Does anyone else’s house need a bit of a dusting and a refresh? Okay who am I kidding, my house needs a full-on deep clean, and if you’re anything like me, yours probably does too. Many people are interested in opting for greener and healthier cleaners over conventional chemical cocktails, but are not certain of the benefits of these healthier products, or of their efficacy. If you are about to bust out or re-stock your cleaning products, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind.

Fact 1: They actually do work

Because companies like Seventh Generation and Nature Clean do not use harsh or toxic chemicals, some people assume that they cannot effectively clean. If you are concerned, look for brands that have third-party certifications, like Green Seal, EcoLogo, ECOCERT or Design for the Environment (DfE); these certifications also include performance standards.

Full disclosure: You may have to let them sit on the problem area a bit longer before scrubbing.

Fact 2: They can kill germs and bacteria

Harsh chemical compounds are not the only thing that kills germs: Tea tree and thyme oil, and plain old vinegar can also do the trick. “Disinfectant” is a legal term and is considered to include bactericides, fungicides, virucides, mycobactericides, tuberculocides, sporicides, sterilants, or combinations of these. Ingredients in disinfectants are regulated and tested by Health Canada and display Drug Identification Numbers (DINs) on their label.  

Fact 3: The chemical agents within them are safer for you and your family

Who spends more time on the floor than your kids and pets?  Because of this affinity for being horizontal, they are more susceptible to the chemicals in cleaning products than adults; In fact, young children are 10 times more vulnerable to carcinogenic chemicals than adults.   Gentler, more environmentally conscious products that are free of carcinogens, harsh chemicals, and phthalate-based fragrance are a safer option than conventional cleaners.

According to Seventh Generation, chemicals of concern can hide behind the term "fragrance" in ingredient lists on your cleaning products - chemicals that have been linked to serious health effects including allergies, asthma, cancer, and reproductive harm.

But please, even if you use a greener cleaner always keep children and pets away from the area being cleaned and always keep cleaners in a secured area.

Fact 4:  They are better for the environment
The major concern is the chemicals which are contained within conventional cleaning products. There are thousands of chemicals in common use, which may pollute streams and rivers and may take a long time to degrade into harmless products. Some may not break down at all but may persist in the environment. These may enter the food chain, being eaten by aquatic creatures and perhaps eventually by us.

Fact 5:  They aren’t way more expensive
There’s absolutely no cheaper cleaner than vinegar and baking soda. However, if you like to just grab a bottle and run, alternative cleaners have become more popular and have dropped in price in recent years.   Plus this month, we have a great sale on Seventh Generation, which was one of the trail blazing healthy cleaning companies!