I am not so impressed with the world these days and with the green movement. I mean, I agree that I would love for the world to last longer for my children and I would love it if we were all healthier (if that means using chemical free cleaning products). I am wondering why, if these green notions are so essential to our continual existence, why I am I not hearing about them up until now. With these thoughts currently in my mind, I did some research on my not-so-very favorite chore.....house cleaning. What is “green” cleaning? Why do I need to "green" clean? Is it possible that the hoopla about being green just can be offering the latest opportunity for a company to increase sales and offer a new product? I have decided to get down to the bottom of the kitchen sink and find a solution for myself.

First, I determined that green cleaning means using cleaning products that don’t endanger your family or the world that we love (I pretty much figured this but just wanted to double check...hahaha).

Then I looked at the ingredients that were in many of my all-purpose cleaners. These are a *couple of ingredients that I found: Formaldehyde, Sodium Hypochlorite, Hydrochloric Acid, and Sodium Acid Sulfate. Now, if I only I knew what half of those ingredients are. I guess I am back to the computer to define each of these ingredients (into everyday people language) and to define why they are so dangerous that everyone is jumping on the green band wagon.

* Formaldehyde-used in embalming to disinfect and temporarily preserve human remains.
* Sodium Hypochlorite- commonly known as bleach, is frequently used as a disinfectant and as a bleaching agent (why don't they just write bleach???).
* Hydrochloric Acid-must be handled with appropriate safety precautions because it is a highly corrosive solution. This removes rust.
* Sodium Acid Sulfate-Solutions for household purposes in the US, mostly cleaning, are typically 10% to 12%, with strong recommendations to dilute before use.

Many people use normal cleaning products as they might not realize the potential danger that these items could cause. I always seemed to figure that cleaning products were a normal staple to every household. Seriously, if it is sold at Acme, why is everyone reacting to cleaning products like they hold the same effect as a fatal disease. Well, as I worked hard to research my Chlorine Blog entry, I learned that bleach and those alike components can cause damage inside and out. The more research I have found the more it strikes me with fear that they are in my home. My first issue is, why are the actual ingredients not written on the bottle when it is required to list ingredients of food that we eat. Is cleaning any different? Although My husband claims that I am over reading into the situation, isn't this the same? We clean our bath tubs with these things and then bathe our children in our "clean" tubs with chemicals surrounding them. We use them to clean our carpets and then have our kids crawl across it. We wash our dishes with them and then cosume our meals on the plates we just bathed in chemicals. Am I over reacting here?????? Should I be concerned??? Ohhhh, the guilt of motherhood. Am I damaging my children with out even knowing it? Aghhhhhh!!!!

Household chores cause enough pain to me without the skin irritations, nausea, headaches, nose bleeds, kidney and liver damage, shortness of breath, burns, vomiting, and exposure to carcinogens. Do you agree, or is it not worth the energy to worry about?

*These ingredients were hard to find, because they are not directly labeled on the back. I am sure there are more ingredients (than I could find) that are included in glass cleaner, disinfectant, rust and limescale remover, carpet cleaner, ect. This is just a few of the many listed above. Researching takes time but it may be worth it to look into on your own.