The US Epa warns that toxicity levels inside your home can be a few to more than 100 times more than outside. I bet you didn't know the primary cause is from most standard cleaning products. Lysol Antibacterial Spray, which contains denatured ethanol and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, are known pesticides that can depress the nervous system.
Glycol ethers are also found in most standard glass cleaners and are known to have negative effects on the reproductive system if exposed to at high levels. The silicones,, and propane contained in household Pledge products are also known VOCs.
Did you also know that most air fresheners contain Formaldehyde and phenol, which are known by the US National Toxicology Program as being highly toxic carcinogens that cause circulatory collapse, convulsions, cold sweats, coma and can lead to death. Are these the things we want to expose our children, pets and ourselves to?
Cleaning doesn't have to be dangerous
Remnants of cleaning products are everywhere in our homes and offices: on dishes, countertops, furniture, clothes, floors, and floating through the air. In our war on dirt and germs we may often actually be making things worse. I bet you didn't know that spray cleaners can remain in the air in your home for around 12 hours! This can contribute to respiratory infections, antagonize allergies and irritate your sinuses.
Most of the standard cleaning products that have been used since the 50's are petroleum-based and are quite toxic both to us and the environment. Instead of opting for cleaning products that destroy everything in their path, there are plenty of natural products and methods to keep a house clean and fresh-smelling without the toxic side effects.
As the health and environmental impacts of conventional cleaning products become more thoroughly understood, more and more brands of healthy, green and effective cleaning products have started hitting the market. Many of these products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum).
Change to a non-toxic alternative
There are many choices of non-toxic, "green" and biodegradable cleaning products available today. It's now possible that we can replace every single poisonous product under our kitchen and bathroom sinks with a green alternative. Beware, however, of products that can be misleading as to just how "green" or non-toxic they might be.
Two things Little Piggies Green Cleaning uses in our Move out cleanings for our Los Angeles customers are pumice stones and razor blades. You can get glass stove-tops cleaner quicker and with little more than soap and water by using a razor blade. They can be used on windows and other hard surfaces without the risk of scratching so long as a new blade is used each time you clean. BE CAREFUL when handling razor blades and use an appropriate blade receptacle to avoid cutting yourself. Pumice stones provide a non-toxic way to remove even the heaviest of stains from porcelain toilets.
Vinegar makes a great window cleaner and can also be used to clean your front loading washing machine. Put two or three cups of vinegar with a load of towels or floor mats and it will keep mold and mildew from forming inside the machine. (you can wash your whites with it if you want but they will have a bit of a vinegar smell).
Change to a non-toxic alternative
There are many choices of non-toxic, "green" and biodegradable cleaning products available today. It's now possible that we can replace every single poisonous product under our kitchen and bathroom sinks with a green alternative. Beware, however, of products that can be misleading as to just how "green" or non-toxic they might be.
Two things Little Piggies Green Cleaning uses in our Move out cleanings for our Los Angeles customers are pumice stones and razor blades. You can get glass stove-tops cleaner quicker and with little more than soap and water by using a razor blade. They can be used on windows and other hard surfaces without the risk of scratching so long as a new blade is used each time you clean. BE CAREFUL when handling razor blades and use an appropriate blade receptacle to avoid cutting yourself. Pumice stones provide a non-toxic way to remove even the heaviest of stains from porcelain toilets.
Vinegar makes a great window cleaner and can also be used to clean your front loading washing machine. Put two or three cups of vinegar with a load of towels or floor mats and it will keep mold and mildew from forming inside the machine. (you can wash your whites with it if you want but they will have a bit of a vinegar smell).
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