| Commercial Product |
Health Hazards of Commercial Products |
Green solution |
| Aerosol Products |
| — |
Aerosolized chemicals are absorbed through lungs and quickly pass into bloodstream |
| — |
Damage brain, lungs, kidneys, heart, nervous system |
|
Home-made Solution:
— Use hand-pump sprays
— Apply by hand |
| Air Freshener |
| — |
Most contain carcinogenic ingredients, which can be stored in body fat |
| — |
May cause birth defects, liver, kidney and brain damage |
|
Green Products:
— Air Scents (Shadow Lake)
— Ecos Air Freshener
— Pure Ayre Odor Eliminator
— Simple Pure Clean Essential Oil Air Fresheners
Home-made Solution:
| — |
Make your own with distilled water and essential oils and put in a spritzer bottle! |
| — |
PLANTS are the most effective air-fresheners. |
| — |
Potpourri |
| — |
Zeolites (in bags) |
|
| All-Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser |
| — |
Damaging to eyes, skin and lungs |
| — |
May contain ingredients that are linked to cancer, reproductive disorders |
| — |
Toxic to nervous system |
|
Green Products:
| — |
7th Generation Multi-Purpose/Heavy-Duty Cleaner & Degreaser |
| — |
Bi-O-Kleen All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser |
| — |
Citri-Glow All Purpose Cleaner |
| — |
Citrisolve |
| — |
Ecover Citrus Cleaner & Degreaser |
| — |
Mrs. Meyer’s All-Purpose Cleaner |
|
| Antibacterial Cleaner |
| — |
Some may be immunotoxicants- associated with liver damage |
| — |
Low-dose of antibiotics pose long-term danger- weaken immune system and breed “super-germs” |
|
Essential Oils with Anti-bacterial Properties:
— Tea Tree Oil
— Eucalyptus Oil
— Lavender Oil
— Lemon and Orange Oil
— Oregano Oil
— Thyme Oil |
| Automatic Dishwasher Detergent |
| — |
Corrosive- damages skin, eyes and lungs |
| — |
Chlorine (in dry form) releases toxic fumes with hot water |
| — |
Does not break down in ecosystem |
|
Green Products:
— 7th Generation
— Citrisolve
— Ecover |
| Bleach |
| — |
Corrosive and damaging to eyes, skin and lungs. |
| — |
Dioxins do not break down |
| — |
Contaminate water and devastate ecosystem and wildlife |
|
Green Products (for laundry):
— Bi-O-Kleen Oxygen Bleach
— Ecover Oxygen Bleach (liquid and powder)
— Oxiclean (OrangeGlo)
— Oxyboost (Natural Choices)
Home-made Solution:
— Hydrogen Peroxide |
| Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner |
| — |
Carcinogenic |
| — |
Causes liver, kidney, and nervous-system damage |
| — |
Corrosive extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages |
|
Green Products:
— Bac-Out Stain and Odor Remover (Earth Friendly)
— Carpet-Free Cleaner (Natural Choices)
— Earth Friendly Rug Shampoo
— Mrs. Meyer’s Carpet Cleaner
— Oxy-boost
Home-made Solution:
— Steam Cleaning |
| Dishwasher Detergent (Automatic Dishwashers) |
| — |
Corrosive to skin, eyes and lungs. -Residue hazardous to ingest |
| — |
Chlorine ingredients in powders- very harmful to inhale, causing respiratory damage |
| — |
Mixed with hot water, releases toxic fumes |
| — |
Do not break down in the environment |
|
Green Products:
— 7th Generation
— Citrisolve
— Ecover
— Mrs. Murphy’s Automatic Dishwashing Liquid
— Wave (Earth Friendly) |
| Dishwashing Hand Liquid |
| — |
Repeated an/or prolonged exposure irritating to skin. |
| — |
May cause reproductive problems and kidney and liver damage |
| — |
Some contain formaldehyde- carcinogenic and causes birth defects |
| — |
Fragrance and color additives harmful to health -Some contain ingredients that are incompatible with bleach products— will release toxic gas when mixed |
| — |
Do not break down in the environment |
|
Green Products:
— 7th Generation
— Bi-O-Kleen (Earth Friendly)
— Dishmate (Earth Friendly)
— Earth Rite Dishwashing Liquid
— Ecover
— Mrs. Meyer’s |
Disinfectants
Drain Cleaner |
| — |
Highly caustic and corrosive- burns skin, eyes and lungs |
| — |
Some depress the nervous system |
| — |
Inhibit reflexes and damage kidneys and liver |
|
Prevention!
