What is "GREEN CLEANING" ?

Green cleaning is a term that has been coined to describe using environmentally-friendly ingredients and chemicals for household, manufacturing and industrial cleaning.

Green cleaning techniques and products avoid the use of chemically-reactive and toxic cleaning products which contain various toxic chemicals, some of which emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) causing respiratory and dermatological problems among other adverse effects.

Green cleaning can also describe the way residential and industrial cleaning products are manufactured, packaged and distributed. If the manufacturing process is environmentally-friendly and the products are biodegradable, then the term "green" or "eco-friendly" may apply.

Are the products you use "Green" ?

Check off the products you use in your home and evaluate your risks. All information comes from actual manufacturers Material Safety Data Sheets and National Poison Control Centers.

Here's a list of household products you should evaluate:

• Liquid Bleach
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• Furniture Polish
• Aerosol Dusting Spray
• Carpet Shampoo
• Carpet Stain Remover
• Upholstery Stain Remover
•  Disinfectant Wipes & Spray
• Powdered Bleach
• Aerosol Air Freshener & Sanitizers
• Window Cleaner
• All Purpose Cleaner
• Basin, Tub & Tile Cleaner
• Floor Cleaner
• Scouring Powder with Bleach
• Drain Cleaner
• Automatic Dishwashing Liquid Dishwashing

There is a new word that has sprang up in the past couple years.
Green-wash (green’wash’, -wôsh’) – verb: the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.

The internet Wikipedia lists the 7 deadly sins of "Greenwashing" according to TerraChoice:

1. Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off:
   e.g. “Energy-efficient” electronics that contain hazardous materials. 998 products and 57% of all environmental claims committed this Sin.
   
2. Sin of No Proof:
   e.g. Shampoos claiming to be “certified organic,” but with no verifiable certification. 454 products and 26% of environmental claims committed this Sin.
   
3. Sin of Vagueness:
   e.g. Products claiming to be 100% natural when many naturally-occurring substances are hazardous, like arsenic and formaldehyde (see appeal to nature). Seen in 196 products or 11% of environmental claims.
   
4. Sin of Irrelevance:
   e.g. Products claiming to be CFC-free, even though CFCs were banned 20 years ago. This Sin was seen in 78 products and 4% of environmental claims.
   
5. Sin of Fibbing:
   e.g. Products falsely claiming to be certified by an internationally recognized environmental standard like EcoLogo, Energy Star or Green Seal. Found in 10 products or less than 1% of environmental claims.
   
6. Sin of Lesser of Two Evils:
   e.g. Organic cigarettes or “environmentally friendly” pesticides, This occurred in 17 products or 1% of environmental claims.
   
7. Sin of Worshiping False Labels:
   The Sin of Worshiping False Labels: is committed by a product that, through either words or images, gives the impression of third-party endorsement where no such endorsement actually exists.
   "Fake Labels", in other words.