When it comes to keeping your home clean, you may find yourself in a bit of seemingly complicated situation. On the one hand, you want to protect your family from germs and harmful bacteria that could make them sick. On the other hand, you are concerned about the environmental and health impact that chemical cleaning products may have. And if you hire a home cleaning service to help you out, you may wonder what type of chemical cleaners they use in your home.
The debate about green household cleaning products and practices has been raging for a while now, and you may wonder what the facts truly are. Here is what you need to know about green home cleaning.
Chemical Disinfectants: Friend or Foe?
One of the biggest issues in the green cleaning debate is about the use of chemical disinfectants to clean your home. These products, including bleach-based products, disinfectant sprays, and disinfectant wipes all boast the ability to kill off bacteria and germs that can live on your household surfaces. Some of these bacteria and germs have the potential to make you or your family sick (though it is important to note that not all are dangerous).
Unfortunately, there is mounting evidence that these chemical disinfectants can actually make you sicker than if you did not use them at all. This is because bacteria are living organisms, and like any living being, they will adapt to try to survive in adverse conditions. This means they are becoming stronger and more able to survive not only cleaning products like disinfectants, but are also becoming antibiotic-resistant.
Disinfectants also attack all bacteria indiscriminately. This means that it kills off so-called good bacteria that are not harmful to humans (and can actually help the body), leaving more room for those stronger bad bacteria to grow and thrive.
What About "Green" Cleaning Products?
Instead of using harsh chemical disinfectants in your home to clean, you may be considering some of the many so-called "green" cleaning products available at virtually any store. However, you may wonder how they differ from other disinfectants and cleaning products on the market.
Each "green" product is formulated differently, however most have a few important factors in common. For example, they do not use phthalates to add fragrance to their products because these compounds are known to cause hormone and reproductive disruptions. These products also do not use any chemicals that have known toxicities in single uses or that build up with repeated use.
You do need to carefully read the labels of "green" cleaning products found in stores. Some may not be as environmentally friendly as they claim to be. Look for products that are certified with Green Seal, a non-profit organization that tests products for toxicity and environmental impact.
Are Homemade Cleaners Effective?
Some people have found that the work of inspecting cleaning products found in-store is too much to handle, or they wonder about whether companies list all ingredients. Because it is true that there are very few regulations concerning the disclosure of ingredients in cleaning products, this worry is not entirely unfounded.
If you find yourself in the same boat, you may wonder about homemade cleaning products. Vinegar has long been touted as the best all-natural home cleaning product available. It even has antimicrobial properties, meaning it does work as a mild disinfectant (without the negative consequences of chemical disinfectants).
A little white vinegar sprayed on surfaces, followed by a good scrubbing can remove stains, and leave your home sparkling and clean. And although the smell can be pungent, it is not harmful and disappears once surfaces are dry. Additional home cleaning products you can find in your kitchen are lemon juice, and baking soda. Each work to effectively clean stains from surfaces, remove odors, and leave your home fresh and clean.
The debate over green cleaning in your home has many different components. You must consider all of these issues when deciding how to best make your home cleaning eco-friendly. You have the ability to make your home as clean and green as you like, using various green cleaning methods and products. Contact cleaning services near you, like Home Maid Cleaning Service, and ask them about any green options.
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