At Ecozone, we keep green cleaning at the core of our beliefs. We clean to take care of our health, personal environment and keeping our home sanitised has never felt more important to most than during the Coronavirus outbreak. The fact that we use cleaning products to maintain a sanitised setting, makes the potential health risks of using these cleaning products seem unbelievable, but did you know that some of the products you use have the potential to do more harm than good?
What are VOCs?
Found in a number of household cleaning products, VOCs are volatile organic compounds. In other words, these are toxic gases that evaporate at room temperature. VOCs are found in surfactants, or surface active agents, and these are found in all detergents because of their ability to lift and trap dirt for an efficient clean.
These surfactants can either be acquired from plant-based materials, or fabricated from synthetic sources. When produced with synthetic sources, these surfactants then contain toxic impurities and VOCs, which can become airborne and contribute to indoor air pollution.
The potential health effect of VOCs
- Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
- Headaches and loss of coordination
- Nausea
- Liver, kidney and central nervous system damage
Discover Ecozone’s plant-based and non-toxic alternatives
With the aim of creating products that can minimise such health risk and are also kinder to the planet, we avoid synthetic surfactants as much as possible. Instead, we prefer plant-based alternatives that can be made renewably, for eco-friendly as well as healthy cleaning.
Unlike synthetics that require finite oil for production, plant-based surfactants are produced from lauryl alcohol or dodecanol found in naturally fatty acids in coconut and plant-based oils. This process is not only more sustainable, but also creates biodegradable ingredients without any toxic chemicals. Some other ingredients we like to use include citric acid, which has natural descaling properties, and zinc ricinoleate from castor oil, which helps control bad odours.
Bleach
Bleach is a common solvent that, especially when mixed with other agents, gives off harsh fumes that you can smell as soon as you’ve opened the bottle. Although bleach is not a VOC itself, when its vapours interact with VOCs from other products, it can become a threat to our health.
We have a range of bleach-free alternatives, including our Ultra Toilet Cleaning Gel, Ocean Breeze Toilet Cleaner, Pure Oxygen Power Whitening Tablets, and Almond Wood Floor Cleaner.
Oven Cleaning Gel
Many chemical oven cleaners on the market contain the chemicals butoxydiglycol or sodium hydroxide, both of which can be irritants to your skin, eyes and respiratory tracts.
Our Oven Cleaner on the other hand is non-caustic, meaning it does not burn or corrode, instead cutting through burnt on stains, grease and grime with a formula that contains natural ingredients. It’s also odour-free and will deep clean your oven just as well as a chemical heavy cleaner.
Mould Remover
The effects of exposure to mould can vary from mild to severe. The effects on our health vary from more mild sneezing and headaches to potentially serious infections. Keeping your house clean of mould is should be a top priority.
The problem is, many mould removers are potentially dangerous when breathed in, accidentally swallowed or sprayed in eyes. They also contain harmful chemicals that should be avoided wherever possible.
Ecozone’s Anti-Bacterial Mould Remover is a bleach-free solution formulated to prevent the growth of mould spores on a multitude of surfaces where you might suffer the spread of mould. It will not only help remove black and brown moulds, but also offers a long-lasting protection against the mould coming back.
Spray cleaners (especially window and glass)
Common window and glass cleaners often contain ammonia, a mild disinfectant. Despite it being a popular ingredient for giving that shining, streak-free clean, it is a strong irritant on skin, eyes, throat and lungs. What’s more, it becomes a bigger threat if accidentally mixed with bleach.
Our Window & Glass Cleaner Spray has a triple action formula for a streak-free results without the toxic ingredients. The plant-based solution effectively removes stubborn dirt and marks from fingerprints to residues, and even leaves a light citrus-floral scent behind.
Wood polish
Because of the hydrocarbons like waxes, oils and solvents found in wood polish, swallowing, breathing in wood furniture polish or having it come into contact with eyes can lead to anything from mild irritation to more serious consequences.
Our Wood Furniture Polish is formulated with plant-based ingredients and a warm almond spray to improve the appearance of wood without sacrificing health.
Top-Tip:
Aim to reduce the amount of mixing of toxic chemicals that can cause chemical reactions when using multiple products at once. Use specific products for specific treatments at different times to your general cleaning routine. Consider the ingredients you use when selecting products, and try clean with Microfibre Cloths that help to lift up dirt more than single use paper towels.
How our Microfibre Cloths work to pick up dirt
Cover Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash
