Today on the Live. Well. Green podcast, we talk about green home cleaning – a relevant topic in the context of the coronavirus. There are, however, many problems with the cleaning supplies we commonly use, since it can be harmful to humans and the environment. Clearly, we need to come up with solutions that work, and in this episode, I share some of my suggestions for making better choices in this regard. The question is, how do we keep our homes clean and healthy, both from the coronavirus as well as regular household dirt while not introducing more harmful products into the indoor environment? We can inhale, ingest, and absorb these harmful ingredients through the skin, and they can cause ailments such as skin irritations and allergies and serious health problems such as asthma, and in the long-run, cancer and reproductive problems. Fortunately, we always have a choice about the products we purchase and how we use them, so stay tuned to find out the what, why, and how of green home cleaning. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• In the context of the current pandemic, effective cleaning is more important than ever. 
• The unintended consequences of our increased efforts to be more hygienic.
• The ingredients in these products can pollute the environment and harm our ecosystems. 
• How cleaning products can result in an array of negative physical responses in humans. 
• The long-term risks associated with some cleaners, including reproductive problems and cancer. 
• Hear why the labels of products are not always reliable sources of information! 

Key Messages:

1.  Cleaning products are a part of daily life but there are potential risks. 
2.  Avoid ingredients such as antimicrobials, triclosan, and quats, which can cause endocrine-disrupting activities and asthma and potentially create resistant microbes.  
3.  We should be careful about the use of corrosive and highly irritating chemicals. 
4.  Avoid endocrine-disrupting glycol ethers and VOCs and be wary of fragrances.  
5.  Be aware that nitrogen and phosphorus in cleaners are harmful to the environment. 
6.  Try purchasing certified green products such as those with the Green Seal, ECOLOGO, or Safer Choice.  
7.  Looking products up on the databases provided by Safer Choice or through the Environmental Working Group. 
8.  Don’t be afraid to ask for change with your government and the cleaning product manufacturers. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing

Kristina’s Green Clean Recipes

U.S. Geological Survey 

What's Under Your Sink? Fact Sheet

EPA Safer Choice Certification

EWG Guide for Healthy Cleaning

Disinfecting for COVID-19

Health Canada

Green Seal

ECOLOGO

Environmental Working Group

Toxic-Free Future

The Unexpected Gift Box