Clean and green: Household chemicals should be avoided

Ecoconsumer

Do we really need all imidazolidinedione dimethyl clean showers?

Yes, it's a real part of the product. But we can do more to clean the house very well without the use of products made from questionable chemicals with unpronounceable names.

Alternatives are vinegar, lemon juice, soda water or just for basic cleaning of surfaces such as windows or floors. But what about those very difficult to clean?

Go and dirty answer some common questions about green cleaning house, especially for the most difficult tasks.

Q: What is the problem with the use of chemicals for difficult cleaning tasks?

R: Maybe nothing, if you are sure that it is the best products for the job and handled properly. But do not use chemicals indiscriminately.

The chemicals in some cleaning products can reduce the quality of your indoor air, an allergic reaction or a security risk.

Avoid products such as drain cleaners with "Danger" or "Poison" on the label, because it means that they are potentially dangerous. It is best to keep them at home.

Q: How can I know what is in cleaning products?

A: Under current federal law, it is almost impossible to identify all the chemical ingredients in the products and how they are safe. Manufacturers are not required to indicate most of the ingredients.

The U.S. government is a database of consumer products (maintaining the hpd.nlm.nih.gov ) who voluntarily by producers are the toxicity and safety of information open product constituents.

If someone in their sensitivity to household chemicals, check. Ingredients in the database before purchasing a product If the database is not listed ingredients, do not buy the product.

Q: What is a good overall strategy for managing difficult cleaning tasks?

A: Do not let a little cleaning job you will get harder to clean large. Dealing with stains clothing or feeding damage when they occur. , Your grill to clean as an example for the season soon after each use of the garden. Rub network hot, with a buffer of aluminum or half a lemon paper.

Take your time, bought with less toxic cleaning products shop or experimenting homemade products. If you leave at the last minute, cleaning a hard job cleaning chemicals often loaded seem to be the best option.

If you use a cleaning service, ask them to go as green as possible. Know how to use many services cleaning services effectively, such as green cleaning products even on difficult jobs.

Q: What is more difficult stains clothes?

A: Make sure that you, before adding the clothes to do with stains in the dryer. Heat sets stains and helps useless.

In his new book, "Homemade Cleaners," authors Dionna Ford and Mandy O'Brien recommend hydrogen peroxide to blood stains on light-colored clothing to remove, and vodka for ink stains.

Many other points of ideas breaks with the environment can be found online or in other books. Try to learn different approaches, what works best for your clothes and the most common stains.

Q: What about polishing silver?

R: Do not paint silver with a very strong odor, and keep in mind that spray paint can contain flammable chemicals. A popular liquid lacquer Silver Mate acts as a bathroom and can be reused as often, which is a plus. Traditional methods include baking soda, for example, can also work.

Q: I can not get the soap scum on the shower walls and glass doors of the shower. Any idea?

A: On your housecleaningcentral.com place full of green cleaning tips, clean woman Redmond recommends several options for foam soap, including white vinegar, baking soda and borax.

Like many other problems of cleaning soap scum can be much easier handled when they are fresh, rather than older and hardened like concrete.

Q: Is Going Green for cleaning hard work will always be harder than just be with a chemical spray?

A: It may take a little effort to take the best method for cleaning up the environment, but finding effective chemicals can be so difficult for the most difficult tasks.

No one likes to clean, but you will feel about them better if the heavy chemicals to a minimum.

Tom Watson is project manager for the recycling and environmental services in King County. You can reach him at tom.watson @ kingcounty.gov to contact 206-296-4481 or www.KCecoconsumer.com

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