published in November 2003 found that 25 percent of asthma cases in the group were attributable to domestic cleaning work. In the U.S., a 2002 Inform report detailed the negative impacts of cleaning products on janitors' health. Reducing the use of volatile and odorous products, Inform concluded, could improve indoor air and protect health.
Happily, safer alternatives can be bought or mixed from such common household staples as white vinegar and baking soda.

Laundry detergents and fabric softeners are some of the most heavily scented cleaners. Chemicals known as phthalates, which have harmed hormonal systems and reproductive organs in animal tests, are common in fragrance formulas because they make the scent last longer. But fragrance residues on clothes can cause skin irritation and provoke allergies, according to Harvey Karp, M.D., a Los Angeles pediatrician.
A great alternative fabric softener is a half-cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle. Since vinegar breaks down uric acid, it keeps cloth diapers smelling fresh; it also eliminates static cling. I've found that adding vinegar to my wash also cuts down on lint buildup in the dryer.
Avoid chlorine bleach (also called sodium hypochlorite), it has caustic fumes and is toxic if swallowed. In warmer weather, the sun does a great job bleaching your whites. Sunlight is a natural disinfectant too. To boost your detergent's cleaning power and remove odors, add a half-cup of baking soda or washing soda, two related minerals, along with the detergent. For stubborn stains, try a pre-wash soak in water mixed with either borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar. Or mix washing soda and water into a paste—wear gloves, as washing soda can irritate skin. Or buy non-chlorine bleaches that contain sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate.
For store-bought laundy products: Look on labels for plant-based cleaning agents or castile soaps instead of petroleum-based surfactants, which deplete natural resources and may contain harmful impurities. The catch-all term "fragrance" may hide ingredients such as phthalates. Look for plant essential oil scents or products that are truly fragrance-free, and don't believe the antibacterial hype! (That's a whole other blog itself!) In March 2004, researchers at Columbia University reported that a study of 238 Manhattan households found virtually no difference in the rate of infectious disease symptoms (runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, etc.) in homes using antibacterial products—including laundry detergent—and those that did not.

Best bets: Seventh Generation(http://www.seventhgeneration.com/); Ecover (http://www.ecover.com/); Sun & Earth(http://www.sunandearth.com/); Bi-O-Kleen(http://www.bi-o-kleen.com/).

I have used both Ecover and Seventh Generation laundry products. Both are excellent. I put some of the detergent directly on a few stains and they came out beautifully. Here are some interesting environmental facts from the Seventh Generation laundry detergent bottle: "If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 50 oz. 2X ultra petroleum based liquid laundry detergent with our 50 oz. 2X ultra vegetable based product, we could save 233,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 13,400 U.S. homes for a year!"

A great natural floor cleaner is one cup white distilled vinegar per gallon of hot water. It removes sticky residue and killes odors, with no rinsing needed. Or use 1/2 cup borax (like vinegar, a natural disinfectant) and 2 gallons of water. You can add 1/4 cup of any liquid soap for extra cleaning power, but soap should be rinsed.
For store-bought products:
AFM Super Clean concentrated all-purpose cleaner/degreaser (http://www.afmsafecoat.com/);
Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds hard-surface, all-purpose cleaner (http://www.drbronner.com/);
Ecover Natural All-Purpose cleaner (http://www.ecover.com/);
Murphy Oil Soap (http://www.murphyoilsoap.com/).

Happy Cleaning!

ps...just found this interesting site. I may have to give this a try. I'll let you know how I like it.
http://www.betterlifegoods.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BLG%2DCAT21480

Here's more info on vinegar:
Vinegar is the most amazing all-natural cleaner that we can use. Great for those who are worried about the environment, it may smell bad, but is very powerful. Otherwise known as acetic acid, most vinegar is really fruit wine that has turned bitter. When used diluted or straight, it creates a very acidic condition that kills bacteria. It also can take the finish off of metal, so use with supervision. A test patch (a small hidden area that you can use vinegar upon to see if it discolors or eats away the decorative finish) is recommended. A straight 100% solution can be used to clean plastic dishes. Pour a bit of vinegar on a rag and wipe out the dishes. Rinse well.
Use a 50%-75% vinegar/hotwater solution to remove hard water stains (lime) from ceramic and glass bowls also. Fill bowl with solution and let soak for an hour or two. Chip off lime with a toothpick or scrub with a sponge. Rinse before using.
You can also soak your used sponges in 100% vinegar for several hours to keep them from smelling sour.