Eco Friendly Products
You have probably heard the term VOC (Volatile Organic Compound), and you probably also don't really know what it means. Many cleaning supplies as well as paints that we use contain organic compounds that vaporize and create fumes in the air. Some of these are harmless while others can create health problems. Even glue, permanent markers, and printers emit VOCs.
You can now buy earth friendly products that are free of VOCs. Petroleum based cleaning products should be used in well ventilated areas to avoid the effects of VOCs.
 You have to be careful at the store when you see the term eco friendly or biodegradable as some of these products are stretching the truth. The EPA has put together a listing of products that are actually eco friendly. This program is called the DfE or Design for the Environment . Click here for the DfE homepage. Look for the logo to the right.
 There is also and independent non-profit organization called Green Seal that puts its seal on environmentally friendly products. You can find their listing here. You can also find a list of stores and the Green Seal products they offer here.
You can find several home-made cleaners at Care2 five basics for non-toxic cleaning.
Floors
One great way to clean floors without using chemicals is to mix a cup of distilled white vinegar with one gallon of water. This cleans non-carpeted floors well removing odors, sticky residues and you don't need to rinse afterward.
Laundry
Laundry detergents and fabric softeners often contain fragrances made from chemicals that can cause skin irritations and allergies. Avoid chlorine bleach for uses outside os laundry as it can give off toxic gasses when mixed with toilet bowl cleaners or ammonia.
Air Quality
One of the easiest and greatest ways to keep your home free of impurities in the air is to open the windows. Even in the winter you can open the windows for short periods to air out the house. Another alternative is Air & Water Purifiers for home and office
 . These can be helpful in pulling foreign contaminants of all types out of the air.
Paints
You can now buy eco friendly paint products that contain little or no VOCs.
Below are some companies offering eco friendly products you may be interested in. |
