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Spring Cleaning: Using Family-friendly Cleaners

by Rebecca Thompson, M.S.

There’s something about the first part of spring that always makes me think of cleaning. And sometimes this feeling takes over and I find myself down on my hands and knees scrubbing my kitchen floor tiles and grout with a fervor I usually associate with devouring a new book. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen often and it usually passes quickly.

But with cleaning comes a host of chemicals, many of which are not tested for our family’s safety. Thousands of chemicals come into the market every year and most of them have no testing, alone or in combination with other chemicals, to verify the products will not cause harm. It is an “innocent until proven guilty” mentality that actually puts our families at risk!

Studies have shown that individuals who use these common cleaning products are more likely to develop diseases, such as cancer, than those who do not. Our children are even more vulnerable to the toxic effects of such products due to their relative size, how close they are to the ground where most fumes settle, their immature system’s inability to easily remove the chemicals from their bodies, and for very young children, the possibility of ingesting the chemicals as they explore their world- either from direct contact with the container left in the wrong place or from incidental exposure as they crawl over an area recently cleaned with chemicals or eat food off a tray or table recently disinfected. Another big concern with children is the long-term exposure issue- what do small amounts of these chemicals do to a child’s body over time? We just aren’t sure.

What we do know… I found many lists while I was searching for information on this topic. One included a list of common reactions to household cleaners. These included: headache, nausea, “allergic” reactions, depression, dizziness, rash, insomnia, and development and behavior problems in children.

Read that last one again: development and behavior problems in children. I read an article about a school that had removed all the typical cleaners and replaced them with non-toxic alternatives. There were children who had always had difficulty paying attention in the past, children who had asthma, children who were always sick in the past, and there was a dramatic decrease in these problems just by changing the cleaners used in the classroom. Powerful stuff. While I cannot guarantee it will eliminate your child’s behavior problems, it is one little thing you can do that might make a difference.

Studies have also shown that indoor air quality is dramatically worse than the outside air and much of this has to do with using those toxic chemicals in our living space and how efficiently our buildings now seal. A well-sealed living space is great for your heating and cooling costs, but not so good when it comes to chemicals in the home. But this is something you can change.

Fear-based marketing. We live in a very germ-phobic society and marketers of cleaning products use this fear to sell their products. We believe that we aren’t good parents unless we protect our children from these germs. But studies have actually shown that our children are developing allergies and other sensitivities because the environments are actually too clean- too sterilized. These studies show that children who live on a farm or have a cat in the house actually have stronger immune systems than their city-dwelling counter-parts without the great outdoors or animals to challenge their immune systems.

With all of these effective chemicals that are capable of annihilating most unsuspecting microbes, another problem has occurred. All of the weakest germs are easily destroyed, which leaves behind the most virulent. These are the ones our bodies cannot easily handle and the ones that have become antibiotic resistant. We are trading the germs our bodies need to experience and fight off to be healthy for those too tough for even most antibiotics.

So what’s a parent to do? I’m not suggesting that you give up cleaning your house altogether and end up on the nightly news as a non-example of parental responsibility. With some simple substitutions, you can not only keep your family healthy, but you can also save some serious money by not buying commercial cleaners. Remember that when you buy a cleaning product, someone makes money. That is the reason marketers use fear- to compel you to part with your hard-earned money for the sake of your family’s safety. You may need to address some of the fears you have about your perception of not taking care of your family by not buying them. The reality is that many of the products they are selling are far from protecting your family.

Cleaning Blueprints

I have memories associated with my mom cleaning. She wasn’t good at keeping up with the clutter at all, but she was determined that our otherwise messy house was going to be hygienic. She used bleach on every towel and sheet every time they were washed, no matter what color they used to be. She had a closet full of cleaners with Mister Yuk stickers on them to tell us they weren’t for eating, even well after we had all learned to read. When I moved out on my own, I purchased the same cleaners she had used when I was growing up. Those were my cleaning blueprints. It was all I knew.

When I first learned of the dangers associated with those common cleaners, my son was a baby. I decided it just wasn’t worth it to have something sitting around in my house that could kill my baby should someone forget to put it back when done. But I had no idea what to use instead. After all, my blueprints contained words like Spic and Span, Mr. Clean, and Comet. What else could I possibly use that wouldn’t be harmful to my family?

After I made the decision to use something different to clean my house, I embarked on an adventure to find safe, effective cleaning products that I could use without fear of harming my family. For a while, I was afraid to use the old, but didn’t really have a good alternative. Finally, at a friend’s suggestion, I took a trip to my local health food store to find a few safe cleaning products while I researched my alternatives.

