Living Green

Planet-friendly cleaning potions

ATLANTA — Judy Loftin couldn't wait to test her new eco-friendly window cleaner — concocted with just vinegar and warm water.

Could a staple for salad dressing really do the trick?

"It was great," cheered Loftin, a part-time school counselor who lives in Bethlehem. "I thought to myself, 'This is so simple. Why didn't I do this before?' "

Vinegar and other household basics stored in food pantries — olive oil, lemon juice and baking soda — were key ingredients in DIY cleaning supplies on a recent afternoon at a "Green Living Series" workshop at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Buford, Ga.

Catherine Long, program coordinator at the center, said all-natural cleaning supplies can be just as effective as many popular cleaning products, which use chlorine, sulfuric acid and petroleum-based products.

As more Americans recycle, tote reusable bags and light their houses with compact fluorescent bulbs, using planet-pampering cleaning products has become a growing part of the greener lifestyle. The push for gentler products is also fueled by health concerns.

Urvashi Rangan, senior scientist at Consumer Reports and director of greenerchoices.org, said consumers want alternatives to applying products that emit dangerous fumes and require masks and rubber gloves.

"And they are making connections about the environment and health," she said.

Phil Consolino, president of Atlanta-based SouthEast Link, a commercial supplier of cleaning products for schools, hotels and other buildings, said his company has recently phased out many harsh chemicals, including butyl cellosolve, which can irritate the lungs and is poisonous when swallowed. Consolino said the chemical had long been used as degreaser, but the company now uses hydrogen peroxide — the same thing you use to clean cuts — to get the job done.

"We are redefining the way we clean," said Consolino. "We now have the products, and they are effective."

Still, be wary of green promises. Manufacturers can splash "green" and "non-toxic" on their products, but it may not mean anything. There are currently no regulatory standards for such claims.

Eco-labels including "Green Seal," from the nonprofit advocacy group of the same name, and "Design for the Environment," a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designation, can help steer consumers to products going through a certification process.

But Rangan said while the "Green Seal" is given only after comprehensive studies on products, the EPA labeling process is less strict.

She said a product with the EPA label can still contain questionable ingredients such as acetone.

Rangan said the best way to be sure you aren't unwittingly wiping your counters clean with pesticides is to make the cleaning product yourself.

"In general, if you are going into your pantry and using ingredients that you can eat and you can also clean with it, you are going to be at the bottom level of toxicity," said Rangan.

As far as Loftin is concerned, she can hardly wait to experiment with baking soda and vinegar. In fact, switching to homemade earth-friendly cleaning supplies will help her breathe easier.

An asthma sufferer extremely sensitive to bleach, she will no longer have to wear protective gear when cleaning the house.