Your House is Clean, But is It Green?

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Article Title:

Your House is Clean, But is It Green?

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Article Description:

Cleaning a home or business is often a ritualistic

experience, and one meant to remove matter we deem as

dangerous, unhealthy or unpleasant to those living or

working there. Carpet cleaner, liquid floor cleaner,

furniture polish, dishwashing liquid, detergent, shampoo -

the types of products available to clean houses numbers in

the hundreds and often not a second thought is given as to

what kind of toxins they contain.

Additional Article Information:

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740 Words; formatted to 65 Characters per Line

Distribution Date and Time: 2009-10-27 11:12:00

Written By: Janet

Copyright: 2009

Contact Email: mailto:janet.davis@...

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Your House is Clean, But is It Green?

Copyright © 2009 Janet

Mark and Janet

http://www.MarkandJanet.com/

Cleaning a home or business is often a ritualistic experience,

and one meant to remove matter we deem as dangerous, unhealthy or

unpleasant to those living or working there.

It All Adds Up

Think about what you do and what products you use when you clean.

You spray glass cleaner to wash the windows and mirrors. You use

counter and tile cleaners in the bathroom and kitchen. You use

smelly cleaners for your oven and chemicals for your clogged

drains. Carpet cleaner, liquid floor cleaner, furniture polish,

dishwashing liquid, detergent, shampoo - the types of products

available to clean houses numbers in the hundreds and often not a

second thought is given as to what kind of toxins they contain.

Recent studies show, however, that using many household-cleaning

products could have harmful effects. Since the late 1940s, there

has been a dramatic increase in the production and use of

synthetic chemicals in the U.S. Coincidentally; there has been a

rise in the number of cases of environmentally linked chronic

illnesses, such as asthma, allergies and chemical sensitivity.

A recent report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

shows that indoor air may be anywhere from 3 to 70 times more

polluted than outdoor air. Another EPA study concluded the toxic

chemicals found in many household cleaners are three times more

likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.

But It Smells Good...

Often times, Americans equate clean with smelling good. Dish and

laundry detergents, which are largely petroleum based and thus

made from a non-renewable resource, often have chemicals added to

them to make them fragrant, which can trigger asthma.

Coincidentally, cases of asthma have risen 600 percent since

1980.

Many household cleaners contain phenols, which are listed by the

EPA as being toxic and corrosive. Costs in the United States and

Canada for treatment of environmentally induced health conditions

are estimated at between $560 billion and almost $800 billion

annually. And children are particularly vulnerable because their

low body weight means they absorb a larger percentage of

chemicals, thus putting them at greater risk.

There's also the threat of poisoning, especially among young

children, from common household cleaners. According to the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, 1,900 people each day in

2006 went to an emergency room due to poisoning.

These chemicals can also find their way into nearby water

supplies, polluting them and putting others at risk. Though they

are known to be harmful, current guidelines only suggest exposure

limits and not banning them from use.

There is a way to clean homes or businesses and keep people and

the environment safe.

Go Green And Stay Clean

Green cleaning is a term used to describe products and processes

that get things clean while also protecting the environment and

the health of those living in it. Because they do not use the

toxic chemicals found in other cleaning products, there is less

worry about harmful side effects. Going green is a natural way to

keep living and working environments clean, without harmful side

effects.

In the home, green cleaning can mean a safer environment for

family members, especially children. In a business setting, green

benefits include increased productivity, better morale and less

liability from worker related health issues. Green cleaning can

be ideal for nursing homes and hospitals because it reduces

indoor pollution, and is becoming prevalent in many public places

in this country and Europe that cater daily to a wide variety of

people with different health conditions.

It's Getting Easier

Going green and clean is becoming easier. Look for detergents

with " fragrance free " on the label. Plant-based detergents,

made from corn, palm kernel or coconut oil, are also available.

This is better for the environment than petroleum-based cleaners

because the plant-based product breaks down more easily and is

made from a renewable resource. Furniture and metal polishes are

also produced using mineral or plant oils, rather than dangerous

solvents.

To clean drains the green way, first use a plumber's snake to

clear any obstructions, thus reducing the amount of cleaner

needed. To eliminate the rest of the built up material, use green

cleaners that contain enzymes to break down substances instead of

chemically based ones.

Using green cleaning methods and products can maintain the health

of loved ones, save money and protect the environment. It has not

only become a viable option, but a duty to seek the safest way to

keep spaces clean and healthy.

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Janet and her husband are health and nutrition

entrepreneurs and founders of Mark And Janet, a website

with uncompromising, premium products for your health

conscious family. For more on going green -- Visit us at:

http://www.MarkandJanet.com/ or check out our blog at

http://www.MarkandJanetBlog.com/