Creating a Healthier Home - What am I cleaning with?

 

In an earlier post, I wrote about reducing the amount of VOCs in our home by replacing chemical fragrances with essential oils. To continue to improve the health of my home, I started looking at the cleaning supplies I was using.  I had heard from friends that some cleaning products could adversely affect the health of my family.

I decided to investigate three of the cleaners I use the most, which was my window cleaner, my stone and steel cleaner, and the bathroom cleaner.  I started my investigation by turning the bottles over to see what the ingredients were.  Here's what I found:

 

Window Cleaner

• Solvents -liquids that can dissolve another substance, like grease, oil, or paint
• Surfactants - compounds that separate lower the surface tension between two substances.  They are basically your "stain lifters".
• Ammonia hydroxide -   This is basically water with ammonia, likely a high percent of water and low percent of ammonia.  Some states (like the state of New Jersey) have rated Ammonia Hydroxide as a serious hazard, because it can irritate and burn the skin and eyes, leading to eye damage.  Inhaling it can irritate lungs, and repeated exposure can cause dermatitis (dryness, itching, and redness of skin).  The greater hazard I see is the presence of ammonia, which in its pure form is extremely combustible, and in a fire, the water in Ammonia Hydroxide can vaporize, leaving pure ammonia, resulting in an explosion. 
• Coloring - This was not helpful.  No other information about the "coloring" was given.
• Water - pretty benign.

Other than listing Ammonia hydroxide specifically, I was disappointed that more information wasn't provided about the specific solvents and surfactants that were in the product.  While some surfactants have no effect on health and are pretty benign, others (such as PFOA/C8) have been linked to causing cancer.

 

Stone and Steel Cleaner

• Water - pretty benign
• Dimethicone/Silica/PEG Distearate Antifoam - lubricant and product thickener.  According to the Material Safety Data sheet (MSDS), ventilation is needed when using a product with this ingredient.
• Ethanolamine - according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to this chemical leads to irritation to eyes, skin, respiratory system, as well as drowsiness
• Fragrance - according to the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, one-third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic.  But because fragrances are considered trade secrets, companies are not required to disclose their ingredients
• Laramie Oxides - this is your cleaner, foam enhancer, stabilizer and thickener.  The MSDS states that exposure to the mist will cause irritation to the respiratory tract
• Tetrapotassium EDTA - this product is used to remove hard water stains from counters, but is also listed as hard on the respiratory system

The big concern I have with this product is that every ingredient seemed to have a negative effect on the respiratory system, which is not something I want in my home with three young ones running around.

 

Bathroom Cleaner

• I did not even have to look up the ingredients of this product to learn that this product is harmful to my family.  First there is the Precautionary statement that says the product is hazardous to humans and domestic animals.  Then there is a warning that says the product causes eye and skin irritation.  It also says to only use in a well-ventilated area and to avoid prolong breathing in vapors.  Considering I use this to clean my enclosed shower, I have probably been breathing the vapors in for some time now.  As I am pregnant, it is important I find an alternative to this product very soon.

After investigating what was in the cleaners I was using on a daily basis, I knew I needed to start looking into safer alternatives for my family.  Look for my part two of this series next Wednesday to find out what alternatives I found!

Water, also sometimes listed on product labels as aqua, is the most widely used of all solvents. It is a colorless, odorless and flavorless liquid and serves as the base of many cleaning products.

Dimethicone/silica/PEG distearates are used mainly as defoamers, although they are also emollients, lubricants and thickeners in cleaning products. They can be used to give formulas a smooth coating, while enabling evaporation without leaving a greasy residue.

According to an article by OCA, to avoid cleaners with health affects, use the following criteria to choose safe cleaners:
1.  Avoid cleaners with hazard labels.  Also, avoid cleaners with chlorine or ammonia, which can cause respiratory and skin irritation and will create toxic fumes if accidentally mixed together.
2.  Look for a cleaner that state "no solvents," "no phosphates," or "plant-based", instead of vague terms like "ecologically-friendly" or "natural."
3.  Look for products made with plant-based, instead of petroleum-based, ingredients.

When deciding what to use as a substitute for my window cleaner, I found two alternatives:

1.  Vinegar:  My mom used a vinegar/water mixture to clean just about EVERYTHING when I was growing up.  It is a great safe cleaning option, as it does not have any warning labels, is corn based, and it is even safe to ingest!  My only issue with vinegar is the smell.  One suggestion is to add a few drops of an essential oil to mask the smell.  One negative about is it is not recommended to used on granite surfaces because over time the high PH level of vinegar will cause the granite sealant to degrade.

2.  Basic H by Shaklee:  A good friend of mine is a Shaklee representative, and suggested I try cleaning with Basic H.  This product comes in a highly concentrated form, and you use a mixture of the cleaning agent with water to clean.  For example, for windows you combine a 8oz spray bottle full of water with two drops of Basic H.  For a general cleaner, mix a 1/4 tsp with a spray bottle full of water.  For a stronger cleaner for grease, combine 1 1/2 tsp of Basic H with water.  I started assessing Basic H using the criteria recommended by the OCA:
     1.  I looked at the label and did not find any warning labels.  There is a "Just to be Safe" section on the bottle where states some precautions to be taken with the concentrated liquid.  The Caution and First Aid sections state the concentrate may cause eye and skin irritation, and wash off with water after contact.  The container also states to "Keep out of Reach of children". 
     2.  Next I looked so see what other information it states on the container and found the following list under clean Credentials:
-Nontoxic
-Natural
-Superconcentrated
-Biodegradable surfactants
-No phosphates
     3.  While there is no ingredients list on the bottle, according to the Shaklee Field Communications Department, Basic H is 99.5% made of natural ingredients, which include the following:
Water - pretty benign
Alkyl Polyglucoside (from corn and coconut) - vegetable based surfactant, or stain lifter.  Unlike petroleum based surfactants, alkyl polyglucosides are not toxic or harmful to human health and show lower skin irritation (Alex Cosmeceuticals).
Ethyoxylated Fatty Alcohol (from coconut) - vegetable based surfactant as well.
Xanthan Gum (from vegetables) - thickening agent
Methyl Chloro Isothiazolinone  - rapidly biodegradeable preservative.  It is also noncarcenogenous, non-persistent in the environment, and non-bioaccumulating.

Because we're a one income family, I'm always considering costs of items as well when deciding on the products.  Vinegar runs about $3.50/gallon, a very reasonable price.  The Shaklee Basic H costs $8 for a 16 fl oz bottle.  I decided to go with the Basic H Shaklee product because you do not use Basic H in the concentrated form, it actually goes a lot further than just 16 oz would normally.  Also, I needed something with a neutral PH to preserve the sealant on my granite countertops in the kitchen.  For information on how to order Basic H, contact my friend Mary Bias at http://marybias.myshaklee.com .

I have been using Basic H for a couple of months now and am very happy with the product.  The best part about cleaning with this product is the health of my family.  My oldest son enjoys helping me clean right now (something I want to foster), and I know he is safe when using the Basic H mixtures.  Also, I am now about 6 months pregnant, and have been safely cleaning with these products the entire length of my pregnancy.