Thursday, March 22, 2012

Safer Greener Cleaning

There are many hazardous household cleaning agents on the market today.  Do you know of any safer ways to clean your home?  What are some of these hazardous chemicals and what can they do?

56 comments:

  1. daniel hen period 7
    While the Agency collections will accept used motor oil, participants should take this material to local recyclers, to reduce the volume of wastes at collection sites. Used motor oil can be re-refined. Though lead-acid batteries are not commonly accepted during collections, local retailers are willing to accept them; lead and acid from batteries can be recovered for future use. Liquid motor oil and lead-acid batteries are banned from Illinois landfills. Also, latex or "water based"- paints are not household items that should be delivered to household hazardous waste collection events.

    ReplyDelete
  2. K.A PD 7: Truly “green” products are safer for humans and the environment than conventional products. They are less irritating. They are biodegradable, meaning less waste. They usually mean there was less energy and resources used to create the product

    EXAMPLES:
    •Chlorinated phenols found in toilet bowl cleaners are toxic to respiratory and circulatory systems.
    •Diethylene glycol found in window cleaners depresses the nervous system.
    •Perchloroethylene, a spot remover, causes liver and kidney damage.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Joseph Amendola Period 7 Mrs. Zazzali
    Remove toxic products from under your kitchen sink.Some cleaning products we use are carcinogens. Carcinogens cause cancer. Ammonia, in some cleaning products, can trigger asthmatic attacks, and harsh oven cleaners and drain openers can cause terrible damage to children who come into contact with them. Take any cleaner whose ingredient list reads like a chemistry textbook to a hazardous waste disposal center in your municipality and replace the cleaners with ecofriendly ones that have simple, natural ingredients.

    Thank You :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chlorinated phenols found in toilet bowl cleaners are toxic to respiratory and circulatory systems.Diethylene glycol found in window cleaners depresses the nervous system.Phenols found in disinfectants are toxic to respiratory and circulatory systems.
    White vinegaris an antifungal that also kills germs and bacteria these are great to clean the floor and windows.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Megan Amendola period 3:

    Castile Soap can be used as an all purpose cleaner for around the home and would be much greeener and safer. Also, baking soda is an effective replacemnt. Distilled White Vinegar is great for dissolving grease, dirt, soap, scum, and mineral deposits. All of theese are great for the Earth.

    -Chlorinated phenols found in toilet bowl cleaners,toxic to respiratory and circulatory systems.
    -Diethylene glycol found in window cleaners,depresses the nervous system.
    -Phenols found in disinfectants are toxic to respiratory and circulatory systems.
    -Nonylphenol ethoxylate,found in laundry detergents and all-purpose cleaners, is banned in Europe; it has been shown to biodegradeslowly into even more toxic compounds.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AMR Pd 8
    One safe way to refresh the air is to use plants instead of sprays. The chemicals in air sprays can be toxic even though they smell nice. Plants have been found to reduce the pollution in the air. One of he most hazardous chemicals is a corrosive drain cleaner. The corrosive drain cleaner can burn your eyes and skin and if ingested your esophagus and lungs.

    ReplyDelete
  7. N.C. Per.8
    Some safer cleaning products are organic or natural ones. For example: instead of using Swifter cleaning pads use white vinegar and water to clean hardwood floors. Instead of using LYSOL Disinfectant Spray or wipes which contain harsh ingredients try Seventh Generation natural cleaning wipes which have Thymol-thyme oil as a active ingredient. A very hazard material/cleaning supply is Perchloroethylene(a spot cleaner)which causes liver and kidney damage.

    ReplyDelete
  8. M.A pd 8- Household cleaners, garden pesticides, paints, batteries, detergents, even flea powders can be hazardous to our health and the environment. Detergents, degreasers, stain removers and pesticides have made our homes small chemical factories. If these hazardous products in the home are ingested, absorbed through the skin or inhaled they can cause illness that may only appear years later. Many household cleaners can be diluted with water and clean well. Diluting a cleaner is an easy way of making it less harsh and better for safe cleaning. Green cleaning is behavioral as well as simply using healthy and environmentally-friendly products.

    ReplyDelete
  9. vv1 period 5
    one safe way is to use wax spray in stead of anything under the sink. the hazardus can get us sick and we arnt supposed to in hail it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. ND Pd.8
    A simple, safe way to clean your home is to keep your windows and doors open while you are cleaning. This is so you don't trap air pollutants in your home.

