This is by far the green area I am most passionate about! I think because just by changing brands you can do so much to make the planet and your family healthier! A lot of people are unaware of the dangerous chemicals in traditional cleaners. Sloan Barnett likes to call this the “Real Dirt on Clean” on her book “Green Goes with Everything.” Some facts she discusses include:
- Fewer than 20% of registered chemicals have been tested for toxicity
- 90% of all poison exposure occur at home
- 90% of our time is spent indoors, where the EPA reports air pollution is up to 5 times higher than outside
- 1 out of every 13 school-aged children has asthma (up 160% since 1980)
- Common household cleaners and appliances give off fumes which can potentially increase the risk of children developing asthma
Here are 2 clips with Sloan talking about the hazards of traditional cleaners and why it is important to use green alternatives:
