The #SustainableIRL Series at Old World New is highlighting a new eco-friendly theme each month in 2019. January is all about eco-friendly cleaning. Here’s the round up of eco-friendly cleaning resources from Old World New, other blogs, and books. Join the Sustainable IRL Facebook Group to keep the conversation going.
Quick Facts:
- A 20 year Norwegian study has shown that inhaling cleaning products can be just as bad as smoking 20 cigarettes a day. (source)
- A combination of household cleaning supplies, paints, and perfumes have been found to be as high of a contributor to air pollution in LA as automobile emissions. (source)
- “Women who work as cleaners or regularly use cleaning sprays or other cleaning products at home appear to experience a greater decline in lung function over time than women who do not clean, according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.” (source)
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Eco-Friendly Cleaning – Articles
- Lemon & Vinegar DIY Non-Toxic Cleaning Spray
- DIY Natural & Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes Collection
- Non-Toxic Cleaning Brands To Try
- Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips (Spring Cleaning)
- Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
- Think Dirty, Shop Clean
- Green Cleaning Kitchen Swaps
- Room-by-room Checklist for an Eco-Friendly Home
Eco-Friendly Cleaning – Book Recommendations
- Green Enough: Eat Better, Live Cleaner, Be Happier by Leah Segedie
- Sustainability Made Simple – Small Changes for Big Impact by Rosalyn Byrd & Lauren Demantes
- Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home, by Renée Lous
- Green Cleaning for Dummies by Elizabeth B. Goldsmith & Betsy Sheldon
- Sara Snow’s Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home by Sara Snow
Other Eco-Friendly Cleaning Resources
- EWG, or the Environmental Working Group, which gives the EWG VERIFIED certification to products that pass their rigorous testing for chemical safety.
- B Corp measures both the social and environmental performance of a company, resulting in a prized and well-earned B Corp Certification. Search their directory to find which companies have the B Corp Certification.
- Think Dirty app, which rates the toxicity of beauty & cleaning items
- Good Guide app, which rates household, baby, and personal care products for “degree of concern” regarding their ingredients.
- Moms Clean Air Force blog and resources, which works on “protecting children from potentially harmful chemical exposures through education and advocacy focused on toxic chemicals in consumer products and other sources.”
- Mamavation – a blog about making eco-living easier, created by “Green Enough” author and ShiftCon Founder, Leah Segedie.
Great list of posts and great ideas 🙂 I have replaced almost every store bought cleaner with a diy green cleaner. I still need to get rid of bleach.
That’s so good! Stains are difficult, I still hold on to my oxiclean spot cleaner, even though the scent/fragrances are so strong to me now. One step at a time, and we’ll both figure out how to lose the last of our toxins that we’re holding on to LOL!
I always enjoying finding resources and books are my life. All natural cleaning has always been my way.
Ooooh, that’s awesome! Let me know if there are any books that you’d add to this list!
It’s been an ongoing process over the year to rid our home of toxic chemicals and clean naturally. Thank you for your list of books and resources!
You’re welcome, Nancy!
What a post full of awesome information and resources! I bookmarked this one so I can keep coming back!
Yaye, Annie! I’m glad you found it useful!
Thank you for all of these resources! Those stats about decreased lung function after using cleaning chemicals are scary. We know too much now to continue on with our same ways. Hopefully more and more people will start choosing greener and healthier alternatives.
I’m going to look into the Easy Green Living book–all of the books sounds inspirational, but I’m particularly curious about that one.
I’m glad you found one of the book recommendations intriguing, Holly! Spreading information in order to impact change is the goal, so you’re right – those stats are too scary to ignore once you know them!
Thank you for all the recommendations!
You’re welcome, Kristina!
Great references to keep handy! Thanks!
No problem, Jennifer!
Nice compilation of information! Wow–that’s a crazy statistic–20 cigarettes!
Isn’t that crazy, Kristi? It puts the danger of using toxic products into perspective very well.
Thanks for this list. This is one of the areas I want to grips with this year. We currently use cleaning products from an eco range – but the ingredients list doesn’t actually tell you what’s in it, so I’m a little sceptical. I’m sure it’s better than non-eco products, but I’d like to know what’s actually in it.
I haven’t read this book yet, but I’ve followed the blog for a while, but Fresh Clean Home Wendy Graham might be worth checking out and adding to the list.
Brilliant set of links – I use a lot of vinegar, lemon and bicarb and hate synthetic cleaners – and those horrible air freshner things that pump chemicals into the room every few seconds are awful and make me feel ill. I rented an apartment recently and had to switch it off. It was vile.
OMG Rosie, every time we visit folks who have the automatic “air freshener” it makes me physically ill, as well. My stomach and head start to hurt, and since I no longer use chemicals in my everyday life, they linger in my nose and mouth because I’m not used to them. It is horrible. It goes to show that when we remove those chemicals from our life, and then are exposed to them again when we’re not accustomed to them, how harsh they really are.
I love my green cleaning supplies!! Only way to go!
Thank you so much on highlighting how dangerous cleaning chemicals can be. I strive to use natural organic cleaners and it makes me sad so many women just ignore how they are affecting the health of themselves and their kiddos!