Although cleaning has been a centuries old practice, people have not attacked the dirt and grime with such gusto as modern humans. Ever since Louis Pasteur discovered germs, a paranoia of these pathogenic microbes quickly followed. The result, we have enlisted modern chemistry in our fight to get "medieval" on these critters.
Soon we began using bleach (sodium hypochlorite), sulfur dioxide, ethanol, hydrogen peroxide and phenols, among others. At first, the uses of these products seemed completely positive. The disease ridden squalor caused by the rapid industrialization (people being crammed together in cities without adequate sewer systems, refrigeration etc) made the use of these chemicals a practical necessity as the numerous pathogens posed a graver and more immediate threat than the chemicals themselves.
Since the industrial revolution, however, we have advanced dramatically in preventing and eliminating the causes of these pathogens. We have sewers, refrigeration, running water - everything needed to keep things relatively clean. Yet, why are we bombarded with so many commercials on T.V. advertising germ killing sprays, an array of antimicrobial products from socks to garden hoses? The answer: fear. Fear sells... really well.
Now, for a product to kill germs, it must be toxic - at least to a certain degree. Germs are microorganisms - tiny life forms. This degree of toxicity is important, the right amount of toxicity will kill germs yet leave humans relatively unscathed.
So toxicity is a relevant factor in the products we use. Chemical toxicity is rising in out modern industrial world, and the greatest chance for exposure is in the home. Chemical exposure is strongly linked to the development of childhood asthma and other medical conditions. Some of the more toxic chemicals are butyl cellosolve (2-butoxyethenaol), petroleum distillates, sulphuric acid, ammonia, formaldehyde, sulfamic acid, and morpholine among others.
One way to measure how dangerous these chemicals are is how volatile their chemicals are- how many particles are being released into the air. Volatile Organic Compounds are airborne chemicals that cause "eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system" according to EPA.
A safer disinfectant without harmful VOCs can be made using hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar. Susan Sumner, a food scientist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute found that the combination of these two non-toxic liquids could kill 99.9% of bacteria - the same percentage of the toxic disinfectants. Using two spray bottles, one with hydrogen peroxide, and one with vinegar, you can first spray your counters with one solution, then the other. (it doesn't matter which order- but you can't mix the two in the same bottle).
Another non-toxic disinfectant is Benefect. Benefect is a disinfectant made from thyme oil and is, to my knowledge, the only botanical disinfectant. Benefect is all natural.
However, the label "natural" can be a confusing label. Saying that something is "natural" doesn't necessarily mean that it is non-toxic. Ammonia, for example, is a naturally occurring substance - in fact, our own bodies produce small amounts of it. It is also used in vast quantities to make fertilizers. However, the inhalation of ammonia is very toxic to humans. Avoid cleaning with any ammonia products.
Now, the environmental aspects of a product can correlate with it's toxicity or not. Some toxic man made chemicals are also very environmentally damaging, the chemicals never break down and affect life forms adversely foe generations (think pesticides like DDT). While other toxic chemicals like ammonia (in certain quantities) don't have an adverse environmental impact, yet non-toxic phosphate cleaners have terrible environmental impacts. Phosphates are safe for humans and completely non-toxic. In fact, they encourage the growth of many life forms, which is why they are used in fertilizers. However, when they get into rivers and lakes, they can quickly explode the growth of certain microorganisms, completely upsetting the ecology of an area.
So as we've demonstrated, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and all natural can mean different things. Some products may fit into some categories, but not others. Many times products will use one of the above terms and you may be tricked into thinking that they have the other desirable qualities as well. All of these labels are positive, so it will behoove us to find products that are both non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and natural.
Fortunately this isn't all that difficult. With just a few products, you can tackle all of your cleaning tasks. You don't need 20 different cleaners just to clean your house. Baking soda or Bon Ami for scouring, white vinegar and peroxide for disinfecting, olive oil and lemon juice for furniture polish (if your furniture has an old fashioned finish).
However, what about dishwashing liquid and laundry soap? For this sort of thing, I would recommend using a professionally made "green" cleaner such as the Seventh Generation and Biokleen line of cleaners. Another commercial soap is Dr. Bronner's soaps. These soaps can be used for personal use (they make bar soap and shampoo) and for laundry and dish washing.
Many health food stores carry natural cleaners, and can be a good source of "green" knowledge. Green cleaning is sometimes a complicated and confusing thing (especially with the confusion of harmful products marketing themselves as "safe"). I hoped this has helped somewhat...or at least gotten you to reexamine things.
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