Reduce: The first step in cleaning is to get rid of all of that stuff that’s just in your way every day.  Declutter your house by going from room to room and getting rid of stuff that you no longer need. (It’s just collecting dust anyhow!) Click here for info on from clothes to computers to eyeglasses.

Reuse: As you’re cleaning, don’t fill up your trash can with paper towels and single use wipes. Use cloth rags, old dishtowels, or cut up a ratty t-shirt to get your cleaning done with less waste.

Rethink:

I’m not sure when we became convinced as a society that we need to spend tons of money on toxic chemicals packaged in wasteful plastic bottles in order to clean our homes. Vinegar and baking soda make a cleaner so powerful it will cut through any grease and grime your kids can throw at it. And lemon juice is a natural disinfectant that will easy clean germs and other gunk from countertops, door handles, and toilet seats. Click here to learn more about making your own .

This month’s Green Moms Carnival is hosted by , be sure to head over there to check out what other green moms have to say about greening your spring cleaning.

I must admit that in my house we might be thought to be a little lax when it comes to germs. I am not saying that we do not wash our hands when we go to the bathroom or before we eat. We play in the yard digging for bugs and worms and get big slobbery kisses from our dog. We are not afraid of dirt, and follow the “five second rule”.  That said, we are a very clean family. We focus on washing our hands to ensure that there is no, as my 2 year says, durt when we touch food.

Now, I have never been big on anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizer because I believe that we need to build up our immunity to bacteria and viruses to make us stronger. When the kids were infants I did use these types of cleaning products but now that they are older, these products are basically non-existent in our house.

So when I was asked to test out a new, natural, non-toxic hand sanitizer, I was little disinterested but began a dialogue with the company because I was willing to learn more. One of the key points of this new product was they do not use triclosan a widely used anti-bacterial agent.

What is triclosan you ask?  Well, this is what I learned and it is not a pleasant story…

is antimicrobial and antifungal pesticide that is used in a wide variety of products found in retail stores across the country including soaps, toothpastes, cosmetics, deodorants, personal care products, first aid, kitchenware, computer electronics, toys, plastics, paints and clothing. It is widely known as which is infused into everything from cutting boards, pillows and shoes because it inhibits the growth of microbes, such as bacteria, mold and mildew.  Ok, that does not sound that bad…yet.

However, according to , a group dedicated to eliminating toxic and harmful pesticides from our environment, “Studies have increasingly linked one of the most common antimicrobial, triclosan (and its chemical cousin triclocarban), to a range of adverse health and environmental effects, from skin irritation, allergy susceptibility, bacterial and compounded antibiotic resistant, tainted water, and dioxin contamination to destruction of fragile aquatic ecosystems.”

As explained on Wikipedia

During wastewater treatment, a portion of triclosan is degraded while the remaining adsorbs to sewage sludge or exits the plant in wastewater effluent. In the environment, triclosan may be degraded by microorganisms or react with sunlight forming other compounds which may include chlorophenols and dioxin, or it may adsorb to particles that settle out of the water column and form sediment. Triclosan was found in Greifensee, a small lake in Switzerland, sediment that was over 30 years old, suggesting that triclosan is degraded or removed slowly in sediment.

Whoa….wait a minute,  Triclosan degrades into dioxins and chlorophenols, both are known carcinogens. Studies have shown that ultraviolet light converts triclosan to dioxins and it is believed that sunlight could transform triclosan to dioxins naturally. Scientist at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA tested 16 products including soaps, lotions and body wash with triclosan and without.  They discovered that the triclosan products reacted with chlorinated water to produce chloroform, another carcinogen.  So this stuff breaks down into cancer causing agents. I think we’ll keep our hands a bit dirtier and live longer.

In a press release from the Environmental Working Group, the organization states:

Triclosan has been linked to cancer in lab animals, has been targeted for removal from some stores in Europe for its health and environmental risks, and the American Medical Association recommends against its use in the home. It is also linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and low levels of triclosan may disrupt the thyroid hormone system. Thyroid hormones are essential to proper growth and development, particularly for brain growth in utero and during infancy.

Triclosan breaks down into very toxic chemicals, including a form of dioxin; methyl triclosan, which is acutely toxic to aquatic life; and chloroform, a carcinogen formed when triclosan mixes with tap water that has been treated with chlorine. Scientists surveyed 85 U.S. rivers and streams, and found traces of triclosan in more than half.

Just last month, Beyond Pesticides, along with Food and Water Watch, Greenpeace US, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and dozens of public health and environmental groups filed a comment/letter with the Environmental Protection Agency, urging the the agency to stop all non-medical use of triclosan because of its detromental effects on our health and the environment. You can read the press release and comments submitted to the EPA by clicking and .

As I mentioned, triclosan can be found in many, many everyday products. To see a detailed list of products and brands, check out the list on Beyond Pesticides by clicking . Some very well known brands are on the list like toothpaste. Toothpaste? How scary is that? You are putting triclosan and therefore carcinogens directly into your mouth and your body! So rinse and spit, and now you have chloroform. The Colgate website touts “Colgate Total® formula is so revolutionary it’s even patented. One of its active ingredients is triclosan, which is used to help prevent plaque and gingivitis. The formula’s copolymer enables triclosan to continue working in the mouth for 12 hours.” Great so use this toothpaste and triclosan will stay in your mouth for 12 hours!  That’s 12 more hours of exposure to a potential cancer causing agent than I want.

