Greener and Healthier Cleaners

Watch SustainLane editor, Jordana Gustafson, discuss Linda A.'s cleaning recipes on San Francisco's View from the Bay:

Recently, I had the opportunity to be on a television spot produced by our local station, WLFI. The name of the segment is, "Living Green with Channel 18." I talked (or began to talk) about green cleaners and making one’s own household cleaners. The bad thing about it was that I had only 3 minutes to talk. The good thing is that I will be going back again. Another good thing about doing it is that it prodded me to improve my own stash of household cleaners.

What is the problem with most cleaning products?
Many household cleaners are potentially hazardous.

In 2005 the American Association of Poison Controls Centers reported 218,000 calls involving cleaning products.

Many of the ingredients that are in them are known to cause an array of health issues. When you read the product labels you frequently see these 4 words: Danger, poison, warning, caution. Some of the ingredients are fatal if ingested, some caustic, some cause respiratory irritation, some are poisonous, some are carcinogenic, and many other problems. The FDA does not require household cleaners to list the ingredients but they DO require the following: 1. storage instructions, 2. first aid instructions, 3. precautions. This reminds me of the problems with many of the ingredients in cosmetics. In fact, a lot of the problem ingredients are the same.

Some examples of ingredients include:
Ammonia
Ammonium hydroxide
Bleach
Chlorine
Ethyl glycol (antifreeze)
Formaldehyde
Hydrochloric acid
Lye
Phenol
Sodium laurel sulfate
Phthalate

Cleaning products can also degrade the environment. After being rinsed down the drain and sent through the wastewater treatment, some of the ingredients are discharged into our rivers and streams. There, they can damage fish, frogs, turtles, insect larvae, and other aquatic life.

If this was not enough, cleaning products - and there are tons of them out there- account for 28% of plastic debris sent to the landfill. Marketing tactics have convinced us that we need a specialized product for every surface. Manufacturers tell us we need a soap scum cleaner, a mold and mildew cleaner, a glass cleaner, an oven cleaner, a computer screen cleaner and so on. The average American family has 8 cleaning products under the kitchen sink.

What are some ways that we can be healthier and greener when cleaning?

MAKE YOUR OWN CLEANERS? It’s cheaper, and it’s healthier for you and the environment.

All purpose cleaner - It could easily replace at least 3 of your specialty cleaners.
Add 4 T baking soda to 1 quart warm water in a bucket. You can also try just baking soda on a damp sponge. It is slightly gritty and works well on a stove top.
OR buy a concentrated natural cleaner like Basic H2 or Dr. Bronner’s. A 1/2 gallon of Basic H2 last forever since you only use 2 t. Basic H or other concentrated cleaner with 1 gallon cold water. Pour into a spray bottle that you have saved from a another used up product.

Glass Cleaner - Mix 1 T white vinegar or lemon juice and 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray on a cloth or wad of newspaper to use. Drying the glass with a wad of newspaper really works well.

Rug deodorizer - Sprinkle baking soda directly on rug, wait 15 minutes and vacuum.

Pet urine stain remover - Mix a solution of 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar. Soak into stain area, work into stain with a brush. Let dry. I had a puppy urine stain that was at least 2 years old and none of the commercial specialty products worked. The water and vinegar mixture worked like magic.

Fabric softener - Add 1/4 cup of baking soda or white vinegar to wash cycle. I never use fabric softener but I have been using baking soda lately. As soon as the weather permits, I will be hanging my clothes outside again. I actually like them stiff and fresh from drying outside.

Drain cleaner - First clean manually if possible. For example, remove all hair or particles. It’s gross but you put it there in the first place. Add 1/2 C. of baking soda followed by 1/2 C. of vinegar; cover and wait a few minutes. Did you ever make a toy rocket propelled by vinegar and baking soda? There is definitely some pressure there. Follow with some boiling water.

Toilet bowl cleaner - Scrub with a paste of borax and lemon juice. Let sit as long as possible (2 hours). This removes stains and makes your toilet bowl fresh.

All of these 7 recipes use only borax, baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice. Simplify your cleaning supplies to these products. It’s safer and better for your health and the health of the environment. Want to know more? Check out the Big Green Purse website or buy the book. It’s chock full of info. I will write about more ways to make your own soon. If you have any ideas, send in a comment.