Top 5 Questions on Green Detergents & Cleaner Answered
Do you ever have questions regarding the detergents and cleaners you are using? Do you know the best way to dispose detergents and cleaners? Do you know what “green” detergents means?
Below is the summarized Q&A Earth911.com had with Brian Sansoni, vice president of Communication and Membership for the American Cleaning Institute, on 5 questions concerning green cleaners and detergents.
(Paraphrased and summarized from Earth911.com)
Q: Is it OK to pour some cleaners down the drain before recycling? If not, what should you do with the leftover liquid?
A: No, it is best to use them up or give them to friends (or organizations) that can finish it for you.
(Source: FTC)
Q: Are cleaners that claim to be “green” regulated at all? Are there any specific ingredients to look for or avoid when shopping?
A: “Green” is a marketing term, so there are minimal regulations on it. However, FTC has a Green Guide that focuses on guiding companies to market truthfully and not misleading. (Different countries has different regulations on this)
Q: We have heard about making your own cleaners from household ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. While many sources back up these homemade ingredients, do they kill all of the bacteria around your home?
A: Homemade cleaners could be a “safer” alternative, but there are important facts that still need to be considered. For example, homemade cleaners can be less effective in killing bacteria.
Q: Are household cleaners ever considered “hazardous” waste for disposal?
A: Cleaning products do not typically contain ingredients that would harm the environment in the quantities that are disposed of by households.
Q: Do “green” cleaners with non-toxic ingredients really disinfect and clean as well as others?
A: Over the last few years, the industry has indeed developed eco-friendly effective cleaning products. And for a cleaner to be labeled disinfectant, it has to go through EPA’s rigorous testing. So if they are legally labeled that way, they are.
(Source: Earth911.com)
