A Healthy Home for Healthy Kids

I’m not sure what it is about this month but I’ve had a lot of people asking me how they can achieve a less toxic environment in their home. I’ve had five people purchase the Shaklee Get Clean Kit and their feedback has been amazing so far (best clean I’ve had in a long time, doesn’t burn out my nose hairs as I clean (I love that one!), doesn’t make my skin hurt, etc). One family decided to make the switch from Seventh Generation, one from what they called ‘traditional’ cleaning products that they would buy at Costco and three from a mix of ‘green’ and ‘traditional.’

When I came across this article today on Healthy Child Healthy World, Raise Healthier Kids with a Healthy Home Cleaning Routine, I thought I would share as it seems like an extension of the conversations I’ve been having. You can read the full article here. I’ve highlighted the pieces that really stood out to me:

Cleaning products and routines have a tremendous impact on indoor air quality. In fact, indoor air pollution is ranked as one of the nation’s greatest health risks. Over 60 million Americans currently suffer from asthma, allergies, respiratory disease and general ailments associated with poor indoor air quality. Over the long-term, the health consequences are even more severe and can include neurological and respiratory diseases and cancer.asthma symptoms including wheezing or started using asthma medications as a result of using home cleaning sprays at least once a week. The products most often used by participants were cleaning products such as glass cleaners, furniture polishes and air fresheners that are commonly found in most homes.airborne chemical emissions. Children spend up to 85% of their time indoors, thus increasing their exposure to the ill effects of poor indoor air quality. In addition, children’s organs and respiratory, immune and neurological systems are still developing and they have a lower body weight. This means that relative to their size, they breathe in a greater volume of air than adults.GREENGUARD Certification for VOC emissions and Green Seal for environmental toxicity.
• When it comes to cleaning products, more is not better. Dilute products as directed by the manufacturer and only use the devices that are recommended by the manufacturer for product application.
• Odors are bad! Avoid products with strong and long-lasting odors as this typically indicates high chemical levels (this includes all “natural” odors or fragrances like pine, lemon, etc.). Ventilate your home properly during and after cleaning.
• After cleaning a surface, rinse it thoroughly with water to remove excess chemicals.
• Use water-based cleaners that are odor-free and biodegradable; avoid ones that say “danger,” “caution” or “flammable.” Use non-fragranced cleaners and polishes that rub on rather than spray on. Vinegar and water makes for a great floor cleaner and damp cloths often work better to control dust than chemical cleaners!
• To catch dust and other particles that you can’t always see, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and use microfiber dust cloths and sweepers for all of a home’s hard services.
• Clean up any spilled water around the house immediately and be on the lookout for mold in damp environments like bathrooms and basements.GREENGUARD Environmental Institute has developed an indoor air quality standard for cleaning products that is based upon allowable chemical emissions criteria.

A recent study revealed that 40% of the 3,000 participants experienced

While the chemicals emitted by cleaning products have the potential to affect everyone, children are in one of the highest risk categories for suffering the effects of

Fortunately, parents don’t have to choose between a clean home and healthy children. While a home cleaning routine plays an important part in reducing the allergens and toxins in indoor air, parents don’t have sacrifice the health of their children for the sake of a clean house. To avoid inhaling toxic chemical fumes create a cleaning routine that incorporates indoor air quality. Keep in mind that the use of a product is just as important as the product used, and follow these simple tips to maximize efforts to reduce indoor air pollution:

• Select products that have been tested and verified (ideally by a third-party) for non-toxic chemical content and low emissions of volatile organic compounds. (FYI, Shaklee third-party tests their products) Resources include

To help consumers select cleaning products that help minimize indoor air pollution, the

GREENGUARD measures the chemical “off-gassing” of a product during recommended use and application, and then compares that data to known short-term and long-term risk exposure levels. Products that meet or fall below these established risk levels can be certified by GREENGUARD as low-emitting. Consumers can check out the most comprehensive and current list of low-emitting cleaning products free of charge by consulting the GREENGUARD Product Guide.American Lung Association (ALA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), California Air Resources Board (CARB) or Aerias.
Read more: http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/raise_healthier_kids_with_a_healthy_home_cleaning_routine/#ixzz0aWdaLMTB

Helping kids breathe easier and live healthier at home requires just a few simple changes to your home cleaning routine. With the right products and proper usage of those products, parents can do their part to create cleaner air and healthier kids.

For more information on indoor air quality, please visit the