Green Clean Your Home For Safer Indoor Air

Indoor air quality inside my home was not something that I really considered to be a potential hazard for my family. Honestly, I felt that air quality was only a problem in cities, old buildings, and homes, or perhaps around agricultural sites that sprayed pesticides. Yet, when I read the studies, I was shocked to discover scientific evidence indicating that the air inside a home can be more polluted than even a large, industrial city.

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This was especially concerning because I knew that my family fell into the statistic which estimates that the average person spends 90% of his or her life indoors with closed windows and doors.

What I also learned is that most homes do not mechanically bring any fresh air into the house. This includes forced air heating systems like so many homes have. This lack of ventilation means that everything we were doing inside our house affected our air quality.

Chemicals used within our home would hang in the air and cling to our dust because we had no outside ventilation. Without even realizing it, I was causing my family, and my incredibly vulnerable young children, to breathe the chemical compounds I used in my cleaning routines each and every day.

Even more shocking was that cleaning products with toxic chemicals can release volatile organic compounds such as phthalates, formaldehyde, acetone, and thousands more even while just sitting unused in the cabinet.

Even some of the “natural” or “green” cleaning products that I had purchased in hopes that they were safer were not actually a better option!

Many of the products did not even have the ingredients listed on the labels so I could not check their safety! Thankfully, I discovered that it is possible to take a few simple, affordable steps and immediately improve our indoor air quality.

Disposal of Household Toxins

After learning about the dangers of my cleaners, I immediately wanted to change everything I was using in our home.  I was so relieved to read that the most effective approach to eliminating indoor air pollution is to simply remove the source.  

Even purchasing an air filtration device is not as effective as disposing of the toxins and replacing them with all natural cleaners!

You can immediately change your indoor air for the better by going through your home and evaluating all of your cleaners. Here is a great resource where you can start learning more about the ingredients in commercial cleaners.  

It might seem intimidating to think of cleaning your home without toxic chemicals, but it is possible!  While you should immediately take these toxins out of your home, do not dispose of these unwanted products in your home garbage or down the drain.  Instead, call your local government or community recycling organization to see if there is a designated day or special collection spot for these types of chemicals.

Replacing Household Cleaners with Safer Cleaners

Now that you have rid your home of the toxic cleaners and air fresheners, you need to replace them with natural cleaning products that will allow your home to not only be clean, but safe too!  

Fortunately, these natural cleaning products are readily available at grocery stores and online.  I was even able to “shop” my own cabinets and find enough ingredients already in my home to start my green cleaning routine without actually making any new purchases!

When I first started trying to make cleaning products I felt like it was overwhelming to be able to replace all of the cleaners I used with homemade varieties. However, it truly can be simple!

Chlorine-based bleach or other sanitizers are the perfect places to start your green cleaning because it is so toxic, and also because there is a simple, safe substitute--hydrogen peroxide.  

Hydrogen peroxide can be easily put into a dark colored spray bottle and used straight or mixed with some water.  It is useful for stain removal (spot test all fabrics as it can still discolor), to kill mold, and as an antibacterial/sanitizing agent.  

Baking soda is a perfectly safe option to use instead of any abrasive or “soft scrub” type cleaners.  It is amazing at getting soap scum off of a shower or tub, and will also shine your kitchen sink!  It is also the perfect way to clean off those baked on spots from your oven or stovetop.

If you need some extra scrubbing power, consider using a scrub brush or sponges.  

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Distilled white vinegar is another natural antibacterial spray.  Use vinegar mixed with water in a spray bottle anywhere you need some disinfecting.  That same spray bottle can also be used to safely clean your windows and mirrors!

Real soap, either in liquid or bar form, can be substituted for any type of petrochemical-based or fragranced cleanser.  Real soap is made with oils and butters and has been used safely for thousands and thousands of years!  

Dryer sheets, and petrochemical/fragranced detergents and fabric softeners not only contribute to indoor pollution but also outdoor pollution!

Any type of fragrance, which can be in everything from air fresheners to detergents and dryer sheets, can contain dangerous chemicals like phthalates and emit many VOCs.   

Thankfully, there are now commercially available plant-based detergent options that are either unscented or scented with essential oils. If you would like to have a real soap-based detergent, there are handmade sellers, like myself, who offer detergents through their websites and Etsy.

