Wikipedia defines Green cleaning as using cleaning methods and products with environmentally friendly ingredients and procedures which are designed to preserve human health and environmental quality.Green (or eco-friendly) cleaning has become a billion dollar industry and is highly in demand at many cleaning agencies. People choose green cleaning to preserve their health, the health of their family and pets and the health of the planet. Using toxic chemicals around the house is dangerous and can lead to all kinds of health conditions. There's a real contradiction in using toxic chemicals to get a “supposedly” clean house... a house isn't clean if it's making you sick. Traditional cleaners have chemicals in them that could contribute to asthma, allergies, headaches, depression, rashes, learning disabilities, hormonal, neurological and immune disorders, cancer, infertility and increased birth defects, in addition to causing indoor air pollution. And households that have small children are even more at risk for accidental ingestion or touching of such chemicals, especially with kids playing so much on the floor.
Traditional cleaners include Ammonia and Chlorine Bleach, which are known irritants to the lungs and skin (and highly dangerous when mixed!), while phosphates, Alkylphenolethoxylates (APEs), often found in surfactants, Butyl, and Ethanolamines are also problematic. Another common ingredient in traditional cleaners is EDTA, which is not biodegadable. Heavy metals are often used to add color to cleaning products, and synthetic fragrances are made from petroleum. Other bad actors include compounds such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and phenol. Many of these chemicals linger in the environment for a long time, in the air and on surfaces, easily absorbed into the skin or breathed in. The US Environmental Protection Agency says that indoor air pollution is up to 10 times more harmful than outdoor air pollution, and with people spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, indoor air pollution definitely takes it's toll on the body.