Benefits of non-toxic cleaning products, and carbon saved

In our bid to eradicate each speck of dirt and every last germ from our homes, we regularly blast our surfaces with anti-bacterial sprays, bleaches, de-greasers and floor cleaners, all of which pledge to kill 99.9% of germs dead. The problem with conventional cleaning products is that, not only are many petroleum-based, and so use up valuable resources in their manufacture, but they contain a toxic cocktail of chemicals that linger in the air long after the rubber-gloves have been put away. In fact a study found that indoor air quality can be up to 100 times worse than the air outside, and we end up breathing in chemicals that are carcinogenic, skin irritants, and cause respiratory, hormonal and fertility problems. There are plenty of natural, non-toxic cleaning solutions around that get the job done without the nasty side-effects or the acrid fumes.

According to The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, ¹ household cleaning products are responsible for 0.5% of a person's annual GHG emissions, which translates to about 55 kg per year ² . It is reasonable to estimate that using green natural products, which aren't petroleum-based, or environmentally damaging, could reduce this by at least half, saving 27.5 kg CO2 per year.