| Did you know that there is a difference between | | | | scents and a known carcinogen. Fragrance is frequent |
| Green Cleaning Products and Natural Cleaning | | | | cause of allergens in products. |
| Supplies? | | | | 1,4-dioxane - found in dish washing and other |
| In fact, the differences can make a big impact on | | | | household cleaners. Has been found to be a cancer |
| chemically sensitive people and even to people who | | | | causing ingredient. |
| have slight sensitivities to chemicals. Why is this? Well | | | | Formaldehyde - found in a variety of cleaners. It is a |
| it is actually because of what exactly green products | | | | known carcinogen |
| are and why they are considered "green." Because | | | | Many "green" cleaning products actually contain some |
| green living is really taking on a lot of momentum | | | | of the ingredients above. Many products are labeled |
| these days, many companies are doing their best to | | | | as being green, just because they are safer |
| capitalize off of these consumers looking for a | | | | compared to the other traditional products in that |
| healthier, safer alternative to the products they are | | | | category. Some people even discredit Green Seal for |
| currently using. There are certification programs for | | | | their licensing practices, saying that they aren't |
| green cleaners, but they are private companies so | | | | stringent enough with their licensing requirements. |
| there really are not standardized regulations to call | | | | They have their own licensing guidelines and of |
| your product "green." | | | | course, many of us would prefer those guidelines to |
| There are some ingredients that you can look out | | | | be stricter. You must keep in mind that there is a |
| for, however: | | | | wide spectrum of "green." One other widely |
| Ammonia - found in glass cleaners, floor or bathroom | | | | respected licensing organization that is picking up a lot |
| cleaners. Poisonous when swallowed and a big irritant | | | | of momentum is the EPA's own program called |
| to the skin or when inhaled. | | | | Design for the Environment (DfE). These companies |
| Diethylene Glycol - found in glass and bathroom | | | | are recognized as taking alternative manufacturing |
| cleaners. Poisonous when swallowed and irritating to | | | | routes to create effective products while being safe |
| the lungs. | | | | for us and the environment. |
| Chlorine Bleach - found in a variety of cleaners or by | | | | So how do all natural products differ from green |
| itself. Very irritating to eyes and skin and is an | | | | products? Well, they are all natural!!! Natural cleaning |
| environmental hazard. | | | | products are produced from all naturally occurring, |
| Triclosan - found in antibacterial cleaners and thought | | | | easily replenished, ingredients. These products are |
| to be contributing to antibiotic resistant bacteria. | | | | completely biodegradable and 100% non-toxic. You |
| DEA and TEA - found in many products and used as | | | | can be completely sure that you are taking the safe |
| preservatives. When combined with nitrosomes can | | | | route with a natural cleaning product. Why even risk |
| produce carcinogens. | | | | it with a "green" product when you basically have to |
| Petroleum based ingredients - all kinds of cleaners. | | | | be a chemist to understand how green the product |
| These are products that are no friend to the | | | | really is. |
| environment. | | | | So make the change. Start using all natural cleaning |
| Fragrance - air freshener and almost all cleaners. | | | | supplies today! |
| usually contains phthalates used to stabilize synthetic | | | | |