    ReplyDelete
  11. OD Pd5
    Four safer ways to clean your home;remove all toxic products from your home;use reuseable mops, paper towls, and cloth rags; you can put a lot of indoor plants inside because plants reduce pollution; and use green cleaning products.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AT Pd.8
    As the article states, "Some harmful household materials are paint, motor oil, antifreeze, auto batteries, lawn care products, pest control products, drain cleaners, pool care products such as chlorine and acids, and household cleaners. Some household cleaners may be harmful separately or when combined such as ammonia and bleach." When your cleaning you should open your windows because it will help get the chemicals out.

    ReplyDelete
  13. SR Period 7

    One 'green' way to clean your house is to always buy organic cleaning products with more natural ingredients. Also, when your cleaning leave any windows open to help everything air out. Its not healthy to breathe in those harsh chemicals so be sure to have any windows or doors open. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BA pd5
      a way that there can be safer and less toxic way of cleaning is if people throw out toxic items like ammonia, clorox bleach, and cascade.Instead people can use water and vinager, and use rags and reusable items.

      Delete
  14. C.A. Pd. 5

    One of the biggest culprits in ocean pollution is phosphates, common in laundry detergents and some cleaning products. The average consumer nationwide uses about 30 pounds of laundry detergent a year; all together, Americans use about 8.3 billion pounds of dry detergent and a billion gallons of liquid detergent each year! High phosphate levels can kill life in rivers, streams and oceans by causing "algae blooms." Algae slimes dense enough to suffocate marine life have been swelling around the world, especially in coastal bays. They are largely caused by fertilizing pollutants called "nutrients" in human sewage and farm runoff.

    Many of the chemicals found in our homes are used to make our lives easier. But we don't realize the consequences of using many of these substances. Think before you pour waste down the sink. Only natural substances should be disposed in our sewer systems. Be wary and read labels. And whenever possible, use alternative non-toxic products that will curtail the destruction of the environment.

    ReplyDelete
  15. A.Z pd 7- Household cleaners, garden pesticides, paints, batteries, detergents, even flea powders can be hazardous to our health and the environment.Detergents, degreasers, stain removers and pesticides have made our homes small chemical factories. If these hazardous products in the home are ingested, absorbed through the skin or inhaled they can cause illness that may only appear years later. Many household cleaners can be diluted with water and clean well. Diluting a cleaner is an easy way of making it less harsh and better for safe cleaning. Green cleaning is behavioral as well as simply using healthy and environmentally-friendly products

    ReplyDelete
  16. V.D. P.D.8:
    Hazrdous cleaners can be very dangerous and toxic to our health. You should remove any toxic or polluting cleaning chemicals which have labels that read dangerous, poison, caution, or danger on it as this is a clear sign to trouble. Toxic cleaners can damage your health. Remove all dangerous and polluting cleaners from under the kitchen sink, where almost everyone keeps cleaners, as the harsh chemicals can get on the food in the kitchen leading to several problems. Put the hazardous cleaners in an isolated locked area until the household hazardous pickup day comes around. You don not want the poisonous chemicals getting to you. Some of the hazardous chemicals can cause serious physical problems or even death like bleach. Most are cancer causing chemicals and irritate the eyes, skin, nose, and throat. Many are toxic and can cause organ problems. Toxic cleaners are bad news to your health and environment.

    ReplyDelete
  17. SS Period 8
    One way to reduce the amount of toxins in your home while cleaning it is to stop using air fresheners.

    ReplyDelete
  18. BA pd5
    a way that there can be safer and less toxic way of cleaning is if people throw out toxic items like ammonia, clorox bleach, and cascade.Instead people can use water and vinager, and use rags and reusable items.

    ReplyDelete
  19. S.H.Pd.7
    To pick a safer cleaner, you need to:

    Find out what's in your cleaning supplies.
    If you want to know what ingredients are in your cleaning products, you probably won't find them on the label (with a few exceptions).

    Instead, you'll need to call the company or try looking on the product manufacturer's website, because manufacturers are not currently required to label their products with a full list of ingredients. Some companies will provide more information if you call or, increasingly, you can check the product's website.

