Cleaning Healthy… Cleaning Green OHCE District Lessons March 17: Coalgate, OK (Southeast) March 24: Miami, OK (Northeast) March 26: Fairview, OK (Northwest) March 31: Chickasha, OK (Southwest)

Introduction  People spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors  Levels of organic pollutants 2 to 5 times higher inside  Sources include: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from household cleaning products

Introduction  What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?  Emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids  VOCs are emitted from thousands of products, including household products (ex: cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, hobby supplies)

Introduction  Increases in respiratory and allergic health effects among children in homes with higher concentrations of some VOCs  Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) by reducing the number of chemicals used indoors

Green tips  Simplicity  Economics  Environment

Green tip 1: Simplicity  Simplify your life and make cleaning easier  Use fewer products  Select multi-use products  Focus on basic cleaning ingredients

Basic cleaning ingredients  Abrasive  Alkali  Acid  Bleach/Disinfectant  Surfactants

Cleaning products: Abrasives  Purpose Scour off dirt, grease, or particulate matter  Coarse abrasives Steel wool, coarse sandpaper Less scrubbing but may scratch surface  Finer abrasives Silica or a nylon mesh scrubber More scrubbing and less likely to scratch surfaces

Cleaning products: Alkalis  Uses Removes oily dirt; cuts grease  Strengths Mild: Baking soda Moderate: Borax Strong: Washing soda or sodium carbonate  Caution Dust from cleaning products can irritate the throat

Cleaning products: Acids  Uses Remove hard-water deposits, discoloration on metal surfaces, and rust stains  Strengths Mild: White vinegar or lemon juice  Cautions Prolonged exposure to an acid may irritate the respiratory tract

Cleaning products: Bleaches  Uses Remove stains and disinfect surfaces  Chlorine bleach May cause severe damage or irritation to eyes, skin and respiratory system  Oxygen or non-chlorine bleach Contain hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, or sodium percarbonate

Cleaning products: Disinfectants  Uses Kill microorganisms on surfaces  Types Quaternary ammonium chlorides, phenolic compounds, pine oil, and hydrogen peroxide  Caution Avoid breathing the vapors from the cleaning products

Cleaning products: Surfactants  Uses Primary ingredients in soaps and detergents Used to cut grease and grab onto the dirt to help remove it from the surface  Petroleum-based versus plant-based surfactants

Green tip 2: Economics Homemade glass cleaner  1/4 c. white vinegar 32 $2  1 tbsp. cornstarch  1 qt. warm water Standard glass cleaner  32 $2.50 Green glass cleaner  32 $5.00 Homemade cleaning products cost less than commercial or over-the-counter cleaners

Green tip 3: Environment  Why go “green”?  Health reasons Improving your home environment by reducing volatile organic compounds that may cause respiratory problems  Environmentally responsible choice Choosing to use practices today that reduce the use of natural resources so they will be there for future generations

Improving your home environment: Dust reduction What types of things are in dust?  Agricultural products and pesticides  Pollen  Lead dust  Cigarette ash  Dust mites and insect fragments  Dead skin cells  Volatile organic compounds  Etc.

Improving your home environment: Dust reduction  Reduce dust brought inside Add doormats by all outside entrances Shoe should hit the mat four times ( feet)

Improving your home environment: An ounce of prevention  Clean as you go  Wipe up spills immediately  Reduce the need to clean Don’t put grease down the drain Install drain screens

Improving your home environment: An ounce of prevention  Capture the dirt Consider moving from sweeping with a broom to damp mopping floors Instead of dusting with a dry cloth, use a damp cloth

Improving home environment: Invest in good equipment  Doormats for all exterior doors  Grate in front of door  Vacuum with a HEPA filter  Microfiber mops and cleaning cloths  Mop bucket – two chamber

Improving home environment: Freshening the air  Air fresheners mask odors and do not improve the indoor air quality  Good options for freshening the air: White vinegar Cinnamon sticks or cloves Opening the windows

Greenwashing! Greenwashing: Misleading or false claims about how environmentally friendly their products are when in fact they are not You can learn to separate true eco-friendly products from the greenwashers

Greenwashing  Buyers beware!  It is best to look for public and/or private labels, such as Design for the Environment and Green Seal, when identifying green products

Avoiding greenwashing  Design for the Environment (an EPA partnership Program)  Works in partnership with industry, environmental groups, and academia to reduce risk to people and the environment by finding ways to prevent pollution  Ex. Murphy’s Oil Soap

Avoiding greenwashing  Green Seal Independent non-profit organization that certifies products using credible, science-based and transparent standards Third party certification Ex. Dial Basics

How safe are your products?  No cleaning product is 100% safe  Natural and green do not imply that the product is nontoxic  All cleaning products should be used with caution

Start today and make one change in your cleaning habits You can clean healthier and greener

Hands-on activity  Let’s make some cleaners!  When making cleaners: Mix only what you need or no more than a month supply Use new containers: DO NOT store homemade cleaners in previously used or food storage containers Label with date, ingredients, and product name Mix in a well-ventilated area

Let’s make… All-purpose cleaner #1  3 tbsp. white vinegar  1⁄2 tsp. washing soda  1⁄2 tsp. vegetable oil based liquid soap  2 cups hot water Fragrant kitchen cleanser  2 tbsp. white vinegar  2 pints water  4 drops essential oil (lavender, tea tree oil, lemon, lemongrass, or rosemary) No-streak glass cleaner  ¼ c. white vinegar  1 tbsp. cornstarch  1 quart warm water

Thank you! Questions? Comments? Note: This program was developed by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Sharon M. S. Gibson, Multi-Cultural Specialist Pamela R. Turner, Associate Professor & Extension Housing Specialist Gibson, S. M. S., & Turner, P. R. (2008). Cleaning healthy, cleaning green (HACE-E-73-2). Athens, GA: University of Georgia.