— Drain baskets and screens.
— Metal snake or Plunger
Green Products (Enzyme Cleaners):
— Bio Guard Plus
— Earth Enzymes Drain Opener (Earth Friendly)
Home-made Solutions:
Slow to drain (before it is really backed up)
| — |
1/2 cup baking soda +1/2 cup vinegar |
| |
OR |
| — |
Add 1 cup baking soda to drain, then 3 cups boiling water. |
Already backed up:
| — |
Pour 1 cup Washing Soda over the drain area. Let it work its way down to the clog to loosen it. Then use baking soda method. |
|
| Floor Cleaner |
| — |
Irritant to eyes, nose, throat and skin |
| — |
Some linked to skin and lung cancer |
| — |
Cause central nervous system depression and damage, kidney and liver lesions |
|
Green Products:
— Citrisolve concentrate (diluted)
— Floor Kleener (Earth Friendly)
— Simple Green |
| Furniture & Floor Polish/Wax |
| — |
Toxic. Irritant to skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs |
| — |
Cause central nervous system depression |
| — |
Associated with skin and lung cancer |
| — |
Causes kidney and liver lesions |
|
Green Products:
| — |
Bio Shield Floor Soap |
| — |
Earth Friendly Furniture Polish |
| — |
Mrs. Meyer’s Wood Furniture Cream |
| — |
Murphy’s Oil Soap |
| — |
Vegetable Oil soaps (such as castile soap, like Dr. Bronner’s): if you have hard water you may need Vegetable Oil Detergent to prevent residue |
Home-made Solutions:
Varnished Wood:
Add a few drops of essential oil of lemon to _ cup warm water. Dampen cloth and wipe.
Unvarnished Wood:
Mix 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons any vegetable oil (even olive oil!). Apply with soft cotton cloth. |
| Laundry Detergent |
Powdered:
| — |
Corrosive- can burn and damage skin, eyes and lungs |
| — |
Respiratory irritant- can cause asthma |
| — |
Powdered chlorine ingredients can interfere with development and growth of fetus and children |
| — |
Damages immune system, kidneys, heart, respiratory system |
| — |
Some are carcinogenic |
Liquid:
| — |
Toxic. |
| — |
Central Nervous system depressant |
| — |
Causes lesions to kidneys and liver |
| — |
Possible human carcinogen |
| — |
Long-term adverse effects in water and ecosystem |
|
Green Products:
| — |
7th Generation Laundry Detergent (liquid- many yummy smells, powdered, and Ultra-Concentrated) |
| — |
Bi-O-Kleen Natural Laundry Detergent |
| — |
Citri-Suds |
| — |
Country Save (powdered) |
| — |
ECOS Laundry Detergent (Earth Friendly) |
| — |
Ecover Laundry Detergent (powdered and liquid) |
| — |
Oxy-Prime Powder Detergent |
|
| Metal Polish |
| — |
Can damage eyes- cause clouding |
| — |
Damages nervous system, kidneys and liver |
| — |
Some linked to birth defects and skin discoloration |
|
Home-made Solutions:
| Aluminum: |
lemon |
| Brass: |
paste of salt+flour+vinegar |
| Chrome: |
rubbing alcohol |
| Copper: |
lemon juice+salt |
| Silver: |
paste of baking soda+water; or white toothpaste (yes!) |
|
| Mold & Mildew Cleaner |
| — |
Severe skin irritant |
| — |
Highly toxic |
| — |
Known human carcinogen |
| — |
May cause birth defects |
| — |
Strong Corrosive- burns eyes, skin and lungs |
|
Green Products:
— 7th Generation Shower Cleaner/Santitizer
— Bi-O-Kleen Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator
— Bi-O-Kleen Spray & Wipe Cleaner
