Getting Dirty about Cleaners

I used to be a huge fan of cleaning products, I loved the smells, I loved bubbles that talked, I loved trying new ones that came out, I mean I was a household cleaner addict. Well and office supplies, but I feel OK about that one-I mean there is nothing like a clean piece of paper and a new pen- right?!! Sorry, I digress-Then I made the switch to green cleaners and I will never go back. (I'm also a fan of clean and orderly - It just makes life peaceful)

Let's get to the dirty about cleaners.

• Chemical pollutants have been found to be 2 to 5 times higher inside our homes than outside.

• Statistics show that common household cleaners give off fumes that can potentially increase the risk of children developing asthma.

• 25 million children suffer from asthma.

• 1 in 10 school-aged kids have asthma.

• in one decade, there has been a 42% increase in asthma ( 29% for men, 82% for women ). The higher rate for women is believed to be due to women’s longer exposure times to household chemicals. [Center for Disease Control]

• According to the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board, indoor air pollution consists of toxic gases or particles that can harm your health. These pollutants can build up rapidly indoors to levels much higher than those usually found outdoors. This is especially true if large amounts of a pollutant are released indoors. Moreover, "tighter" construction in newer homes can prevent pollutants from escaping to the outdoors. When we clean our homes we produce large amounts of these chemicals. Picture yourself standing in your shower surrounded by chemicals. Did you know that a person who spends 15 minutes cleaning their shower can inhale 3 times the acute exposure limit?

• Women who work in the home have a 54% higher risk of dying from cancer than women who work outside of the home because of their increased exposure to household chemicals. [Toronto Indoor Air Conference of 1990 from a 15+ year study]

• 150 chemicals routinely found in the home have been connected to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders. [The Consumer Protection Agency )

• A recent study found that using regular spray cleaning products for 20 years had the same respiratory impact as smoking 20 cigarettes a day.

• Harmful VOC's; That "clean" smell you smell - yep, that's them. They are in things like aerosol sprays, Oven and appliance cleaners, Air fresheners, Dishwashing liquid and detergent, Carpet and upholstery cleaners, Bleach, dryer sheets and more.

Side note - one of the worst chemicals in your home are dryer sheets

• Studies are showing that some of these chemicals are bioacumalitve, they never leave our body. Once such worry is pfas. Scotchguard, water repellent clothing, nonstick cookware, some cosmetics, products that resist grease, water, and oil.

• Research is being done now, but pfas are already showing up in cord blood and breast milk! It will never leave their systems.

Potential Health Issues from Indoor pollutants like household cleaners:

• Respiratory irritation

• Bronchitis

• emphysema

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation

• Respiratory infections in children

• Headaches

• Nausea

• More serious health issues can occur
  

I could go on, the data is scary and voluminous. So what can you do?

YOU CAN GO GREEN: #MAKETHESWITCH

By planning ahead, making small changes, and taking safety precautions you can limit your exposure.

• Paints, glues, and cleaning agents should be used outdoors when possible. If used indoors, adequate ventilation should be available.

• Restrict smoking. Cigarette smoke contains many toxic pollutants that are harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers and should be restricted to outdoor areas.Use appliances properly.

• Wood-burning stoves and fireplaces should only be used to burn wood that is properly sized and aged so as not to give off toxic fumes.

• Pay attention to and select building materials and furniture carefully. Some types of plywood and particleboard can emit significant amounts of formaldehyde or other gaseous pollutants. Try to avoid these types of products.

• Practice good housekeeping. Frequent housecleaning removes dust and molds to help maintain good indoor air quality.

• Provide adequate ventilation. You can increase ventilation by opening doors and windows.

• Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans that are vented to the outdoors to remove pollutants.

• Eliminate use of toxic chemicals at home; opt for natural substitutes.

List from Shaklee.com

By choosing products that keep the health of your family and the environment in mind you are making a wise and green choice, Be a label reader, just because it says "Green" on the label doesn't mean that it really is. Be a wise consumer and do your research.

So why did I go green with my cleaners? I care about my family's health and the environment. It took a while to learn that clean doesn't smell and my cleaner is concentrated and lasts a looooong time, so I had to get used to not always checking out the cleaning aisle. A side effect of eliminating those toxic chemicals is that now I can't stand to walk past that section of the store. The smell is awful and my body is much more aware of the danger. I'd say that's a good thing" Wisdom of the body. If a clean home and clean earth is important to you too can #maketheswitch

Obviously I'd love for everyone to use Shaklee Get Clean Cleaning Products, but even if you don't I hope you have been convinced to have a healthier home and eliminate toxic cleaners and products from your home. #maketheswitch and tell us about it. Please feel free to comment or email me at lisa@yieldingaction.com. Visit our Facebook page Yielding Action or Instagram @yieldingaction.

Happy Safe Cleaning!

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Would you like to learn more about Shaklee Get Clean?

Laundry, kitchen, bath, and more: Let's get every nook and cranny spick-and-span. And let's do it right—with products that are safe around your little ones, powerful against even the most stubborn dirt, green for the planet, and smart on your wallet. You would spend $3,400 for ready-to-use cleaners to get the same amount of clean found in the Get Clean Starter Kit!*

One Kit, One Tree. Shaklee and American Forests® will plant one tree for every Get Clean® Starter Kit we sell.

Get Clean® offers cleaning choices that are safe and green

• Sustainable ingredients from natural sources

• Biodegradable surfactants

• Recyclable packaging

• Recyclable dryer sheets

• No chlorine bleach

• No ammonia

• No phosphates

• No nitrates

• No harmful fumes

• No animal testing

Email me at lisa@yieldingaction.com to learn more.

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Van is and environmental consultant and Lisa a Certified Health Coach and have been Independent Shaklee Distributors for nearly 8 years. Learn more about their stories at https://pws.shaklee.com/yieldingaction/about/