Sasha Roeder Mah, Journal Special Projects Writer
Published: Monday, June 02

EDMONTON - Changing the way we clean our living spaces accomplishes two important things at once. We send far less harmful chemicals out into the environment and down into our water supply, and we also create better air quality within our own homes.

Every time we bleach the toilet bowl to a squeaky clean white shine, we're flushing cancer-causing agents down the pipes and the fumes into our lungs. Making different choices for everyday home care needs is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to reduce the impact on the environment and increase the health quotient of indoor air.

Since most of us spend about 90 per cent of our lives within the embrace of four walls, it's a worthwhile investment to make.

Most household cleaners are made up of a toxic stew of chemicals some to do the work, and others to make them smell good. And these nasty compounds have managed to find their way into most of our streams and rivers, despite rigorous efforts on the part of municipal water treatment facilities. There's simply too much out there to keep up with.

While ammonia and chlorine might make your bathtub sparkle, they also contribute to respiratory irritation, headaches and lethargy. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in such conventional cleaners have even been linked to cancer and reproductive problems.

According to Christie Matheson, in Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style, "if every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle with a biodegradable, eco friendly product, that would keep 11 million pounds of VOCs from entering the environment."

Today, even makers of conventional cleaning products are listening to the increasing demand of consumers and going at least partially green.

What's available

It seems a new line of Earth-friendly household cleaners pops up every day, and you need look no further than your neighbourhood drug store or supermarket to find a good selection.

Beware of "green washing," though, when you shop the aisles. As industry is still fairly loosely regulated in terms of label information, many companies may stretch the truth or make misleading claims as to exactly how good for the environment those products are. Before you shop, check out the website www.terrachoice.com for the results of a massive study done last year, which found that of 1,018 products making environmental claims, only one avoided all of their so-called "six sins of greenwashing."

That being said, here are some of the most popular choices for keeping things clean around the house, in no particular order.

Did you know laundry detergents are made from petroleum? That means that by switching to vegetable-based detergents from a company such as Natura, we're actually reducing oil consumption.

Natura detergent contains no dyes, chlorine bleach or phosphates, and uses essential oils so the good smells coming from your fresh laundry are naturally occurring and won't irritate your allergies. Natura also makes a line of cleaning solutions for the kitchen and bath choose the refreshing scent of Australian tea tree oil and you'll never go back to that fake lemony smell you're so used to and even reusable, hypoallergenic, chemical-free dryer sheets. Look for Natura products at Home Hardware.

A few years ago, an upstart little company out of San Francisco decided to take a chance and go big. Today, Method products can be found across North America, including at Safeway and Shoppers Drug Mart stores, and the line continues to expand.

Taking their mandate seriously to cause as little harm as possible, all of Method's products, including household cleaners, laundry soap and skin care, are produced with renewable energy, and packaged in recycled plastic. So not only are they free of harmful chemicals, care is taken in the actual making of such tasty-sounding choices as mint window wash (I own this it works like a charm and smells sweetly pepperminty) and lemon and ylang ylang wood floor cleaner.

Closer to home, Canada's Bio-Green looks a bit utilitarian next to Method's sexy packaging but it's a great choice for our environment and health. Completely non-toxic, Bio-Green all-purpose bathroom cleaner does the job on soap scum, lime and offensive odours, and biodegrades in six days. The entire line of Bio-Green products is available at Planet Organic.

Even companies such as Clorox are getting into the spirit of things. Their Green Works line contains neither phosphorus nor bleach, and uses biodegradable ingredients. Their labels do not show complete ingredient lists, however, whereas the above companies do. So if you're really serious about knowing what you're putting into the water and into your home air that might not be good enough for you.

Do it yourself

Did you know the average Canadian spends about $300 a year on household cleaning products? In Go Green, Live Rich, David Bach explains that we can make our own solutions for as little as $20, using common household ingredients. Baking soda is a natural scouring agent, so make a paste with a bit of water, put it on a scrub brush and go to work on the grout between your tiles. And vinegar is a natural disinfectant, so it works perfectly to clean the toilet bowl when diluted with water. A cautionary note: not many of us enjoy the powerful scent of vinegar wafting through the bathroom, so consider adding a few drops of an essential oil in the scent of your choice to balance out that sharp odour.

Looking for recipes to try? Try the website www.eartheasy.com for a comprehensive list of everything from carpet stain removal to glass cleaner.

Plain and simple

Believe it or not, with the right cloth, you can actually forgo cleaning products altogether. This is the beauty of micro fibre.

For example, fans of wet/dry mop systems that involve disposable cloths should seriously consider trading them in for a micro fibre system. Most grocery stores carry a store brand for less than $20, and all you need to add for mopping is hot water. The thin strands of polyester and nylon in the cloth are remarkably effective at picking up dust and grime, and act as a natural antibacterial agent as well, eliminating the need for harsh chemical cleaners.

A fun way to introduce the multiple uses of this miracle fabric to your friends is to host a Norwex party. Like Tupperware and Partylite, Norwex consultants come into your home and offer demonstrations of their products, then pass around catalogues and collect orders. Order products and get more information from senior executive sales manager Stacey Westman at www.norwexforlife.com.


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