Home-made Solution:
— Distilled White Vinegar
— Hydrogen Peroxide
— Tea Tree Oil
— Grapefruit Seed Extract |
| Oven Cleaner |
| — |
Highly Caustic- burns eyes, skin and lungs |
| — |
Inhibits reflexes |
|
Home-made Solutions:
Paste of baking soda + water, steel wool and elbow grease |
| Scouring Scrubs |
| — |
Irritant to skin and eyes |
| — |
Chlorine ingredients poisonous to breathe -Mixed with hot water release toxic fumes |
| — |
Devastating to water ecosystem |
|
Green Products:
— Bon Ami
— Mrs. Meyer’s Surface Scrub
Home-made Solutions:
— Baking soda + vinegar |
| Spot/Stain Remover |
| — |
Irritant to eyes, skin and lungs |
| — |
May be absorbed through inhalation |
| — |
Can cause changes in liver's ability to metabolize chemicals |
| — |
Causes kidney damage |
|
Green Products:
— Bio-Tech Stain Remover
— Ecover Natural Stain Remover
— Oxy-boost
For Laundry:
— Oxygen bleaches
— Mrs. Meyers Stain Remover |
| Stainless Steel Cleaner |
| — |
Crosses placental barrier and accumulates in breast milk and fetal tissue |
| — |
Causes permanent nervous system damage |
| — |
Damages eyes and respiratory tract |
| — |
Potential human carcinogen |
|
Green Products:
— Bi-O-Kleen Soy Cream Cleaner (Earth Friendly)
— Ecos Cream Cleanser (Earth Friendly)
— Mrs. Meyer’s Stainless Steel Cleaner
Home-made Solutions:
Paste of baking soda + water- do not use an abrasive scrub or it will scratch |
| Toilet Bowl Cleaner |
| — |
Corrosive- burns eyes, skin and lungs from contact and exposure |
| — |
Some are carcinogenic, cause brain damage and birth defects |
| — |
Damage liver and kidneys |
|
Green Products:
| — |
Seventh Generation Natural Mint Toilet Bowl Cleaner |
| — |
Bi-O-Kleen Soy Toilet Scrub |
| — |
Ecover Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner |
| — |
Mr. Meyer’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner |
| — |
Oxy-flush Toilet Bowl Cleaner |
Home-made Solutions:
— Baking Soda + White Vinegar |
| Toothpaste |
| — |
Products that contain saccharine are carcinogenic |
| — |
Phenols- severely poisonous (if more than a pea-sized amount is swallowed, the Poison Control Center must be called immediately- warning does not appear on tube) |
| — |
Sodium Flouride- Toxic (can poison a child), corrosive |
|
Green Products:
There are many out there- most of which contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
— Jason
— Dental Herb Company Toothpaste
— Weleda |
| Tub & Tile Cleaner |
| — |
Acid-based products can severely burn skin and permanently damage eyes |
| — |
Serious damage to lungs if inhaled |
| — |
Absorbed through the skin and can cause blood changes |
| — |
Some considered an environmental hazard by EPA |
|
Green Products:
| — |
7th Generation All-Purpose Cleaner |
| — |
Bi-O-Kleen Bac Out Foaming Stain & Odor Eliminator (Earth Friendly) |
| — |
Bi-O-Kleen Cleaner & Degreaser (Earth Friendly) |
| — |
Earth Friendly Shower Cleaner |
| — |
Earth Scrub Tub & Tile Cleaner
|
Home-made Solutions:
Make a paste of 2/3 cup baking soda + _ cup castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s) + several drops of tea tree oil, lavender oil, lemon or orange oil- use as a scrub for tubs and tiles (I recommend vinegar sparingly on tile as it will break down grout)
|
