Cleaning Healthy…Cleaning Green

OHCE District Lessons

March 17: Coalgate, OK (Southeast)

March 24: Miami, OK (Northeast)

March 26: Fairview, OK (Northwest)

March 31: Chickasha, OK (Southwest)

Introduction

People spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors

Levels of organic pollutants 2 to 5 times higher inside

Sources include:

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from household cleaning products

Introduction

What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?

Emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids

VOCs are emitted from thousands of products, including household products (ex: cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, hobby supplies)

Introduction

Increases in respiratory and allergic health effects among children in homes with higher concentrations of some VOCs

Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) by reducing the number of chemicals used indoors

Green tips

Simplicity

Economics

Environment

Green tip 1: Simplicity

Simplify your life and make cleaning easier

Use fewer products

Select multi-use products

Focus on basic cleaning ingredients

Basic cleaning ingredients

Abrasive

Alkali

Acid

Bleach/Disinfectant

Surfactants

Cleaning products: Abrasives

Purpose

Scour off dirt, grease, or particulate matter

Coarse abrasives

Steel wool, coarse sandpaper

Less scrubbing but may scratch surface

Finer abrasives

Silica or a nylon mesh scrubber

More scrubbing and less likely to scratch surfaces

Cleaning products: Alkalis

Uses

Removes oily dirt; cuts grease

Strengths

Mild: Baking soda

Moderate: Borax

Strong: Washing soda or sodium carbonate

Caution

Dust from cleaning products can irritate the throat

Cleaning products: Acids

Uses

Remove hard-water deposits, discoloration on metal surfaces, and rust stains

Strengths

Mild: White vinegar or lemon juice

Cautions

Prolonged exposure to an acid may irritate the respiratory tract

Cleaning products: Bleaches

Uses

Remove stains and disinfect surfaces

Chlorine bleach

May cause severe damage or irritation to eyes, skin and respiratory system

Oxygen or non-chlorine bleach

Contain hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, or sodium percarbonate

Cleaning products: Disinfectants

Uses

Kill microorganisms on surfaces

Types

Quaternary ammonium chlorides, phenolic compounds, pine oil, and hydrogen peroxide

Caution

Avoid breathing the vapors from the cleaning products

Cleaning products: Surfactants

Uses

Primary ingredients in soaps and detergents

Used to cut grease and grab onto the dirt to help remove it from the surface

Petroleum-based versus plant-based surfactants

Green tip 2: Economics

Homemade glass cleaner

1/4 c. white vinegar

32 oz @ $2

1 tbsp. cornstarch

1 qt. warm water

Standard glass cleaner

32 oz. @ $2.50

Green glass cleaner

32 oz. @ $5.00

Homemade cleaning products cost less than commercial or over-the-counter cleaners

Green tip 3: Environment

Why go “green”?

Health reasons

Improving your home environment by reducing volatile organic compounds that may cause respiratory problems

Environmentally responsible choice

Choosing to use practices today that reduce the use of natural resources so they will be there for future generations

Improving your home environment: Dust reduction

What types of things are in dust?

Agricultural products and pesticides

Pollen Lead dust Cigarette ash

Dust mites and insect fragments

Dead skin cells Volatile organic

compounds Etc.

Improving your home environment: Dust reduction

Reduce dust brought inside Add doormats by

all outside entrances

Shoe should hit the mat four times (10-12 feet)

Improving your home environment: An ounce of prevention

Clean as you go

Wipe up spills immediately

Reduce the need to clean

Don’t put grease down the drain Install drain screens

Improving your home environment: An ounce of prevention

Capture the dirt

Consider moving from sweeping with a broom to damp mopping floors

Instead of dusting with a dry cloth, use a damp cloth

Improving home environment: Invest in good equipment

Doormats for all exterior doors

Grate in front of door

Vacuum with a HEPA filter

Microfiber mops and cleaning cloths

Mop bucket – two chamber

Improving home environment: Freshening the air

Air fresheners mask odors and do not improve the indoor air quality

Good options for freshening the air:

White vinegar

Cinnamon sticks or cloves

Opening the windows

Greenwashing!

• Greenwashing: Misleading or false claims about how environmentally friendly their products are when in fact they are not

• You can learn to separate true eco-friendly products from the greenwashers

Greenwashing

Buyers beware!

It is best to look for public and/or private labels, such as Design for the Environment and Green Seal, when identifying green products

Avoiding greenwashing

Design for the Environment (an EPA partnership Program)

Works in partnership with industry, environmental groups, and academia to reduce risk to people and the environment by finding ways to prevent pollution

Ex. Murphy’s Oil Soap

http://www2.epa.gov/saferchoice/learn-about-safer-choice-label

Avoiding greenwashing

Green Seal

Independent non-profit organization that certifies products using credible, science-based and transparent standards

Third party certification

Ex. Dial Basics

http://www.greenseal.org/

http://www.greenseal.org/FindGreenSealProductsandServices.aspx?vid=ViewProductDetail&cid=17

How safe are your products?

No cleaning product is 100% safe

Natural and green do not imply that the product is nontoxic

All cleaning products should be used with caution

Start today and make one change in your cleaning

habits

You can clean healthier and greener

Hands-on activity

Let’s make some cleaners!

When making cleaners:

Mix only what you need or no more than a month supply

Use new containers: DO NOT store homemade cleaners in previously used or food storage containers

Label with date, ingredients, and product name

Mix in a well-ventilated area

Let’s make…

All-purpose cleaner #1 3 tbsp. white vinegar 1⁄2 tsp. washing soda 1⁄2 tsp. vegetable oil based liquid

soap 2 cups hot water

Fragrant kitchen cleanser 2 tbsp. white vinegar 2 pints water 4 drops essential oil (lavender, tea

tree oil, lemon, lemongrass, or rosemary)

No-streak glass cleaner

¼ c. white vinegar

1 tbsp. cornstarch

1 quart warm water

Thank you!Questions?Comments?

Note: This program was developed by University of Georgia Cooperative ExtensionSharon M. S. Gibson, Multi-Cultural Specialist Pamela R. Turner, Associate Professor & Extension Housing SpecialistGibson, S. M. S., & Turner, P. R. (2008). Cleaning healthy, cleaning green (HACE-E-73-2). Athens, GA: University of Georgia.