|
[Facts: Cleaning Product Disposal] [Facts: Mix-at-Home Cleaners] [Facts: "Natural" Cleaning Products] Some Facts About Mix-at-Home Cleaners ... continued [Page 1] [Page 2] |
|
 Am I helping the environment by using an "alternative" cleaner?  Probably not. The vast majority of commercially formulated cleaning products are water soluble, are disposed of safely down the drain into a municipal or home wastewater treatment system, and cause no harm to the environment. Extensive lab testing and "real world" monitoring, as well as compliance with applicable government regulations, ensure the environmental safety of cleaning products. Furthermore, judgments about the environmental superiority of one formulation over another require that all impacts of a product and its package be considered. Mix-at-home recipes can have a surprising impact on the overall use of resources and energy over time. For instance, even a seemingly simple ingredient like vinegar is highly processed: it is produced from corn and typically grown with the aid of substantial quantities of fertilizers and pesticides, which in turn must be produced and have their own environmental impact during and after use. The corn is harvested, processed into corn syrup, then fermented, first into alcohol and then into acetic acid. Measuring the total energy used and wastes produced from the harvesting of ingredients to product disposal is known as "life-cycle inventory" (LCI). This assessment can reveal that "alternative" cleaners cost the environment much more in energy consumption and waste production than one might assume. Of course, commercially formulated cleaners have impacts as well. These should also be considered. Just remember that the comparison is never as simple as it may seem. Another factor to weigh in: because using homemade mixtures often requires extra "elbow grease," consumers tend to use more for each cleaning job. Using more product may mean greater environmental impacts. If consumers choose to follow a mix-at-home recipe, they should gauge whether the perceived environmental benefit is offset by having to use several ingredients rather than one product, using more or hotter water, or cleaning more frequently. Will using mix-at-home recipes save me money? Some suggested "alternatives" may actually be more expensive to use than commercially formulated cleaning products. This is particularly true for food items which must be manufactured to a high level of purity. For example, cream of tartar, which is somtimes recommended as a metal cleaner, is 12 times more expensive per unit than aluminum cleaner. Consumers should compare unit prices, figuring the cost per job, and also note how often the job must be repeated. Something else to remember: some homemade mixtures may leave a residue that attracts new soil, so the job has to be done more frequently, adding to the cost. Because alternatives are generally not as efficient as commercially formulated produts, using them often requres extra effort. In addition to spending more time on cleaning, comsumers may use more product and more hot water to get the job done, which can also mean extra costs. Food for thought when figuring the ultimate costs of recipes. |
which must be manufactured to a high level
of purity. For example, cream of tartar,
which is sometimes recommended as a metal
cleaner, is 12 times more expensive per unit
weight than aluminum cleaner. Consumers
should compare unit prices, figuring the cost
per job, and also note how often the job
must be repeated. Something else to
remember: some homemade mixtures may
leave a residue that attracts new soil, so
the job has to be done more frequently,
adding to the cost.
Because "alternatives" are generally not as
efficient as commercially formulated cleaning
products, using them often requires extra
effort. In addition to spending more time
on cleaning, consumers may use more product
and more hot water to get the job done,
which can also mean extra costs. Food
for thought when figuring the ultimate
costs of recipes.
The use of the term disinfectant is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Any product labeled as a disinfectant has undergone extensive testing of its germicidal properties. It must be registered with EPA and display the EPA registration number on the label.
Studies have shown that mix-at-home
recipes that are suggested as alternatives
to disinfectants are less effective than
commercially formulated disinfectant cleaners,
both in reducing microbial contamination and
in removing soil. In fact, most mix-at-home
recipes have no disinfectant properties at all.
Particularly when there are health-related
reasons for using a disinfectant, such as on a
cutting board that might be contaminated
with Salmonella, or on a surface that has been
in contact with someone who is sick, consumers
should recognize that only EPA-registered
disinfectants have been tested for their
ability to kill germs.
|
[Back to Top] [Back to Main Environmental Page]
