This year homeowners can do their Spring cleaning with safer, time-tested ingredients they already have in their cupboards and closets, while avoiding toxic products that cause:

• indoor air pollution,
• endanger children
• and disrupt the environment.

The typical American home contains 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials and uses and stores more than 60 hazardous household products.

Toxic chemicals are found in such ubiquitous products as

• glass cleaners
• metal polishes
• and toiletbowl cleaners.

Health effects of ingredients in common household products include:

• respiratory problems
• eye irritation
• cancer
• disruption of the endocrine system
  

EMS.org has fact sheets on chemicals in household products, a guide to safer home cleaning recipes and tips, expert contacts and sources of additional information. Find out why consumers should avoid chlorine bleach, and how to clean windows without paper towels and unclog drains without chemicals.

Go to: http://www.ems.org/household_cleaners/factsenn.html.

Fortunately, most homeowners already have safer ingredients in their homes that can be used to make simple, economical and effective cleaners.

Ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, salt and lemon juice are found in most homes and have been proven effective as cleaning ingredients for generations.

Home cleaning recipes such as those found at EMS.org can reduce environmental impacts associated with the manufacture, packaging and shipment of commercial products, since home cleaning recipes use ingredients which are safe to buy in bulk, and which ounce-for-ounce go a lot farther than commercial products.

For example, it only takes a half-cup of vinegar to make a quart of simple, all-purpose cleaner.

Environmental Media Services April 5, 2001