    •2-butoxyethanol (or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) and other glycol ethers
    •Dye (companies often hide chemical information behind this word; when it's unknown, it's safer to skip it)
    •Ethanolamines (common ones to look out for are: mono-, di-, and tri-ethanolamine)
    •Fragrance
    •Pine or citrus oil

    ReplyDelete
  20. B.D pd7 One way to clean your home with out harmful effects of toxins is to open the windows and doors and use homemade substances such as
    1.baking soda
    2.soap
    3.white vinegar
    4.washing soda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. W.C. pd7 You can clean your house by using baking soda, soap, or vinegar

      Delete
  21. ~~~~K.P Period 7~~~~~~
    Question: There are many hazardous household cleaning agents on the market today. Do you know of any safer ways to clean your home? What are some of these hazardous chemicals and what can they do?
    answer:
    ~~~Many common household products contain alcohols, ammonia, bleach, formaldehyde, and lye. These substances can cause nausea, vomiting, inflammation and burning of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system, and are linked with neurological, liver and kidney damage, blindness, asthma, and cancer.
    ~~some safer ways to clean your home is to remove the toxic chemicals out of your household are:
    *use plants to cleanse the air indoors
    *use mops,sponges, and rags
    *buy certified green products
    *you can clean floors with vinegar

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  23. D.O Pd2 : A way to clean your home safely, is to use baking soda, soap, lemon, borax, White Vinegar, washing soda, Etc.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Angelina Smith:period 5;
    There are many inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of commercial household products. Here is a list of common, environmentally safe products which can be used alone or in combination for a wealth of household applications.
    *Baking Soda
    * Soap
    *Lemon
    *Borax
    *White Vinegar
    *Washing Soda
    *Isopropyl Alcohol
    * Cornstarch
    We usually use cleaning products that contain the following:
    *Petrochemicals
    *Naphthalene
    *Methylene chloride
    *Ammonia
    *Chlorine
    *Aerosol Sprays

    ReplyDelete
  25. SP period 8- Experts say that people should look for cleaners that friendlier to the environment and the body. Look for labels that say "petroleum-free" and "biodegradable"

    ReplyDelete
  26. J.S. PD-7
    There are many Eco-friendly ways to clean the house. You can:
    -Remove toxic products
    - Reuse old shirts
    - use baking soda
    -soap
    -borax
    -vinegar
    -green products
    There are many harmful chemicals in our environment.Chemicals enter air as emissions and water as effluent. Some chemicals are:
    Organochlorines- they are capable of damaging the liver,nervous system, and the reproductive system.
    Dioxins- (most toxic man-made organic chemicals)enter the body in food and accumulate in body fat. our bodies have no defense against dioxins.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Q: There are many hazardous household cleaning agents on the market today. Do you know of any safer ways to clean your home? What are some of these hazardous chemicals and what can they do?

    A:Types of hazardous house hold include drain cleaners, oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, furniture polishes, cleansers and powdered cleaners, window cleaners, bleach, liquid cleaners, dyes, etc. Exposure to these chemicals can cause runny nose, scratchy throat, itchy eyes, dizziness, fatigue, etc. Safer ways to clean your house would be to use homemade products. You can make them from natural products like vinegar, water, baking soda or tea tree oil. You could also add water into your products to make them less concentrated with chemicals.

    ReplyDelete
  28. The propellants used in lots of aeresol products used chlorine or bromine containing molecules to force the product form their cans. The molecules are so stable, they survive to reach the "ozone layer", where sunlight breaks them down, and they in turn break down ozone.

    ReplyDelete
  29. a.polewka pd.5- some green ways to clean your house would be to use all organic cleaners instead of bleaches and ammonias. open the windows while you clean because it isnt good to inhale harsh chemicals that are in cleaning supplies. you can also clean your home with water and vinegar or baking soda.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  31. M.S.W period8
    Cleaning products can cause irritation to the eyes and nose if they are inhailed or come in contact. They also pollute to the indoor air and make it very hard to breath, therefore people result in opening their windows which can cause the polluted air to spread. Some safer ways to clean are by using:
    -lemon
    -cornstarch
    -white vinegar
    -baking soda

    ReplyDelete
  32. David S per 7
    I think that we should clean with viniger or water with a rag or paper towel because the chemicals and feums that we may or may not inhail could make us sick.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Domenick P - period 3: Hazardous household cleaners contain harsh chemicals to break down dirt through chemical reactions. However, they are harmful if swallowed, get on your skin and irritate it inhaled causing asthma attacks. Instead of using harmful products, you can make some simple solutions by, using vinegar with water. Or you can purchase ecofriendly products such as, Melaleuca which has natural oils or cleaners that cleans and disinfects germs.