So how do we get rid of those unwanted germs when we really need to. Well let’s go back to that product I dismissed at first. It is called made from , a natural germ killing product derived from thyme and other essential oils. According to the company, Clean Well kills 99.99% of germs on contact including E. Coli, Salmonella, Staph (MRSA) and Pseudomonas. Clean Well is made from a renewable resource that is sustainably grown with no pesticides, irrigation or fertilizer and there are no toxic byproducts from the manufacturing process. Clean Well comes in a spray, as hand wipes and hand wash foam.  So for when you have a house full of sick kids or are cooking with chicken and want to kill germs, you now can avoid triclosan.

To read more about triclosan check out the site where they give detailed information on the effects of triclosan on our health and the environment, what products contain triclosan and much, much more.

Those germs don’t look so bad anymore….you gonna give up your anti-bacterial soaps, or are you gonna to keep on using triclosan-based products?

Melissa Goldberg blogs about taking a stand and making the world a better place for her family at The blog can also be be read at, and .

• Baking Soda and Vinegar: Turns out, my favorite ingredients for cleaning the house are also the best ingredients for clearing a clogged drain. Just pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Stopper the drain so the bubbling action of the baking soda/vinegar mix will be concentrated on the clog.
• Break Out The Snake: If you’ve got a really tough clog, or a problem drain, you may want to pick up a plumbing “snake” (or auger) at your local hardware store. The snake is basically a long tightly coiled metal cable with a corkscrew on one end and a crank on the other. By turning the crank, you can feed the snake down the drain until it comes in contact with the clog.

  When it hits the obstruction, just yank it out and voila, the clog will clear!

A clogged drain is never fun, but at least with these tips you’ll know how to unclog it without tossing a bottle full of caustic chemicals down the drain. Happy Monday!

]]> http://www.thegreenparent.com/2008/06/30/it%e2%80%99s-monday%e2%80%a6here%e2%80%99s-how-to-unclog-that-drain/feed/ 23 http://www.thegreenparent.com/2008/03/21/simple-steps-to-eco-friendly-spring-cleaning/ http://www.thegreenparent.com/2008/03/21/simple-steps-to-eco-friendly-spring-cleaning/#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:26:00 +0000 Jenn Savedge http://www.thegreenparent.com/?p=128 Spring is here! Time to throw open those windows and wipe away the mounds of dust and grime that accumulated over winter. But don’t fill your house up with nasty chemicals while you clean. Get a green clean using these simple steps:

Declutter: Clean out the clutter by going from room to room and getting rid of stuff that you no longer need. (It’s just collecting dust anyhow!) Click here for info on donating everything from clothes to computers to eyeglasses.

Make Your Own Cleaners: I’m not sure when we became convinced as a society that we need to spend tons of money on toxic chemicals packaged in wasteful plastic bottles in order to clean our homes. Vinegar and baking soda make a cleaner so powerful it will cut through any grease and grime your kids can throw at it. And lemon juice is a natural disinfectant that will easy clean germs and other gunk from countertops, door handles, and toilet seats. Click here to learn more about making your own green cleaners.

Use Reusable Rags: Don’t fill up your trash can with paper towels and single use wipes. Use cloth rags, old dishtowels, or cut up a ratty t-shirt to get your cleaning done with less waste.

Want more green cleaning tips? Check out these previous posts:

Breathe Easier And Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Green Your Dry Cleaning

Where To Donate Your Old Stuff

Cleaning House? What To Do With Your Old Clothes

A Green Clean For Clothes

Get A Green Clean

Get A Green Clean, Part II

I’ll admit it…I hate to clean. I am not one of those lucky folks who finds cleaning to be relaxing or therapeutic. Instead, I think it is a chore. Unfortunately, I am one of those folks who really likes to have a clean house. So it is a chore that I tackle regularly. The good news is that since I have been using eco-friendly cleaning products in place of the chemical stuff you find on most store shelves, I find the chore of cleaning to be much more pleasant. No more toxic chemicals (Click here to see a previous post about the cleaning chemicals to stay away from.) Green cleaning leaves you with nothing but a clean, fresh house that’s safe for your family and the environment. Here’s what you need to know to get a green clean:

DIY

You don’t have to have a chemistry degree to save a bundle in $ and make your own cleaning supplies. In fact, it’s so easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. You can use simply vinegar and water to get your windows, floors, and countertops sparkling (at least until the kids come along). And a sprinkle of baking soda is all you’ll need to clean toilets, sinks, and bathtubs. If you really want to get fancy, try out some of the great recipes I have listed in the book for specialized cleaners (disinfectants, stain removers, carpet cleaners, over cleaners, metal cleaners, etc.)

Products To Try

If DIY is not your thing, you can still get a green clean with a product from one of these nifty companies:

• Seaside Naturals: Their All-Purpose Cleaner is my new favorite cleaning product. Not because it smells great and kicks butt on dirt (although it does) but because my HUSBAND loves it and therefore uses it often
• Ecover
• Seventh Generation
• Begley’s Best

Happy Cleaning!!

I know as well as any other parent that paper towels and other disposable cleaning wipes are darned handy when it comes to cleaning up fast. But it’s actually just as fast to reach for a reusable cloth to do the job. Target has a great line of organic cotton cloths and towels as do Ecover and Seventh Generation. For sponges, look for natural sponges that are biodegradable and can even be composted when they have outlived their dishwashing usefulness. (Just be sure they come from a sponge farm and not a natural ecosystem.)

If you just love your laundry detergent, try just using less of it by adding 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash. Need to soften up those stiff baby overalls? Try adding a 1/4 cup of either baking soda OR white vinegar to the wash. And for all of those lovely grass and grape juice stains, you could try a natural bleach such as hydrogen peroxide or a commercially made chlorine-free bleach. Ecover and Seventh Generation are two great companies to check out for eco-friendly laundry detergents, stain removers, and fabric softeners.