When I first used some of the “healthy” cleaners, I wasn’t sure if everything was really clean because it didn’t smell like the chemical deodorizers I was used to using. Over time, I’ve come up with my own combination of cleaners that work for me and I now enjoy the smells associated with my own house when it is clean. It is simply different than what I grew up with and now I’m okay with that. When I visit my mom’s house, I am somewhat overwhelmed by the scents used in those old familiar cleaners. Who would have thought?

Below are some suggestions for making the transition to family-friendly cleaners and more information about some specific products to avoid, along with some suggestions for alternatives.

Avoid antibacterial products. This means those little bottles of hand sanitizer that many moms carry around with them to use when children get dirty. They contain chemicals, such as triclosan, which are considered harmful especially for pregnant women and children. Many hospitals have stopped using or limiting the use of these products because they are increasing antibiotic resistant illnesses. The FDA states that antibacterial soaps and hand cleaners are no better than soap and water and should be avoided.

Australian microbiologist, Dr John Turnidge of Adelaide Women and Children's Hospital agrees: "The sale of these antibacterial soaps and detergents preys on people's fears of bacteria. They're really not necessary since soaps and detergents help reduce the risk from bacteria anyway. It's really a mild kind of fraud. There are no proven benefits, and all the available evidence suggests it could be detrimental."

Use disinfectants sparingly. Put away the Lysol, unless you run a home daycare or work with blood born pathogens. Studies have shown that we develop immunity to bacteria in our own homes and disinfectants cause more harm than good. Even if you have reason to disinfect, limit the use of those products to small areas and not as a general cleaning agent for your entire home.

Alternative: Rubbing Alcohol, or Hydrogen peroxide - drugstore dilution, undiluted.

Switch to an unscented laundry detergent for use with your children (and yourself) and you’ll be amazed at the difference. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found that one-third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic. But because the chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets, companies aren't required to list their ingredients but merely label them as containing "fragrance.”

Avoid the use of chlorine bleach. Use non-chlorine bleach when needed. It is gentler on clothing, your skin, and your senses. Did you know that when using bleach or chlorine in industrial areas, you are required by OSHA to wear impervious protective clothing, hard hats, boots, gloves, apron or coveralls, chemical goggles or full face shield and only in well ventilated areas? Bleach is #1 in poisoning accidents involving children.

Alternative: Hydrogen peroxide - drug store dilution. Use 1/2 cup per wash load.

Avoid Fabric Softeners. They are among the most dangerous of household products, containing chemicals such as chloroform, benzyl acetate and pentane that are known to cause cancer and/or damage to lungs, brain, and nerves, so avoid them when doing your laundry! Some symptoms caused by fabric softener fumes are: tiredness that is not cured by resting, difficulty breathing, nervousness for no known reason, difficulty concentrating and remembering, dizziness, headaches, sick stomach, feeling faint, rashes and/or difficulty controlling body movements.

Alternative: Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar, baking soda OR borax to the rinse cycle to soften water and reduce static cling.

Try a microfiber cloth! Microfiber cloths are a new addition to the world of cleaning which can significantly reduce use of chemical cleaning agents. These untreated, reusable cloths are made of polyester and polyamide, spun into tiny wedge shaped strands, 100 times finer than a human hair. They can lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.

Make your own cleaners. There are countless recipes for cleaners available on-line using such simple ingredients as baking soda, salt, borax, vinegar, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide. I had a neighbor who made all of her own cleaning products and they worked well for her. She saved a whole lot of money simply buying the bulk baking soda and the large size of vinegar, which she used to clean almost everything. If you have the time, I would suggest investigating this more fully. See the resources below for links.

Buy safer alternatives. If you have little time to research making your own products, here are the names of some companies making non-toxic cleaners for your home. These can be found at most health food stores. Some brand names to look for are Seventh Generation, Ecover, Bi-O-Kleen, and Earth Friendly, just to name a few.

With a little effort on your part, you can make your home much more family friendly, helping everyone to breathe just a little bit easier.

Wishing you a healthy, happy home!

Rebecca Thompson, M.S.

Resources:

http://www.healthycleaning.com

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov

http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=15

This website contains multiple ideas for less toxic, as well as homemade alternative cleaners: http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=household

For suggestions on how to make your own non-toxic cleaning kit using inexpensive household products: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html

Information about using “green” products in schools: http://www.newdream.org

Recipes for homemade cleaners

Consider making your own cleaners. You’ll save money and avoid the toxic cleaners. It does take some conscious thought, but you and your children are well worth the effort!

Originally published in the BCI Parent Enrichment Journal

Rebecca Thompson

Rebecca Thompson, M.S., is the founder of The Consciously Parenting Project. Rebecca has been actively educating parents and facilitating parent groups and workshops that encourage conscious decision-making in family life since 1998. As a wife and the mother of two boys, she has personal as well as professional experience navigating the terrain of parenting. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, with specialized training in attachment and trauma.
Click here to read her blog.