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Let's take a look at one of my (former) cleaning staples...
Clorox. One word, so many uses.
If there were a religion by the name of Clorox, I know many a fanatically-clean family member who would happily abide by its rules.
But how safe are Clorox products for your family and your home?
There are numerous products that Clorox provides to keep your home clean and sterile. There are laundry detergents with bleach, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, sponges with bleach conveniently integrated into the material, sanitary wipes, general disinfectants, the list goes on and on. As a parent, I have to admit how easy and accessible these products can be. Working in the daycare field, your establishment can't possibly go a day without them! Imagine having multiple toddlers running about, doing what toddlers do: sneezing, coughing, potty-training; touching everything with unwashed hands, putting toys in their mouths, or their fingers in their friends' mouths. It's safe to say that there is a lot of bodily fluid quite openly -and innocently- shared in these places! Wouldn't a single, all-purpose product be the perfect, most cost-effective means of dealing with these facts of life?
Well...yes. And then again...NO. This article is my first weekly attempt at comparing a commercially popular cleaning product, with those that maybe aren't as well known, but remain products which can revolutionize your household in terms of cleanliness,healthfulness wholesomeness, and safety.
Clorox offers an All-Purpose cleaner called Clean-Up. It contains bleach, as most Clorox products do, and touts itself as one of the best choices for a sanitary environment. On the Clorox homepage, there is a link to all products and their information. The attributes of Clean-Up include cleansing, disinfecting and deodorizing surfaces, and removing stains, dirt and grease. It can eliminate 99.9% of bacteria in about 30 seconds, including viruses that cause the cold and flu. The site even recommends using this product on items such as highchairs, diaper bins, changing tables, and crib surfaces.
What a fantastic product! ...Right? Well, let's go over the precautions. The usual directions are listed: "Always read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products. Children may be sensitive to strong odors of cleaners. It's best to deep clean when children are out of the room. Remember to store cleaning products out of the reach of children. ...Use only in well-ventilated areas. Before use, open windows and turn on fan. Vapors may irritate."
With all of these warnings for use around children, do you still want to clean your baby's highchair tray and crib with this product?
If you investigate a little further, you will find that the primary ingredient in this product is a chemical compound called sodium hypochlorite. According to the product's site, this active ingredient is necessary for the product to effectively disinfect a surface. It is a disinfectant which is also regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as it is categorized as an unstable chemical compound.
Do a little more digging, and you'll find a lot more. I typed in the name of the chemical compound to do a simple web search. The results were both astounding and frightening! The subjects that stood out most for me were the "Potential Health Effects" listed on an Iowa State University's material safety data sheet. All of a sudden, this doesn't sound like simple clean-up to me.
Some potential health hazards for the chemical used in Clorox Clean-Up include irreversible eye injury, skin burns, skin discoloration, convulsions, digestive tract burns, rapid heart rate, breathing difficulty, coma, and DEATH. Death?! From a cleaning product?
The first aid measures suggested are nearly as traumatic as the potential health effects. If the injury is to the victim's eyes, you are not to allow them to close their eyes. You are to eliminate exposure to contaminated clothing. You are not to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and are to refer only to professional medical aid in all circumstances.
Do you want to use this product on your baby's things NOW?
Well, I don't. This information scared me half to death. So I did a little more digging to find the right product to use in my home.
Sol-U-Guard Botanical 2x is a green-product with no toxic chemicals. It's still 99.9% effective killing germs, just like Clorox, and is approved by the EPA. But this product is two times concentrated, so it lasts twice as long in the home and saves you money, as well as decreasing the amount of plastic you have to take to the recycling center. It is made from botanically pure plant extracts, with pleasant aromatherapeutic vapors and a significantly milder scent. The active ingredients include citric acid as a second powerful disinfectant, in addition to botanical thyme oil. Together, these proven botanical ingredients kill over 99.9% of bacteria and viruses in as little as 1 minute. Would you allow that extra 30-second time span if it meant your family was kept out of harm's way; kept from the potential dangers of bacteria and of harmful toxic chemicals combined?
Another home-made alternative for disinfecting in the home is simply white vinegar. You can purchase it by the jug at your local grocery store. Pour some into a spray-bottle, and away you go! You can add your own organic oils to make it smell a little more homey. I firmly believe the more simple you go, the better the outcome for all!
Stay tuned next Tuesday for another product comparison, and for more tips on how to make your home and your life a Green one!
Interested in any of these green products? Click here!
(All Sol-U-Guard info used in this
post available from RM Barry Publications)
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