What is Green Cleaning?

“Green cleaning” means cleaning with products that are natural and non-toxic. This approach to cleaning is becoming more and more popular as people become increasingly aware of how the products they use can affect the environment.

Why Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products?

Did you know that many traditional cleaning chemicals can be harmful to your health? Bleach can irritate your eyes and your lungs, as can ammonia. Phthalates, a group of chemicals found in furniture polishes and in many synthetic fragrances, may mimic the effects of certain hormones, disrupting the endocrine system and possibly affecting your metabolism, too. Some studies have also shown a possible correlation between exposure to phthalates and asthma in kids.

Some traditional cleaning products also contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s). VOC’s release harmful chemicals into the air that can hurt your eyes and irritate your lungs. They contribute to indoor air pollution, which the EPA estimates can be up to 100 times more severe than outdoor air pollution. VOC’s remain in the air you breathe for the rest of the day after the cleaning products are used, sometimes longer.

These same chemicals also have a negative effect on the environment. For example, when bleach runs off into streams, rivers and other waterways, it can form toxic, carcinogenic compounds called organochlorines. Some researchers suspect that endocrine disruptors like phthalates may be causing birth defects in frogs and other amphibians. Once they escape from your house and into the atmosphere, VOC’s cause smog.

Now, here’s the good news: by using cleaning products without these chemicals, you can cut down on your exposure to them. The natural, non-toxic products that we use at Natural Maids will effectively clean your home without dirtying the air inside. Plus, since the products you use at home will eventually end up in the environment, you’ll be doing your part to keep the planet healthy, too!

Are Traditional Cleaners Necessary to Kill Germs?

In 2007, scientists at the University of Michigan School of Public Health conducted a comprehensive review of 27 studies comparing antibiotic soaps and regular soaps. They found that that plain old soap and water is just as good at killing germs as antibacterial cleansers! Our cleaning products are made from a variety of natural, non-toxic substances that can clean just as well as traditional cleaning products and biodegrade naturally into harmless components.

Once you learn about what’s in traditional cleaning products, the benefits of green cleaning are clear: better health for you and your loved ones, and cleaner air and water for future generations.

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