Become conscious of what goes in your carpets and around your home:
Children and pets can be especially susceptible to dangerous chemicals, and it is important to choose products and services that are safe for the little ones you love. You watch the foods your children eat and strap a helmet on them when they ride their bikes - Selecting child safe cleaners is just as essential.
Maintaining your carpets can save you dollars in the long run:
In between cleaning and to keep professional cleaning to a minimum, do your best to take care of your carpeting yourself. Avoid wear and tear by removing your shoes when you can, and treating stains and spills as soon as possible upon occurrence. Many mainstream stores now carry non-toxic and eco-friendly stain removers, or you can make a simple cleanser with 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water to gently remove spots.
What is biodegradable and how does it pertain to your carpets:
"Biodegradable" is a word that shows up on lots of labels, but doesn't necessarily mean
a lot. Biodegradable simply means an item will eventually break down. This could mean it
breaks down hundreds of years from now, or even that it will break down into chemicals
that are harmful to the environment. It is important to ensure that the products you use
are not only biodegradable, but actually eco-friendly.
Make sure that green and clean is the name of the game:
There are many product and cleaning companies that use potentially harmful janitorial
products. When these solutions get outdoors - via air duct systems, down drains, or
simply tossed outside - they can cause major problems, including air pollution, water pollution and the depletion of our Ozone. Plants and animals in wildlife can accumulate toxins, some of which inhibit their ability to reproduce. This makes it important to seek out eco-friendly products and companies.
How effective are green products on your carpets?
There are many eco-friendly products that not only work as well (if not better) than
traditional cleaners, but are also comparable in price. These cleaners are better for
people, and are also better for buildings and furnishings. Environmentally friendly solutions
have less of an impact on nature and on buildings, making the things in your home last longer.
How toxic are the chemicals your carpet cleaner is using?
Some carpet cleaners contain toxins that can be harmful to those who clean the carpeting and
those who walk and play on it. When choosing a carpet cleaner, or a company to do your cleaning,
make sure that they use safe cleaners. Environmentally safe cleaners should not contain any
carcinogens, should not be combustible, and should not be corrosive to the skin or eyes. You
should also avoid any products that could be harmful to aquatic life or that contribute to
smog and other pollution.
Be aware of the products and chemicals you use to clean your house:
Whether calling a professional cleaner into your house or cleaning your own home,
you should ask yourself if the messes you are cleaning are really more of a hazard than
the products you are about to employ to clean them. Many cleaning products include harsh
chemicals intended to disinfect and kill germs, but often this is overkill. Unless you are
cleaning up after raw meat or bodily fluids, these toxic cleansers are not necessary, and
some have even been known to cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, and irritation of
eyes, skin and the respiratory tract. These risks can be avoided by using environmentally friendly
cleaners and companies.
Make sure to clean your air ducts at least once a year:
Did you know that the air in your home may actually be more polluted that the air outside?
Cleaning products you use inside your house circulate in the air long after the smell is
gone. They can contaminate the air you are breathing simply by sitting under your sink
if not secured properly. A reasonably easy way to avoid breathing these toxins each day is
to replace cleansers with non-toxic and environmentally friendly ones. Not only do commercial
services now offer cleaning with safer products, you can also purchase cleansers yourself for daily use,
or do your regular cleaning with things like baking soda and vinegar that you probably
already have in your pantry.
Be aware of cleaning products that are being dumped and polluting water:
With many commercial cleaning products and companies, groundwater is polluted every time
water left from cleaning is simply poured down the drain. This includes excess water suction up
by a professional rug shampooer, and it includes the harsh cleaners you use to scrub your
bathroom. Being aware of the chemicals you surround yourself with is as important as being
aware of the food you eat.
Research all cleaning and carpet cleaning products before use:
When you buy potentially hazardous cleaning products, this creates a demand for those
chemicals, which means more of these products are created and thus pollute the
environment. Often the development and manufacturing of these products is actually harmful to the environment as well.
Do eco-friendly products make an impact on the environment?
Many eco-friendly cleaning products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum). Switching to these or homemade cleaning solutions can make a positive impact on your health and the environment. When getting rid of those old cleaners, simply throwing them in the trash or down the sink will pollute the environment. They should be taken to or picked up by special centers for toxic waste. You can visit EPA.gov for more info on disposing harmful waste.
What does the EPA say about the pollutants in products?
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) half of all illness can be traced to indoor pollution, which can be directly related to the use of household cleaners. Cut these down by switching to non-toxic cleaners on a daily basis, and remember to look into the products used by any hired professionals you bring in to clean your home as well.
Eco-friendly means best friends to your pets and children:
Not only are animals closer to the ground that we are, they also have smaller lungs and
faster metabolisms. Because they breathe in toxins faster than we do and process them at a
faster rate, their bodies have to work harder to break down and get rid of toxins.
Being constantly in direct contact with carpeting, animals are also more vulnerable to full-on toxic poisoning.
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