    ReplyDelete
  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  35. MM, period 8: Many all-purpose cleaning agents contain diethanolamine (DEA) and/or triethanolamine (TEA). When these chemicals come in contact with nitrites they present as contaminations. They combine to form nitrosamines (theses can dangerously penetrate the skin). In addition, chemicals referred to a "hormone disruptors can mimic the characteristics of hormones. This can cause male birth defects.
    Greener cleaning alternatives include: caking soda, vinegar and water, lemon, tea tree oil. Green products include: Natural Oxy (stain remover), Simple Green (all-purpose cleaner), and Clorox Green Works: toilet bowl cleaner.

    ReplyDelete
  36. A.Parigi period 2- examples of hazardous house cleaners are:
    -Petrochemicals
    -Naphthalene
    -Methylene chloride
    -Ammonia
    -Chlorine
    -Aerosol Sprays
    -Bleach
    You should changes those materials with good cleaning materials with:
    -Baking soda
    -Vinegar
    -Washing soap (hand soap)
    -Lemon
    -White vinegar
    -Soap

    ReplyDelete
  37. SM Pd7:One way to clean your home safely is to throw away toxic products.If you look under the kitchen sink you may see products that say danger and poison.Small amounts leak from the bottle and go into the kitchen air.One of the harmful products is oven cleaner.Oven cleaner may make it hard to breathe or i causes pain in the eyes,ears,and throat.

    ReplyDelete
  38. VV2 Period 5-You could avoid the harmful products and replace it with safer products. You should also clean sparingly and only when you need to.

    ReplyDelete
  39. T.W. period 2
    one hazerdous cleaning agent is drain cleaner. this product can burn skin,eyes, and mucous membraneson contatact to any of these areas of the body.

    ReplyDelete
  40. HS period 8
    Many common household products contain alcohols, ammonia, bleach, formaldehyde, and lye.These substances can cause nausea, vomiting, inflammation and burning of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system
    Natural cleaners and green cleaning products are a smart way to clean your house the safe, non-toxic way.

    ReplyDelete
  41. KH Period 5- To clean your home you can replace toxic products with non-toxic, biodegradable products instead. Some hazardous products are aluminum, carbon dioxide, etc. Hazardous substances are used in many workplaces and take many different forms. Solids, liquids, gases, mists and fumes can be present in the workplace. Exposure to hazardous substances can affect the body in many different ways. Skin contact, inhalation and ingestion can cause damage.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Nicole E. Pd7

    The greener way to clean your house is to use organic products or any product you have around The house for example:
    Salt
    White vinegar
    Baking soda
    Lemons
    Olive oil
    Tee tree oil
    Baking powder

    ReplyDelete
  43. Per. 2
    Well healthier ways to clean our dishes and etc. are to use natural resources instead of these malignment chemicals we use like clorine,napthalene,and bleach. These chemicals affect your skin,eyes,and organs,but the good news is we have a better methods of solving these horrors of chemicals. Like using soap,water,baking soda,or lime or lemons.these are some of noumerouse ways of doing good instead of harm!

    ReplyDelete
  44. A.H.-Pd. 8:

    As that they are part of many of our daily lives, household products are used without much attention to its contents and environmental footprint. Countless household products contain dangerous chemicals such as alcohol (which is always in a highly concentrated form, therefore very dangerous and volatile) , ammonia (common in cleaning detergents) , bleach (which, like alcohol, is also highly concentrated and capable of doing much more than just ruin color) , formaldehyde (which just so happens to used as a preserving agent inside the corpses at funeral homes) , as well as countless other substances. One drain cleaner called Drano (in highly concentrated form) is said to eat away at organic matter at contact. I will should think that now this answers this "equation": Skin Contact with Drano = ?????? . Tough question, is it not? I would also like to relate that other products have incredible side effects: Inhaltion from powerful cleaners (such as those used to clean especially dirty stoves, sinks, ovens, etc.) can cause asthma, lung cancer, serious lung damage, and other lovely conditions. Swallowing those same cleaners would (if not treated immediatley) most DEFENITELY RESULT IN DEATH. It's such a positive note. If you often spray your home with toxic, poisonous, and sometimes flammable gases that are supposedly doing good for you and your home a.k.a. "Air Refresheners", you are actually doing quite the opposite of your goal. Most individuals do not understand this, but most "air refresher" formulas involve hazardous chemicals disguised in a smooth, fresh, AND DECIEVING SCENT that has detrimental health effects over time. If they use chlorine or bromine, they also help melp melt Antarctica by generously breaking down the essential ozone layer obove it. A nice alternative is opening all windows in a house to let the scent fade and/or placing plenty of herbal plants to add a more natural scent to the air. Fortunately, there are many eco-friendly products (developed through the long-overdue environmental revolution) that use chemicals gentle to the environment. With miraculous luck, hardly anyone uses them! They seem to take the environment for granted, dismiss all environmental reccomendations, and do not want the supposedly "ominous change".
    -Here are some very nice effects of these products:

