The New Green House

Over the past few years, more and more Americans have begun stocking their fridges and pantries with foods labeled "all-natural" and "organic." Now, they are turning their attention to what's under the kitchen sink and in their laundry cabinets – namely, cleaning products.

Where names like Windex and Comet have reigned supreme in the past, new eco-friendly lines like Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyer's are taking up court. The attraction? Natural, non-toxic household products that clean just as well as their toxic counterparts, while leaving less of an imprint on the world around us.

"There's been an overall increase in interest in the whole environmental issue," said Wade Carmichael , the general manager at Ellwood Thompson's Natural Market , the largest independent natural food store in Virginia. "I think we're getting ready to go into an ecological era here, where there's so much more consciousness on sustainability and how you as an individual impact your environment." What's the Difference? If you've ever spent time cleaning a small bathroom with standard household cleaners, you've likely experienced the headaches, itchy eyes and dry skin that can result from close, extended contact with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to indoor air pollution.

According to the National Center for Environmental Health , VOCs can be found in some household solvents, cleaners, waxes, chlorine bleaches, aerosol propellants and other cleaning products, producing indoor air pollution that can result in headaches, eye and respiratory irritations, central nervous system disorders, liver/kidney effects, cancer and chromosome damage.

When they are used according to the care instructions, most toxic household cleaners are considered perfectly safe, assuming one's contact with them is limited and the indoor air is properly ventilated. However, the development, manufacturing and transportation of toxic chemicals contribute to environmental pollution, as does the disposal of toxic waste.

On the other hand, natural products, which often include hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, borax, baking soda, cornstarch and other biodegradable substances, do not produce the same harmful environmental or physical effects. Many natural products are produced in non-polluting ways and packaged in recyclable and/or recycled containers. Though some non-toxic cleaners may cost a few more dollars at the checkout counter, they are often super-concentrated, meaning a little goes a long way.

"Not using cleaning products that have things like solvents and dyes and chlorine in them is better for the human animal," said Kara West , the owner of Kara's Green Home , a local eco-friendly housecleaning service. "It's especially important for children or small pets who may be licking the floor and directly ingesting those kinds of substances. In the bigger picture, it's better for the planet; you're not creating chemical waste that ends up somehow usually impacting our environment." The Green Clean: Inside the Home Since starting up Kara's Green Home last October, West has seen the interest in eco-cleaning grow, to the point that she is already hiring a part-time employee.

"I had a feeling that the market was really ripe for eco-housecleaning, and that has definitely proven to be the case," said West, who has about a dozen regular clients in the Richmond area.

Eco Home Resources Eco-Housecleaning Kara's Green Home karasgreenhome@gmail.com Exterior Cleaning and Sealing Eco Clean of Virginia www.ecocleanva.com Eco-Lawn Care NaturaLawn of America www.nl-amer.com to locate providers Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation www.dcr.virginia.gov Recycling and More Central Virginia Waste Management Authority www.cvwma.com

If you're thinking of making the switch to natural products, both West and Carmichael recommend respected brands like Seventh Generation and Ecos, whose websites also provide a wealth of information on eco-living. They also scoffed at the idea that natural, non-toxic cleaning products are less effective than their toxic counterparts.

"I've had no problem with our cleaners cleaning as good," said Carmichael. "It's a branding thing, in my opinion."

"When I come in and I start using the eco-products and it's still up to [my clients'] standards, I think that says something," added West, who charges an hourly rate for housecleaning. "There's this myth that your house isn't going to be as clean or sparkly with the eco-products. And that's not necessarily true. There are certain situations where it would be a lot easier to spray some toxic thing that'll eat all the soap scum, but once you get a house to a certain level and you're providing regular service with eco-products, it's just as clean."

While West started out cleaning with store-bought products, she now makes and uses her own, which she plans to sell at Richmond's Earth Day celebration in April.

Recipes for homemade cleaning solutions are surprisingly simple. According to the Seventh Generation website, a teaspoon of lemon juice, combined with one pint of vegetable oil, makes an effective furniture polish, while baking soda, vinegar and boiling water should help clear out clogged pipes.

"There's tons of information out there," said West. "People didn't always go to the store and buy Scrubbin Bubbles…If you get recipes for a glass cleaner and an all-purpose spray cleanser and a soft-scrub cleanser, you can pretty much clean your whole house." The Green Clean: Basic Tips Educate yourself. Start out with a basic book, like "Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home" (Melcher Media, 2005).

If you are unfamiliar with non-toxic cleaners, you may want to buy them initially from a specialty natural food store like Ellwood Thompson's or Good Foods, which have knowledgeable staff and standards about the ingredients in products.

Don't buy a product unless all the ingredients are listed. If the ingredients are listed, look them up on the Internet or in an ingredients dictionary for household products to see whether you want to bring them into your home. Stay tuned for Part II of The New Green House…