What to Do

 Cleaners

• Use gentle castile soap and water - these have been shown to keep surfaces as free of bacteria as antibacterial soaps do. In fact, antibacterial soaps and disposable wipes have not proven any more effective than regular soap in preventing infections among average consumers, but raise significant concerns about developing resistant bacteria. Also, triclosan commonly used in antibacterial product may be problematic.

• Buy Safer Cleaning Products - many local, online, and discount stores carry cleaning and home products that are very effective without harsh chemicals or fumes. Or make your own safer cleaning products with typical household products .

• Look for with safer ingredients – cleaning products labeled nontoxic, bio-based, chlorine-free, organic, phosphate-free, natural fragrance, and/or biodegradable. Learn to read a label.

• Reduce the need for anti-bacterial soaps by frequently requiring hand washing.

Body Care Items

• Buy Safer Body / Bath Care – look for products made organic botanical oils, paraben-free, preservative-free, petroleum-free, and vegetable-devired surfactants.

• Avoid body care products with toxic synthetic preservatives (parabens), petroleum-based ingredients, sodum lauryl and laureth sulfates -1,4-Dioxane, synthetic fragrances and artificial colors, formaldehyde donors and other proven harmful chemicals.  Find safer children's products in the Environmental Working Group's Buying Guide and see their guide for adults as well.

Home Furnishings

• Buy Safer Home Furnishings – look for products made with natural or organic cotton, natural latex, 100% FSC certified /reclaimed / or recycled wood, hypoallergenic down and feather, non-toxic / water-based paints and stains with zero VOC, water-based adhesives, no formaldehyde, no polyurethane, fabric fibers – abaca, cotton, hemp, visose, jute, muslin, wool, wools, vegetable and low-impact dyes.

• Clean floors with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner that traps fine particles of dust, soot and pollen, and wet mop regularly.

• Avoid polybrominated diphenyl ethers (flame retardants) and resins and glues containing carcinogenic formaldehyde and other neurotoxic, VOC (volatile organic compounds) in paints and stains, particleboard.

• Always avoid using products that say POISON, DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION. Learn more about what types of products can be problematic.

Safety Checklist

Safe Solutions

Creating your own cleaners using five simple ingredients found in most households; baking soda, lemon juice, washing soda, vinegar and Borax.

1. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate:
   • neutralizes acid
   • deodorizes
   • extinguishes grease fires
   • cleans and polishes aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plasticporcelain, silver, stainless steel and tin
   • softens fabrics
   • removes certain stains
   • effective as underarm deodorant and toothpaste.
2. Lemon juice:
   • cleans glass
   • removes stains from aluminum, clothes and porcelain
   • lightens/ bleaches if used with sunlight.
3. Washing soda (SAL soda, sodium carbonate decahydrate):
   • cuts stubborn grease on grills, broiler pans and ovens.
4. Vinegar:
   • dissolves mineral deposits
   • removes grease, traces of soap or wax buildup
   • polishes some metals
   • deodorizes
5. Borax:
   • deodorizes
   • inhibits mold growth
   • boosts the cleaning power of soap or detergent
   • removes stains
   • kills cockroaches when used with an attractant such as sugar

Find recommended products in our marketplace.

More Information

Prior to WWII, most household cleaning tasks were accomplished using relatively safe ingredients like baking soda and vinegar to disinfect and deodorize. Today, American homes contain gallons of toxic substances, most in the form of cleaning products. The average home contains over 1,500 hazardous compounds. Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities.

• Conventional metal polishes and adhesive removers may contain petroleum distillates, which can cause temporary eye clouding. Long-term exposure can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys and eyes.
• Conventional disinfectants can contain phenol and cresol. Phenol and cresol are corrosive and can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness and kidney and liver damage.
• Conventional furniture and floor polishes can contain nitrobenzene. Nitrobenzene can cause skin discoloration, shallow breathing, vomiting and death, and is associated with cancer and birth defects.

An average American uses about 10–15 personal care products daily. However, the government does not require pre-market safety testing before approving body care products. It approves an average of seven new chemicals every day, and 80 percent are approved in three weeks or less, with or without safety tests. Industrial chemicals are the basic ingredients of personal care products that contain carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers, degreasers, and surfactants. Much of the furniture manufactured in and for the US is made with harmful finishes, fills, and materials that negatively affect human, environmental, and social health. For instance, many piece of furniture have polyurethane and contains cushioning with highly toxic fire retardants also known as PBDE's (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). The retardants get into the air we breathe and are known to cause hormone disruption and inhibit normal brain development.

Research

• Studies have linked triclosan to health and environmental effects. Health effects include skin irritation and allergy susceptibility. A Swedish study found triclosan present in the breast milk of 3 out of 5 women tested.
• The Environmental Working Group found that more than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient linked to cancer. They also found that 57 percent of all products contain "penetration enhancer" chemicals that can drive other ingredients faster and deeper into the skin to the blood vessels below. Additionally, they discovered that 79 percent of all products contain ingredients that may contain harmful impurities like known human carcinogens, according to FDA or industry reviews. Impurities are legal and unrestricted for the personal care product industry. We agree with their findings that is not only “cause for concern, not alarm” and that direct consumer action can be taken to avoid known toxic ingredients.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services classifies formaldehyde gas as a probable human carcinogen, and inhaling it for long periods of time can cause flu-like symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, throat irritation, headache, fatigue and respiratory problems.