Green Cleaning Services.

Common household chemicals include Hot Shot insecticide, Kingsford charcoal, and Behold furniture polish.

Household chemicals are non-food chemicals commonly found and used in and around the average household. They are consumer goods designed to assist in cleaning, house and yard maintenance, cooking, pest control and general hygiene, often stored in the kitchen or garage.

Food additives generally do not fall under this category unless they have a use other than for human consumption. Additives in general (e.g. stabilizers and colouring found in washing powder and dishwasher detergents) make the classification of household chemicals more complex, especially in terms of health – some of these chemicals are irritants or potent allergens – and ecological effects. Green Cleaning Services.

Together with non-compostable household waste, the chemicals in private household commodities pose a serious ecological problem. In addition to having slightly adverse up to seriously toxic effects when swallowed, chemical agents may contain flammable or corrosive substances.^[1]

Purposes

Various household cleaning products have been developed to help remove dust and dirt for surface maintenance and disinfection.^[2] Products are available in powder, liquid or spray form. The essential ingredients determine the type of cleaning tasks for which they are suitable. Some are marketed as general-purpose cleaning materials, while others are targeted at cleaning tasks such as drain clearing, oven cleaning, lime scale removal and polishing furniture. Household cleaning products provide aesthetic and hygiene benefits but may cause health risks.^[3]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers public access to the Household Products Database, with consumer information on over 4,000 products based on information provided by the manufacturer through the material safety data sheet.^[4]

Surfactants lower the surface tension of water, allowing it to flow into more minor tiny cracks and crevices in soils, making removal easier. Alkaline chemicals break down known soils such as grease and mud. Acids break down soils such as lime scale, soap scum, and stains of mustard, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages. Some solvent-based products are flammable, and some can dissolve paint and varnish. Disinfectants stop the smell and stains caused by bacteria. Green Cleaning Services.

Health & safety impacts

The chemicals may interact when multiple chemicals are applied to the same surface without completely removing the earlier substance. This interaction may reduce the efficiency of the chemicals used (such as a change in pH value caused by mixing alkalis and acids) and, in some cases, may even emit toxic fumes. An example is mixing ammonia-based cleaners (or acid-based cleaners) and bleach.^[5] This causes the production of chloramines that volatilize (become gaseous), causing acute inflammation of the lungs (toxic pneumonia), long-term respiratory damage, and potential death.^[6]

Residue from cleaning products and cleaning activity (dusting, vacuuming, sweeping) has been shown to worsen indoor air quality (IAQ) by redistributing particulate matter (dust, dirt, human skin cells, organic matter, animal dander, particles from combustion, fibres from insulation, pollen, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) to which gaseous or liquid particles can be adsorbed.

The concentration of such particulate matter and chemical residual will be highest immediately after cleaning. It will decrease over time depending upon levels of contaminants, air exchange rate, and other sources of chemical residual.^[5] The chemicals called VOCs, such as formaldehyde, toluene, and limonene, are the most concern.^[7]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released from many household cleaning products such as disinfectants, polishes, floor waxes, air-freshening sprays, all-purpose cleaning sprays, and glass cleaners. These products have been shown to emit irritating vapours.^[2][8][9] VOCs tend to evaporate and then be inhaled into the lungs or adsorbed by dust, which can also be inhaled.^[2] Aerosolized (spray) cleaning products are important risk factors and may aggravate symptoms of adult asthma,^[9] respiratory irritation,^[2] childhood asthma, wheezing, bronchitis, and allergy.^[8]

Other exposure modes to potentially harmful household cleaning chemicals include absorption through the skin (dermis), accidental ingestion, and accidental splashing into the eyes. Products for the application and safe use of the chemicals are also available, such as nylon scrub sponges and rubber gloves.^[10] It is up to consumers to keep themselves safe while using these chemicals. Reading and understanding the labels is essential. Green Cleaning Services.

Chemicals used for cleaning toilets, sinks, and bathtubs can find their way into sewage water and can often not be effectively removed or filtered.

There is a growing consumer and governmental interest in natural cleaning products and green cleaning methods. The use of nontoxic household chemicals is growing as consumers become more informed about the health effects of many household chemicals. Municipalities must deal with the expensive disposal of household hazardous waste (HHW).^[11][12]

Switching to nontoxic home cleaning products

Examples

Green Cleaning Services

Green cleaning refers to using methods and products with environmentally friendly ingredients and procedures designed to preserve human health and environmental quality.^[1] Green cleaning techniques and products avoid using products containing toxic chemicals, some of which emit volatile organic compounds causing respiratory, dermatological and other conditions.^[2] Green cleaning can also describe how residential and industrial cleaning products are manufactured, packaged and distributed. If the manufacturing process is environmentally friendly and the products are biodegradable, then the term “green” or “eco-friendly” may apply. Green Cleaning Services.

Product labelling programs

Among the product-labelling programs is the United States Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) Design for the Environment program, which labels products that meet EPA’s chemical criteria. These products can carry the Design for the Environment (DfE) label, which was renamed EPA Safer Choice in 2015. Generally, products labelled ‘low’ or ‘zero’ VOC are safer for human and animal health in the home and the environment.

In addition, EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act addresses environmental chemicals and makes regulatory rules to maximize human health. IndepNonprofit organizations like Green Seal offer Independent product labelling programs for cleaning products and services October 15, 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown^[3] signed Senate Bill 258, the^[4] Cleaning Product Right to Know Act. The bill was brought to the floor by Senator Ricardo Lara^[5] and supported by some of the oldest green cleaning manufacturers, such as Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks of Earth Friendly Products^[6] and board member of the American Sustainable Business Council ^[7] as well as mainstream companies who are entering into the green cleaning space such as SC Johnson^[8] who recently purchased Mrs Meyers^[9] and Method.^[10]

The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act makes California the first state to require ingredient labelling on product labels and online for cleaning products. Unlike retail packaged food, no federal requirements exist to disclose cleaning product ingredients. The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act will require known hazardous chemicals in cleaning products to be listed on both product labels and online by 2020. The legislation lists 34 chemicals^[11] found in cleaning products that have been shown to cause cancer, congenital disabilities, asthma and other serious health effects:

The announcement^[12] made by the California State Senate said the bill was in “response to consumers’ demand for transparency.”

External links

• Household Products Database by the U.S. National Library of Medicine