The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution among the top environmental dangers. Most indoor air pollution is the result of cleaning products, whose safety, and even labeling, aren’t regulated or assessed by the government. According to the EPA, of the more than 75,000 registered chemicals, only a fraction have been tested for human health effects. Improper use and disposal of these chemicals can also have a negative effect on our health and the environment. In the US, we generate 1.6 million tons of harmful household chemicals, and the average home can accumulate as much as 300 pounds of household hazardous waste. 

Green Cleaning Tips 

Look for the Safer Choice label: The EPA has recently unveiled a new label for denoting safe cleaning products. Cleaning products with the safer choice label help consumers identify products with safer chemical ingredients. There are currently more than 2,000 products that qualify for the safer choice label.    A full list of products can be found here. 

Do your research: The Environmental Working Group has a guide to healthy cleaning that ranks more than 2,500 cleaning products based on  the toxicity of its ingredients. A link to the guide can be found here.

Read Labels:  Reading labels can tell you a lot about the product and its possible health effects. Watch for signal words like caution, warning, danger, poison, flammable, corrosive, & toxic. 

Use Cleaners Safely: Do not mix cleaners, especially ones with chlorine or bleach. Always use cleaners for their intended purpose and never forget test a formula first. Wear gloves while using cleaners to prevent chemicals from touching your skin. If you do make your own cleaners, remember to label the containers clearly. 

Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste Properly: Keep household hazardous waste out of drains, storm sewers, trash containers, and off of the ground. Bring old and unwanted cleaners to The Recycling Zone to be properly disposed of for free. 

Go Reusable: Remember to stock your cleaning kit with reusable and washable cleaning supplies such as rags, sponges, and spray bottles. An old cut up shirt works well too! Choose cellulose sponges, which are not anti-bacterial. 

Go Homemade: Another option to cut down on harmful chemicals is to consider making your own cleaning solutions and implementing alternative methods for common household needs. Check out the tips and recipes below to reduce household chemicals and potentially save money too.

All Purpose Cleaners:

Castile Soap Surface Cleaner	Mix 2 cups distilled water, 2 tablespoons - ¼ cup castile soap, and 15 drops essential oil in a spray bottle.
Vinegar Surface Cleaner	Mix 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, ½ juiced lemon (optional, must be stored in refrigerator if added), and 15 drops essential oil in a spray bottle.

Kitchen Cleaning:

Garbage Disposal Cleaner	Pour ½ cup baking soda into garbage disposal, then slowly pour ½ cup of vinegar in after. Once the mixture has had time to work, pour boiling water down the drain. Can follow this with throwing half a lemon or lime down the drain to deodorize.
Microwave Cleaner	Pour about ½ cup water in a microwave safe bowl, squeeze ½ a lemon into water or a few drops of vinegar. Microwave solution on high for several minutes (until the solution boils). Let stand for about 10 minutes before removing door and wiping the walls and door clean.
Drain Cleaner	Use a plunger or plumber’s snake.  Pour 1 cup baking soda in drain, follow with ½ cup vinegar and immediately cover drain. Let sit for half hour, then uncover and pour boiling water down drain for 1 minute.
Oven	Mix 1 part water and 3 parts baking soda into a paste. Spread the paste on bottom of the oven, leave it there for a few hours and then wipe clean.

Bathroom Cleaning:

Showers and Bathtubs	1 part water to 3 parts baking soda paste to remove soap and stains (use vinegar for tougher stains).
Grout	Sprinkle baking soda on the floor and spray with hydrogen peroxide. Scrub with a toothbrush or fine tipped scrubbing tool.
Toilet Bowl	Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, pour or spray vinegar over. Let soak for at least 30 minutes, then scrub with toilet brush.

 Other:

Glass Cleaner	Mix one tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar with one cup of water. Can also add essential oils to mask vinegar smell. Spray directly on window and reuse old newspaper or a microfiber cloth to wipe up.
Furniture Polish	Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice in one pint of mineral or vegetable oil and wipe furniture.
Rug/Upholstery Deodorizer	Sprinkle carpet or fabric with baking soda (can scent with essential oils). Wait 15 minutes and vacuum.
Silver Polish	Completely submerge silver in a shallow pan of boiling mixture of 2-3 inches of water, one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of baking soda, and a sheet of aluminum foil. Wipe away tarnish and repeat if necessary.
Mothballs	Use cedar chips, lavender flowers, rosemary, mints, or white peppercorns.
Air Freshener	Combine ¾ cup water, 2 tablespoons vodka, and essential oils in an 8oz spray bottle. Shake well and spray as needed.