Why Clean Green?

Americans are germaphobes and rightfully so. With messy homes clearly linked to the common cold, bacterial infections, and respiratory failure, it’s not surprising that the average American cleans their bathroom roughly seven times per month. But, depending on the kind of cleaning products you reach for, cleaning your home can be just as harmful to your health as letting a bunch of bacteria shack up on your toilet seat. According recent studies conducted by environmental scientists, household cleansers contribute directly to the prevalence of air pollutants in indoor environments, making the air quality in the average home 30% worse* than the outdoors. And, unsurprisingly, poor air quality leads to harmful conditions like asthma, autoimmune disorders, allergic reactions, fertility issues, and even cancer. Luckily, there is an easy way to keep the home clean without jeopardizing the health of the planet or your loved ones: enter green cleaning.

Green cleaning is the intentional use of methods and products which do not cause harm to human health or the environment. Green cleaning products are safe, non-toxic, biodegradable, and are typically packaged sustainably. They can lessen air and water pollution, protect the ozone layer, and help keep families healthy. With the winter months forcing everyone indoors, choose sustainable cleaning products that improve the air quality in your home, but never compromise on the bacteria-blasting benefits of a good scrub: Clean Green!

Give Green Cleaning a Chance: This week, try making your own all-purpose cleaner at home by combining one part vinegar to four parts water and maybe adding a few drops of the essential oil of your choice.

*For more information on this estimate, see Mindy Mutterperl’s book Choosing Sustainability