    -Vomiting
    -Dysentary
    -Nausea
    -Lung Cancer
    -Skin Cancer
    -Possible Cancer in ANY area of contact
    -Asthma
    -Runny Nose
    -Burning of eyes, skin, nose, respiratory system, and throat
    -Inflammation of skin, nose, respiratory system, and throat
    -Puncture of skin
    -Extreme Acidic Erosion
    -Heavy Fatigue
    -Heavy Dizziness
    -Possible Fainting
    -Terrible Level of Coughing and Sneezing
    -And many other lovely conditions, disorders, and injuries.
    --> VERY POSSIBLE CHANCE OF DEATH IF NOT TREATED <--

    Here is a tip I really hope you know by now: --> ONLY USE TOXIC PRODUCTS WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY! <-- . So let's go out there and try not to destroy the environment.

    ReplyDelete
  45. A.C. Pd 8- Here are some harmful everyday chemicals:
    -Chlorinated phenols
    -Diethylene glycol
    -Phenols-
    -Nonylphenol ethoxylate
    -Formaldehyde found in spray and wick deodorizers is a respiratory irritant and suspected carcinogen.
    -Petroleum
    -Perchloroethylene
    -Butyl cellosolve


    Here are some that you could use as an alternate cleaning source:
    -Microfibre cloths
    -White vinegar
    -Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking soda or soda crystals)
    -Eco Wash Balls or Soap Nuts
    -Assorted Rags – Anything of cloth origin (old towels, sheets, t-shirts) past its best cut up and stored for those really dirty jobs
    -Pumice stone

    ReplyDelete
  46. I.F Pd 8
    One way to stay clean is to avoid poor indoor air quality. It is not uncommon for the air inside a home or office to be more toxic than the air outside. This is because of the presence of toxic materials and substances and the fact that homes and buildings are better insulated than ever before. Keeping windows open as often as possible allows fresh air in and keeps toxins flowing out. This is especially important when cleaning your home

    ReplyDelete
  47. pd. 2 s.p
    you can use things like Microfibre cloths,White vinegar,Bicarbonate of Soda [Baking soda ],Eco Wash Balls. and stay away from,Chlorinated phenols,Diethylene glycol,Phenols-,Nonylphenol ethoxylate

    ReplyDelete
  48. One 'green' way to clean your house is to always buy organic cleaning products with more natural ingredients.

    ReplyDelete
  49. some chemials we often clean our home with can be very haardous beacause of harmful fumes. baking soda is better to clean with.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Pd. 5 J.l
    It is not uncommon for the air inside your home to be more toxic than the air outside. This is because of the presence of toxic materials and substances and the fact that homes and buildings are better insulated than ever before. Keep windows open as often as possible so that fresh air stays in and keeps toxins going out.

    ReplyDelete
  51. As always, my students have impressed me. Keep up the great work and help to protect our environment! :) Mrs. Zazzali

    ReplyDelete
  52. There are a few ways to keep your house cleansed of chemicals. One way is to place baking soda in the refrigerator, which eliminates odors as well as gases released from food. Another way is to clean any surface with castille concotion. This can be used on any surface and is chemical free!

    ReplyDelete
  53. LI Pd.8 - As we know it, spring equals spring cleaning time. Here are some tips to make your cleaning enviornmentally friendly.

    1. Keep kids away - kids are more likely to be hurt by harmful chemicals.

    2. Try natural alternatives - Try diluting your soap when it is low so you do not have to use more plastic and so it saves you money.

    3. Open up! - Open windows to keep the harmful chemicals out of your household.
    *For a green product try using Greenworks. It does not have any harmful residues or odors.*

    ReplyDelete
  54. Many house hold items contain harmful chemicals such as ammonia. One substitute is lemon oil and lavender. These are antiseptic and can work as disinfectants.

    ReplyDelete