Making your own detergents is also easy and incredibly affordable, and we offer a recipe to get you started!  Replacing the toxic dryer sheets is a simple switch with all natural wool dryer balls.  

Cleaning and Ventilation

Now that you have your natural cleaning products shopping list, you can move on to cleaning and provide your home with adequate ventilation.

Replace the heating and cooling air filters on a regular basis.  Want an upgrade? Consider using a pleated filter, or a high-efficiency filter to trap more particulate matter. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s directions regarding how often you should replace these filters.  I admit I was horrible about changing the filters on a regular basis until I made the point to add a reminder to my calendar.

Sanitize without the chemicals using steam! I wanted an easy way to clean the bathrooms and floors without using dangerous chemicals to sanitize. So, I purchased this steamer and I could not be happier! While this steamer does offer a fragrance option, there is no need to use it!  I chose this Bissell steamer because it was affordable, had wonderful reviews, a 2-year limited warranty, and because Bissell has always offered me such excellent customer service!  

I also purchased this handheld steamer for my bathroom and windows.  It has held up for well and is perfect for things like grout cleaning too!

*Note* Make sure to check that your flooring can tolerate a steamer. Most flooring is able to be cleaned this way considering how little water a steamer actually puts down.

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Dusting can be completed using either damp rags or microfiber products to clean instead of dangerous chemicals.  We use both in our household!  

Dust holds onto all of the toxins inside a home so it is important to clean it out! Microfiber traps the dust, dirt, and grime and holds on to it with an electrostatic charge.  It is also a budget-friendly alternative to using paper products because they are machine washable and can be reused hundreds of times. 

TIP: When washing microfiber don't use fabric softener and instead let them air dry to stay soft.

By vacuuming regularly and removing our outside shoes before coming indoors, I was able to cut down on more dust and toxins in our home.  The EPA conducted a study which showed a significant reduction of lead dust and other contaminants indoors when a doormat was added at the entrance and outdoor shoes were not worn inside.

Vacuuming Tip: Make several slow passes in all directions over all carpeted areas.

Fast passes can actually stir up more dust!  Turn off agitator brushes on hard flooring so you don’t blow the dust into the air.

Clean your vacuum regularly and replace bags/filters as needed.

***Want an upgrade to your vacuum cleaner?  Use a Certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly vacuum.

If you have allergies or anyone sensitive in your home, it may be beneficial to look for a bagged vacuum with an airtightly sealed filtration system that works in conjunction with the True HEPA filter.

During times when the weather is ideal, we open our windows and doors to air out our home.  We have to be very careful though since we live in an area with high humidity and mold problems.

When the humidity levels are too high, moisture inside the home increases and this actually contributes to poor air quality.  

Utilizing bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans while showering or cooking was something that I sadly just did not think of!  This was a virtually free/simple change that allowed me to reduce the moisture in our bathrooms and vent my kitchen.

*Tip* Ensure that they are cleaned regularly and also that they do vent to the outdoors instead of just recycling the air into your home.

Houseplants that require little water, and have not been sprayed with pesticides, are ideal for improving indoor air quality.  Take care not to overwater your plants as it can encourage mold growth on top of the soil which is also detrimental to indoor air quality.

3 Steps to Improve Indoor Air Quality 

Improving your indoor air quality by using safe cleaning products truly can be a simple change! The added bonus is that you can actually save money by implementing green cleaning products should you choose to make them yourself.  

All you need to do is follow these three easy steps and you are on your way to achieving healthier indoor air!

1. Responsibly dispose of your toxic cleaning materials. Call your local waste management facility to see if there are special pickup or disposal days for chemicals.

2. Print out or save the Crunchy Super Mom Green Shopping list to learn how to replace the toxic cleaners with safe, natural options.

3. Clean and ventilate your home (don't forget to click below and get our free recipes to help get you started!)

4. Dust and vacuum your home on a regular basis to get rid of dust since it does hold the toxins. 

5. Open windows and doors when outdoor weather allows, replace air filters regularly, and use exhaust fans and plants to further clean your indoor air.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3018511/

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality/

www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/acdsumm.pdf

http://cfpub.epa.gov/roe/chapter/air/indoorair.cfm#roe-indicators

http://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-indoor-air-quality