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Keeping your home clean helps create a healthy environment for everyone living in the space. Over time, when homes are not cleaned regularly, dust, mold, and other allergens can build up and cause poor air quality. You can also have germs and bacteria build up on surfaces, so it is important to regularly clean your home.
However, just as important to the actual act of cleaning is which products you use to clean your home. Many household cleaners have chemicals and other harmful ingredients that can create health issues, compromise your indoor air quality, and have a negative impact on your indoor environment.
Most people are now looking to use safe, environmentally friendly cleaning products. But how do you know which products really are safe for your home and good for the environment? With many cleaning supplies claiming to be non-toxic or natural, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what you are getting when you pick up a cleaning product off the store shelf. This is particularly true because many of the labels used to market these products are not regulated.
To figure out which products are safe and environmentally friendly, here are some tips for choosing safe household cleaners.
Ingredients To Stay Away From
VOCs
Believe it or not some cleaning supplies do not even have an ingredients list. For obvious reasons, never use a cleaner that doesn’t tell you what is in it. Other cleaning products release dangerous chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
According to the American Lung Association, “Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are gases that are emitted into the air from products or processes. Some are harmful by themselves, including some that cause cancer.” Research your cleaning product ingredients to check if they contain any harmful VOCs.
Ammonia and Chlorine Bleach
Ammonia and bleach are other cleaning products widely used that contain harmful chemicals. Chlorine bleach is highly corrosive and can cause irritation and damage to your lungs and eyes. Ammonia emits toxic fumes even hours after it has been used in cleaning a home.
Phthalates/Fragrance
One of the other big ingredients to look out for is any type of fragrance. Even products claiming to be fragrance-free can contain added chemicals to mask odors. Because fragrance formulas are considered trade secrets, many of the chemicals used are not even listed in a product’s ingredients. But these chemicals can be extremely harmful to breathe in.
Here is a basic list of common household cleaners that usually contain VOCs and other harmful chemicals:
- Chlorine bleach
- Ammonia
- Products that contain any Butyl Glycol, Ethylene Glycol, Monobutyl
- Aerosol spray products
- Phthalates–Fragrances/Air Fresheners
- Furniture Polish
- Oven Cleaners
- Petroleum Solvents (usually derived from Formaldehyde)
- Phosphates
Green Seal Certification
One of the easiest ways to know that you are picking safe household cleaners is to confirm that they are certified with Green Seal. Green Seal is a global nonprofit organization that allows products to go through a thorough certification process to carry their label. It is considered the most stringent standard of sustainability for products. Their mission is to find products that are safe for both people and the environment.
“With thousands of certified products, services and spaces from the world’s leading companies, the Green Seal certification mark is a universal symbol that a product or service meets the highest benchmark of health and environmental leadership.” –GreenSeal.org
One of the unique features of a product certified with Green Seal is their commitment to having their products perform to industry standards; people who purchase products with the Green Seal label can be confident that their household cleaning products work as well as conventional cleaning products.
Professional House Cleaning Services
It can be time-consuming trying to figure out which cleaning products to use in your home, let alone actually do the cleaning regularly. Consider using professional cleaners who provide safe household cleaners. This takes the guesswork out of making sure that your home is not only clean, but also cleaned safely for your health.
Super Clean 360 services provide home cleaning services in Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, and the surrounding areas using Green Seal products. We care about the health and safety of both our clients and the environment. Our clients know that we are committed to being tough on grime, dirt, and germs, but we are also committed to using safe products for your family and your home’s surfaces.
Whether you are looking for regular cleaning, a one-time deep clean, or move-in/move-out cleaning, we work hard to give you great results with safe cleaning products. Contact us today to have a safe, worry-free house cleaning experience!
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