by Carrie A. Corson, from the April 2001 Newsletter

When I originally sat down to write this article, it started out as a positive little ditty about how we can all protect ourselves and contribute to a healthier environment by choosing to purchase, or make our own "all natural" cleaning products. After all, April 22^nd is Earth Day. And spring always seems to bring about an impulse to clean. So it seemed that the two could meld quite nicely.

While gathering information on this topic, I read the words "carefully read the label before you buy." This will help you make conscious decisions about what chemicals you are choosing to expose yourself to. So I went and grabbed a couple of cleaning products off of the shelves here at the Co-op. I was greeted with labels exclaiming: "non-toxic, hypo allergenic, and biodegradable" and ingredients like cleaning agents made from the fermentation of fruits and grains, coconut oil, and glycol-based degreaser.

Then I decided that in order to have some balance, I should compare these products to ingredients found in commercial household cleaners commonly found in other stores. I was surprised to find that most of these common household products do not disclose their ingredients. Ingredients are considered "trade secrets" and apparently it is more important to protect proprietary information rather than human health or the environment.

Most of the products that I found that provided an ingredient list were as vague as this list from a box of automatic dishwasher powder: "Water softeners, cleaning and water spot prevention, dishwasher and china protection agents, perfume and colorants."

This brought me no closer to understanding what was actually in the product. I don't know about you, but I don't have a clue what a "dishwasher protection agent" is, much less whether or not I want it heat dried onto my dishes, or whether it's safe to inhale it in the hot steam that erupts from the dishwasher when I open the door.

And I realized that with each purchase, each of us can make a difference. We can make choices that will make our planet a less toxic place to live.

With this in mind, I greeted the first day of spring, and thought about all of the things that make spring a great time of year. I realized that all of the things that I treasure about spring have to do with nature.

Nature feeds me, mentally, physically, and spiritually, as it does so many of us. How do we feed nature? Does the Earth look forward to spring? Or does she see it as the season when she will be saturated with chemicals?

This Earth Day, I encourage everyone to celebrate by assessing their cleaning products. Are they safe for your household, your family or the planet?

Many common cleaners contain petroleum products. Of an estimated 17,000 petrochemicals available for public and home use, not even half have been tested for their effects on human and environmental health. These petrochemicals can be toxic to several bodily systems and organs. Some are suspected carcinogens. Why do we use petrochemicals? Apparently because they can be produced much less expensively than traditional plant-based cleaners. But, if every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 28 oz. petroleum-based dishwashing liquid with a vegetable-based, non-toxic dishwashing liquid, we could save 82,000 barrels of oil, enough to drive a car over 86 million miles.

Do you use cleaning products that contain chlorine and or ammonia? These chemicals are found in a host of scouring powders, laundry products, dishwasher detergent, window cleaners, and basin, tub, and tile cleaners. Ammonia is an irritant that affects the skin, eyes and respiratory passages. Chlorine is the household chemical most frequently involved in household poisoning in the U.S. Chlorine also ranks first in causing industrial injuries and deaths resulting from large industrial accidents. Chlorine is considered an acutely toxic chemical.

There is good news. Use the accompanying formulas for making your own non-toxic cleaning products from simple, inexpensive ingredients. If you don't find it convenient to make your own cleaning products, look for labels that say things like nontoxic, no chlorine, no phosphates and biodegradable. Don't buy "traditional" commercial toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaner or furniture polish. These cleaners usually contain the most toxic chemicals. Don't assume that just because a product is on the grocery store shelf, it has been thoroughly tested and proven safe for humans, animals and the environment. Support companies like Seventh Generation, Planet, Ecover, Heather's Natural Products, and Earth Friendly products. These companies want to turn the tide and end the chemical contamination of our bodies, our homes and our planet. For more information, go to Seventh Generations web site at www.seventhgen.com, or call Women's Voices for the Earth at 406-543-3747. Let's make it a happy Earth Day.

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