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Many people are interested in not only keeping their home clean, but removing harmful Volatile Organic Compounds that are emitted by certain chemicals. Does that mean you are reduced to cleaning with only vinegar and water? Of course not! What you do want for a safer surface and air environment in your home are natural multipurpose cleaning products that don’t contain solvents, have a neutral pH, and are biodegradable. Removing those elements from your cleaning supplies ensures air to breath that doesn’t contain toxic fumes and no harmful residue on your surface.

Avoid Volatile Organic Compounds – Certain liquids and solids are known to produce fumes which are characterized as Volatile Organic Compounds. In an enclosed environment such as your home, these fumes build up to a surprising level. The EPA notes concentration of many VOCs indoors can be as much as ten times higher than outside. This is primarily due to a lack of ventilation, allowing the fumes to linger far longer than your nose will be able to detect. It can be alarming to learn than items such as dry cleaned clothing, air fresheners, cleaning supplies, paint and paint removers and plywood can all contribute to these levels.

It may seem that having used these Volatile Organic Compounds causing products for years in the past, you could just continue unaffected. There are some symptoms and side-effects from their use, however, with which you may not have associated the cause and effect. Ever experience eye irritation, headaches or dizziness while cleaning? How about flu-like symptoms? Those are just some of the short-term health considerations. Long-term consequences can include cancer. It is apparent that these chemicals are not safe for even the healthiest adult, however, there are specific groups who appear to fall under a higher risk category. The elderly, of course, as well as babies and children, but also pregnant and nursing women. Individuals with compromised immune systems are also vulnerable. Understanding that these fumed are present for hours after use let’s you know that anyone could be exposed.

Like all of us, you want a clean home and you have the products to prove it. You have cleaners for your windows, carpets, tub, countertops, your carpets and to degrease your grill. If they are not biodegradable and pH neutral, every single one emits harmful Volatile Organic Compounds which last for hours. Unfortunately, and unknown to most people, even sitting waiting for use, they produce toxic gasses.

Neutral pH – Another new plus in your cleaning arsenal is going to be the use of products that have a neutral pH. A compound with a pH of 7.0 is considered neutral, being neither alkaline or acidic. This means it will be non-reactive to when it touches a surface, when it touches your skin, and when it reacts with the environment when it exits your home through the drainage system and gets into the water. When a compound has a high pH (over 7.0) it is alkaline, such as bleach. A lower pH (under 7.0) means it is acidic, such as battery acid. Quite expectantly, both of these are highly corrosive to surfaces and skin.

In your home you may have many surfaces that require careful cleaning, such as marble and certain tiles. These surfaces won’t be harmed by neutral pH eco friendly cleaning products. Even more important, this type of product will not damage your skin.

No Solvents – Solvents often contain corrosive chemical ingredients, such as alcohols, esters, Ethylene Glycol Ethers (EGEs), and Propylene Glycol Ethers (PGEs). These are carcinogenic and toxic to people & the environment.

Biodegradable – Out of sight and out of mind. This could describe the products and chemicals that go down our drains when we clean. This doesn’t mean, however, that the environment is out of trouble. Common cleaning chemicals pollute instead of changing and then dissolving into co-factors that are non-harmful. Some biodegradables contribute even further to dissipation by speeding up the time it takes to do so.

Few decisions are as easy as the one involved in changing from harsh chemical cleaners to commercial green cleaning products.Replacing your existing cleaners with all natural cleaning products protects your home and your loved ones, as well as making a positive environmental impact.