How To Go Green and Tackle House Cleaning Without Chemicals
Life has thrown everything at you all at once. You’ve been so busy you have neglected to keep house. In an effort to play catch-up, you spend the entire day cleaning.
For hours you are elbow deep in various cleaning products just grinding away.
When you’re finally done and have time to enjoy your handiwork, this happens:
You itch all over. Your eyes burn, your sinuses are irritated, and your throat hurts. This happens every time you clean.
But you don’t need to suffer or sacrifice your health for the sake of a clean house.
Chemical-free cleaners sanitize and clean just as well as their toxic and irritating chemical-laden counterparts.
Read on to learn more about how and why to keep your cleaning chemical-free.
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What Is Green Cleaning?
True green cleaning involves no chemicals or additives and has no negative impact on your health or the environment.
It can be easy to confuse true green cleaning with “greenwashing,” which is a marketing practice that deceives buyers into believing a product is natural, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. Companies use these terms to dupe customers into the false belief that their products are safe to use in your home or the environment without making any changes to production or operation.
House cleaning without chemicals doesn’t have to be complicated. The easiest way to truly clean green is to keep it simple.
Avoid chemicals and instead use:
Soap and water
Baking soda
Vinegar
Cleaning without chemicals is necessary to ensure the health of your home and the environment. Chemical cleaners can cause allergies, skin irritation, chronic respiratory issues, and hormone disruption. Other chemicals like Boric acid and glycol ethers found in home cleaners have been connected to complications in fetal development.
Some cleaning chemicals contain known carcinogens like:
Formaldehyde
Glycol Ethers
1,4-Dioxane
Depending on how often you clean you may be regularly absorbing these chemicals through your lungs and skin.
3 Big Reasons To Take on House Cleaning Without Chemicals
#1: Cleaning Products May Cause Skin Allergies and Eczema
Contact irritant dermatitis and contact allergic dermatitis are commonly caused by exposure to cleaning chemicals and fragrances. Common irritants can also be a trigger for atopic dermatitis, so it is necessary to avoid these chemicals if you have been diagnosed with eczema.
Chemicals that are known skin irritants include:
Phenol (the main ingredient in Lysol)
Sodium hypochlorite (an active ingredient in scrubbing bubbles)
Ammonium hydroxide (the main ingredient in Windex)
Caustic chemicals like boric acid and sodium hydroxide can cause chemical burns when in contact with the skin. If directly inhaled or ingested these chemicals injure organs and lungs.
#2: VOCs May Contribute to Chronic Issues
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gasses emitted from chemical solids or liquids.
VOCs have a negative impact on the respiratory systems of humans and animals. They are linked to a negative impact on indoor air quality. VOCs have been known to cause respiratory inflammation and irritation as well as trigger asthmatic episodes.
Common VOCs in cleaning products are :
Glycol ethers (2-butoxyethanol)
Hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene)
Chlorinates (carbon tetrachloride, tetrachloroethylene)
Terpenes (limonene)
Phthalates (butyl benzyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate)
Isothiazolinones (Methylisothiazolinone (MI), Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), and Benzisothiazolinone (BIT)
Formaldehyde
1,4-dioxane
The best way to avoid respiratory issues from cleaning compounds containing common VOCs is to avoid the use and carefully read labels on products (even products claiming to be ‘green’).
#3: Toxic Chemicals May Cause Hormone Disruptions
Chemical compounds found in cleaning products have been linked to endocrine disruption. Endocrine disruption occurs when chemicals mimic the compounds our body produces to regulate hormones. It is necessary to avoid hormone-disrupting chemicals if you are pregnant or expecting.
Common endocrine disruptors include:
Triclosan (found in microbial disinfectants and soaps)
Parabens (found in ‘fragrances’)
Methylisothiazolinone (a preservative found in Simple Green)
Beware of “green” cleaning products advertising ‘natural scents’ but including ‘fragrance’ on the label. Using ‘fragrance’ is a legal loophole that allows companies to discreetly use hormone-disrupting chemicals and carcinogens in their products.
Simple Alternatives to House Cleaning Without Chemicals
Use Soap and Water Instead of All-Purpose Cleaner
Soap was the world’s first all-purpose cleaner. It was first discovered by the Babylonians in 2800 BC when ash and animal fat were accidentally mixed with water.
It is the most affordable, safe, and eco-friendly cleaning compound.
So why has it been ‘replaced’ by chemical cleaners?
In WW1 animal/vegetable fat became scarce. Chemists sought alternatives by synthesizing similar chemical compounds. Soon companies found it was cheaper and more marketable to falsely label their chemical cleaning products as more effective than soap.
Soap and water can be used on any surface for any purpose. From cleaning the windows to scrubbing the floors, soap and water is the key to a clean, and healthy home.
Use Baking Soda Instead of Powdered Cleaners
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is an excellent replacement for powdered cleaners like Borax or Comet. It is a mild alkali that dissolves grease and dirt. It also makes a great deodorizer and stain remover.
Baking soda can be used on any surface or appliance but is especially effective on tile grout, drains, and stovetops/ovens.
Just mix two parts baking soda and one part water to create a paste. For extra cleaning power use a scrub brush.
Use Vinegar Instead of Disinfectants
Acetic acid is the natural chemical compound in vinegar. A 2014 study found that vinegar was highly effective in killing the mycobacteria that cause leprosy and tuberculosis.
Vinegar is a disinfectant that is effective but gentler than bleach or ammonia. The overuse of strong microbial disinfectants can lead to the creation of stronger and more resistant bacteria.
The smell of vinegar can be unpleasant to some. A simple substitute that works just as well is lemon. Vinegar and lemon are acidic so diluting it with water is suggested if you worry about the erosion of certain surfaces like laminate floors or countertops.
Mix one part lemon or vinegar and two parts water in a clean spray bottle to disinfect germy surfaces like kitchen counters or bathroom appliances.
Use Castile Soap Instead of Detergents or Hand Soaps
Castile soap originated in 12th century Spain when it was discovered that olive oil made for a great soap/disinfectant. While today’s castile soap uses a variety of different plant oils, it is still a wonderful and natural substitute for liquid detergents or hand soaps.
It is safe for even the most sensitive types of skin. The plant oils found in Castile soap hydrate skin and penetrate pores.
You can shop around and find which Castile soap suits you the best or you can make your own.
What To Do When Eco-Friendly Swaps Might Not Work
In some cases, the basics are unable to tackle complicated messes. Grease build-up, black mold, and calcium build-up are examples of situations where chemicals are required. The chemicals required to deal with these problems are often abrasive and can damage surfaces.
We suggest hiring a professional that can safely handle these chemicals while preserving your home and health.
Tidy Up Portland!: Offering Chemical-Free Cleaning Services for Your Home
Green cleaning can be a lot to take on, especially if you’re too busy to handle intense routine cleaning in general.
You need a cleaning service you can trust to get the job done without harming your home, health, and the environment.
Tidy Up Portland! is staffed with knowledgeable professionals armed with true green cleaning products and experience. Contact us today and find out all the chemical-free cleaning services Tidy Up Portland offers!
