Apr 09 2009
Ways to Go Natural, Healthier this Spring Cleaning Season
(ARA) – A clean home is a healthy home, right? Not necessarily. As you gear up for spring cleaning season, pause to consider the impact chemical-based cleaners and other products can have on your health, your family’s health and your environment.
A host of health problems, from skin rashes to asthma, have been linked to some chemicals found in common household cleaners and personal care items. In fact, 37 percent of Americans suffer from skin sensitivities, rashes and allergies, many of which can be triggered by chemicals. Chemical cleaners can contribute to indoor air pollution, which can irritate asthma and allergies in adults and children.
If you are among the millions of Americans who want to “go natural” to improve your health and preserve the environment, here are a few things to consider this spring cleaning season:
Natural for Better Health
Indoor air quality is often much worse than outdoor air quality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which cites indoor air pollution as a top environmental concern facing Americans today. Our homes are increasingly air tight for energy efficiency, meaning chemical pollutants from cleaning products and personal care products are more easily trapped inside. With most Americans spending the majority of their time indoors, poor air quality can have a significant impact on our health.
While chemical cleaners can contribute to poor indoor air quality, they also can have a direct impact on our health. Many products are made from strong chemicals that health experts believe may be even more harmful to our health than the dirt and germs we are trying to eliminate.
Additionally, chemicals in personal care products such as petroleum-based ingredients, parabens and triethanolimine.
By contrast, products that rely on natural ingredients to clean and promote personal care release no harmful fumes into the indoor environment, are not known to cause skin reactions or long-term health risks, and can be every bit as effective as chemical-based products.
More companies are responding to increased demand for natural products. Cleaning products and personal care items from companies like Watkins, Inc., a company with a 140-year track record of providing consumers with safe, effective products, are an all-natural, cost-effective way to improve the health of your home, your family and the environment. The Natural Products Association recently awarded its certification seal to J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary product line.
Natural for the Environment
In addition to the impact chemical cleaners can have on your personal health, they also can contribute to global warming. Making household cleaners from petroleum products requires far more energy than making plant-based cleaners. Reducing energy use will help reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses.
In fact, if every household in the United States replaced just one bottle of 24-ounce petroleum-based dishwashing liquid with a plant-based alternative, such as one from J.R. Watkins’ Natural Home Care line, Americans could conserve 85,886 barrels of oil in a year. That’s enough oil to heat and cool nearly 5,000 homes for a year.
Safe and Effective
It’s a common misconception that only harsh chemicals can produce cleanliness. Research shows that continued use of strong disinfectants can actually promote the growth of hard-to-kill “super bugs.” While chemical cleaners may remove dirt, over time germs will grow more resistant to them.
Modern natural cleansers blend time-proven plant-based cleaning agents with modern technology that maximizes the products’ cleaning power. J.R. Watkins cleansers are free of chemicals, including the top 10 chemical cleaners that the EPA recommends you avoid.
Apothecary products also rely on time-proven natural ingredients like glycerin (for moisturizing), natural oils and waxes (to soften and condition skin) and zinc oxide (which acts as a natural sunblock).
To learn more about natural personal and home care products, visit www.jrwatkins.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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