BECOME AN EDUCATED SHOPPER
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Reading Cleaning Labels for Toxicity
- Do Not Buy
- If the label says Poison, Warning or Danger. Avoid products with these words & you need not read further.
- Caution means use your common sense.
- Remember: Federal law does not require all toxic ingredients to be listed.
- Avoid Products with these words on the label:
- Toxic or Solvent- in glass cleaners
- Surfactant- in synthetic detergents
- Optical Brighteners- in detergents
- Inert – unnamed on label, but frequently more toxic than active ingredients
- Synthetic Dye/Fragrance- in room fresheners and scented candles
- Dispersal Agent
- Volatile Organic Compounds- (VOC) vapors are toxic at room temperature
- Avoid Products with these partial wordings on the label
- Ene or ol- benzene, xylene benzol, toluol
- Phenol- in pine disinfectants
- Chlor- in bleaches and disinfectants
- Naptha- in toilet and carpet cleaners
- Phth (Phthalates)- in soft flexible plastics, vinyl products, children's toys, polymer clay
- Perfluoro (pfc, pfoa) - in Teflon, Stainmaster, Scotchgard, Silverstone (persists forever)
- Avoid Products that relate concerns about:
- Combustibility, flammability, air quality, open flame, or skin irritation
- Biodegradability (must say "readily" biodegradable)
- Antibacterial soaps -- EPA defines them as pesticides. If TRICLOSAN is the active ingredient, it is even more toxic.
Source: Hollender, Davis, Hollender, Naturally Clean Use of antibacterial soaps contributes to growth of drug resistant bacteria. Source: beyondpesticides.org
Safer Brands & Where to Buy Them
List compiled by Peggy McGrath and Published in her “Healthier Families -- A Guide to Safer Products”
- Seventh Generation: seventhgeneration.com
- Jewel, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Green Home Experts, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Whole Foods
- Mrs. Meyer’s Soap : mrsmeyers.com
- Bed Bath & Beyond, Whole Foods, Green Home Experts, Target
- Ecover: ecover.com
- Whole Foods, Green Home Experts
- Bon Ami: bonami.com
- Jewel, Whole Foods, Target, Lowe’s
- Earth Friendly Products: ecos.com
- Jewel, Bed Bath & Beyond, Whole Foods, Green Home Experts
- Method: methodhome.com
- Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowe’s, Whole Foods (avoid their antibacterial products)
- Products from recycled paper:
- Staples, Green Home Experts, Jewel, Whole Foods
- Diaper alternatives:
- Green Home Experts, Babies R Us
- Microfiber cloths:
- Home Depot, Green Home Experts
- Kitchen garbage bags – Biodegradable:
- Green Home Experts
- Bona Wood floor cleaner:
- Ace Hardware and more
CREATING ECO-FRIENDLY HOUSEHOLDS
The Village Greener - Household Cleaning
Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment
Kids and Chemicals (DVD) with Bill Moyers at films.com - Films for the Humanities & Sciences