Green Cleaning Tips For Dummies

The greatest exposure to organic chemicals in our homes comes from household products, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cleaning and disinfecting products contribute to indoor air pollution and can possibly lead to vision problems, headaches, dizziness, impaired memory and cancer. Green cleaning offers an alternative to hazardous chemical use. Cleaning green doesn’t have to be difficult, with most stains and problems requiring little more than a simple cleanser and some scrubbing.

Make Green Cleaners

Simplify your green cleaning by making nontoxic cleaners at home. Baking soda absorbs odors and acts as a mild abrasive for scouring greasy spots. White vinegar works as a degreaser, scum remover and mold-inhibitor. Replace chlorine bleach with hydrogen peroxide, which whitens and disinfects. Use essential oils for deodorizing and adding scents to your cleaners.

Read Labels

If you choose to buy cleaning products, avoid any cleaners with labels warning about skin irritation, respiratory effects or eye dangers. Also, shun products containing volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which contribute to smog and may cause respiratory and eye irritation. Compare your current cleaning products with the “Hazardous Ingredients in Household Products” list compiled by the Cancer Prevention Coalition. You can identify green cleaning products by looking for labels that include words such as nontoxic, biodegradable, chlorine-free, hypoallergenic, natural, organic and phosphate-free.

Choose Green-Certified Products

Green-certified products receive independent evaluation for their ability to meet health and environmental standards. Green organizations, such as Green Seal and the EPA’s Design for the Environment, analyze a product from its creation to disposal. Choosing green-certified products ensures your cleaning product has been tested for safety by an organization not affiliated with the cleaning product company. These products aim to reduce pollution in the environment and your home.

Clean Without Chemicals

Clean without chemicals by using high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filter vacuums, steam cleaners and scrubbing pads. A HEPA vacuum removes dust, mites and other allergens from carpets, while a steamer loosens dirt. When combined, a 2009 "Journal of Environmental Monitoring" study, led by C.H. Yu, found HEPA vacuums and dry steam cleaners removed 64.4 percent of dust, 69.1 percent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 85.5 percent of house dust mite allergens. Hot steam also disinfects non-permeable surfaces, killing bacteria and viruses in bathrooms and kitchens. For stubborn spots, moisten the area with hot water or steam, and scrub with a scrubbing pad.