ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING SUPPLIES

Phosphates

Phosphates are naturally occurring minerals that are commonly added to automatic dishwasher detergents because they soften water, which helps dishwashers clean more effectively. However, phosphates also cause environmental harm once released in household wastewater. This phosphate-rich wastewater causes algae to grow and flourish in local waterways. When these algae die, they become food for microorganisms that gradually remove oxygen from the water, which can cause animals and plants living in infected waterways to die off. Because of this environmental hazard, phosphates were phased out of most cleaners but still persist in automatic dishwasher detergents. Fortunately, there are a growing number of companies that produce automatic dishwasher detergents that do not use these phosphates.

Petrochemicals

Petroleum based chemicals are used extensively in laundry detergents, bathroom cleaners, disinfectants, spot removers and floor cleaners. Using these chemicals not only contributes to our dependence on petroleum and causes a host of environmental problems, but can be hazardous to our health, as well. For example, certain petrochemicals found in toilet bowl cleaners (chlorinated phenols) are toxic to humans; a petrochemical added to laundry detergents (nonyl phenol ethoxylate) is banned in Europe because it biodegrades into dangerous compounds; and a petrochemical found in spot removers (perchloroethylene) can damage the kidneys and liver. In fact, a fifteen year study of women done in Oregon found an increased rate of cancer in women who stayed home compared to those who worked outside the house, and exposure to cleaning products was found to play a role in this increased risk. Although it may be hard to identify which common products contain harmful petrochemicals, leading organic and eco-friendly manufacturers have released a number of household cleaners that do not contain these petrochemicals.

Whitening Agents

Whitening agents (also called optical brighteners) are added to laundry detergents. While they do not actually make clothes cleaner, they make treated clothing appear brighter and whiter. Although these whitening agents do not cause harm to clothing itself, the chemicals cause environmental damage by killing fish and aquatic life and can cause mutations in other organisms. Further compounding this problem is the fact that whitening agents biodegrade extremely slowly. Finally, these chemicals (which tend to remain on treated clothing) can cause skin and eye irritation in sensitive individuals.

Eco-friendly Cleaning Supplies

There are a growing number of organic and eco-friendly companies that make cleaning supplies like laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, bathroom cleaners, disinfectants, spot removers and floor cleaners without using phosphates, petrochemicals, or whitening agents. Look for these products at stores like Whole Foods Market or purchase them online.