USDA Organic
The National Organic Program

The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards.

- From USDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Your Home Is Your Castle, Don't Make It A Toxic Dump

From the kitchen to the laundry, homes cleaned with commercial cleaners can be considered toxic waste dumps. The average home today contains approximately 62 toxic chemicals. This amounts to anywhere from 3-25 gallons of toxic materials in your bathroom, under your sink or maybe in the garage. All within reaching distance of your children and pets.

No law requires manufacturers of cleaning products to list ingredients on their labels or to test their products for safety. Many ingredients are considered 'trade secrets' and thus are never disclosed to the public.

Household toxins don't affect just us, but every living thing on the planet. Each time you rinse that cleaner down the drain or flush it down the toilet, it releases toxins in the environment. Most of these chemicals are not biodegradable. In addition, during the manufacturing process, many chemicals are disposed of in the environment in the form of air and water pollution as well as toxic waste.

Disinfectants vs. Soap

Many homes today, especially the kitchen, are being wiped down and constantly 'spritzed' with products known as disinfectants. In the United states, a product can be labeled and advertised as a disinfectant, antibacterial or antimicrobial agent only after it is registered as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Consumers seem to think that the germs in their kitchens and bathrooms are as numerous and diverse as those in public places such as hospitals, day care centers and restaurants. As the result of relentless advertising by a few major companies, consumers feel the need to kill all germs, viruses and bacteria on household surfaces, not realizing they may be creating another health hazard.

What role the overuse of disinfectants plays in creating a 'super bug' is debatable, but the toxicity and poisoning hazard to your kids and pets is a known certainty. In addition, disinfectants, (remember they are registered as pesticides), are linked to other long term health hazards.

Recent studies have shown that nursing professionals exposed to general hospital cleaning products and disinfectants at work are at an increased risk of developing asthma.

Also, the constant use of disinfectants such as chlorine bleach not only increases indoor air pollution but can create dangerous gasses when combined with other products such as ammonia. Products containing sodium hypochlorite (bleach) can discolor and corrode many surfaces. If you have to wear gloves to use a particular product, you shouldn't expose your family to it.

Natural and Effective Cleaners

  1. Soap and Water
    Even the EPA recommends reducing germs by washing with soap and water. Be sure you are using real soap and not a chemical laden detergent.

  2. Use a Vinegar Spray
    Numerous studies have shown that plain white vinegar (the gallon size is cheap at Wal-Mart) kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold and 80% of viruses.

  3. Cleaners Made with Essential Oils
    Spray and Wipe is an effective cleaner that combines the cleaning ability of saponified organic oils with an organic essential oil blend to create a household cleaner tough enough to remove dirt and grime and help to reduce germs in your home. Essential oils such as lavender may be mixed with castile soap to make a great non toxic cleaner.

  4. Botanical Disinfectants
    If you feel the need to zap out 100% of the germs and viruses in your home, there are several EPA registered 'botanical' disinfectants.

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