Spring Clean the Greener Way
By Irene Wilson
The days are longer and the sun is streaming in through those hazy windows, illuminating the dust bunnies and residues of living. The first weekend of opening the cottage can produce some major cleaning challenges: the mouse droppings, fly and insect carcasses, spider webs and sticky fingerprints that have fossilized onto walls and switch plates. Most of us really don’t look forward to cleaning and scrubbing to bring the place back to the living. It’s tempting to reach for those products that promise “no scrubbing” and miraculous levels of germ free results with minimal effort.
While we all welcome that breath of fresh spring air, we often contaminate our indoor air with a cocktail of chemicals. There are deodorizers, sanitizers, air fresheners, and antibacterial agents, to name a few of the products that we add to the indoor air that we breathe. These products may contain dangerous chemicals, some of which are carcinogens, toxins and respiratory irritants.
Let’s start with aerosol “air fresheners” that release chemicals as tiny particles, which can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and transferred into the bloodstream. They work by using a nerve-deadening chemical that interferes with our sense of smell or by coating nasal passages with an oily film or by masking the offending odour with a different odour. The plug-in variety breaks chemicals into even smaller particles. Anything that we spray into the air can be inhaled, similar to the concept of second hand smoke. Young children, older adults and those with respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema can be seriously affected by such products.
Any cleaning products that we spray on surfaces such as windows or furniture are dispersed into the air and become part of the air that we breathe. Combining ammonia (contained in window cleaners) and bleach (contained in many bathroom cleaners) creates chloramine gas, a toxic substance that can cause eye, nose, throat and respiratory irritation. Combining bleach with toilet bowl cleaners or vinegar (which contains acid) creates chlorine gas -- that was used in World War 1 as a deadly weapon! Its effects can be long lasting and damaging to the lungs and respiratory system.
Scientists worry that we don’t understand the long-term effects of exposure to the cocktail of chemicals that are found in household air and dust. Furthermore, we often assume that household cleaning and air freshening products have been tested and are safe. Household cleaners are covered under the Hazardous Products Act, which dates back to the 1960’s, and are regulated by the consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations. This requires labels to have hazard symbols that we are familiar with
Corrosive Reactive Flammable Poison
Manufacturers are required to provide information about first aid treatments for “hazardous” ingredients.
There is no requirement to list other chemicals that could produce health risks or to provide warnings such as “may cause respiratory problems”. Products with these hazard labels should be used with care. Assume that they have the potential to cause serious health side effects with normal or prolonged use. Respiratory illness is now the leading cause of admission to hospital for children. The incidence of childhood asthma has jumped 400%, and according to Health Canada, more than half of all hospital visits for children under 5 years old are due to poisoning and other injuries from common household products.
Our skin is another avenue for our bodies to absorb toxins from our environment. Patches like the “Nicotine Patch” or “Nitro-glycerine Patch” are frequently used as a reliable method to deliver consistent medication into our bloodstream. Remember to use a pair of protective gloves before using any cleaning products. Think of young children walking barefoot or sitting on floors and carpets that have been cleaned with chemicals. They are absorbing some of those residues through their skin. Many young children also put everything into their mouths. A commonly marketed product, Lysol Antibacterial Action Spray, lists 79% ethanol (denatured ethanol), which, according to Material Safety Data Sheets, “May cause irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes, may cause central nervous system depression if inhaled or ingested”. Do you want your child or grandchild to put toys or objects in their mouth that have been sprayed with these chemicals?
Scientists are also concerned that products containing antibacterial agents kill beneficial bacteria and contribute to the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Use household products with care. Store them in their original containers and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and precautions. Do not mix different cleaners together. Ventilate your rooms after using sprays and cleaners. If you can still smell them, then you are breathing them into your lungs. Use bleach sparingly, as it is toxic as a skin irritant and by inhalation. It may be a neurotoxin and cause liver damage. It also disrupts bacterial action in your septic tank. Some of the immediate side effects of household chemicals can be dizziness, headaches, burning, itchy eyes and shortness of breath. Skin problems such as eczema and contact dermatitis can result from exposure while using the products or from residues on surfaces or fabrics.
The manufacturers have jumped on the “Green” band-wagon by changing their product designs and marketing. Kathy Cooper, a senior researcher with the Canadian Environmental Law Association, says, ”There’s a lot we don’t know about the chemicals in our cleaners. Companies are not required to tell us.” Companies are hesitant to publish ingredients and risk giving away trade secrets. Their formulas are protected by legal patents both in Canada and in the United States. Labels such as “Biodegradable” can be misleading. DDT for instance biodegrades into DDD and DDE, both probable human carcinogens.
As an alternative to commercial cleaning products you might head to your local dollar store and buy a few of the new microfibre cloths and several spray bottles in which to mix your own safe concoctions. The cloths do a great job of cleaning with nothing more than water.
Alternative All Purpose Cleaners:
1. Arm & Hammer Washing Soda: Sprinkle on a damp sponge for cleaning bathtubs and sinks. Dissolve in water (according to package directions) for cleaning floors, walls, etc. Use as a laundry additive to whiten clothes.
2. 20 Mule Team Borax: Caution: Do not inhale powder.
3. Baking Soda: Sprinkle on a damp sponge to remove stains from countertops, walls, etc. Removes coffee/tea stains from mugs. Sprinkle on a damp toothbrush to get into crevices. Also deodorizes as it cleans.
4. Vinegar: Add half a cup to 8 cups of water in a bucket with a small squirt of liquid dish soap. I find that it deodorizes as it cleans. I find vinegar and water and a well wrung out microfibre cloth do a great job of cleaning stainless steel appliances. (How dare they call them “stainless”?)
Just keep all your wiping actions horizontal to lessen the appearance of streaks.
5. There are alternative cleaning products available, made by Nature Clean, Down East and Shaklee.
6. Multipurpose Cleaner: 1 tsp borax, 1 tsp washing soda, 2 tbsps vinegar, 1 tsp liquid castile soap, 2 cups very hot water. Add first four ingredients to a spray bottle, then slowly add the hot water and shake until the dry ingredients are dissolved.
7. Vinegar Cleaner: 1 cup white vinegar, 1 cup water, mix in a spray bottle or wipe on and wipe off.
Alternatives to Bleach:
1. There are many brands of oxygen bleach on the market. They do a good job and can be used for general cleaning or as laundry additives.
2. Sunshine will whiten cotton and linen and is a great deodorizer.
Disinfectants:
1. Disinfecting/deodorizing cleaner: 1 cup of borax to 4 litres of warm water.
2. Disinfectant: 2 tsp borax, 4 tbsp vinegar and 3 cups hot water. Wipe on or use spray bottle.
3. Tea Tree Disinfectant: 20 drops tea tree oil, 20 drops emulsifier, 1 cup water or vinegar. Put emulsifier in bottle, add oil and blend. Add vinegar or water. Shake well.
4. Cinnamon Disinfectant: 12 drops cinnamon oil, 12 drops emulsifier, 1 cup water or vinegar. Put emulsifier in container, add oil and blend, and add water or vinegar. Shake well before using.
A very helpful website is www.lesstoxicguide.ca. Select Household Cleaners from the left hand column.