It’s tough to be the bearer of bad news, but we need to shine a light on a widely-held misconception when it comes to safer ways to clean your home. Borax is not a green cleaning ingredient, as many have been led to believe.

Yes, the 20-mule team laundry booster box has a very “green” look to it and plenty of recipes for “green” homemade cleaners require it. But we won’t be fooled, and we hope you won’t be, either. In short: EWG does not recommend using borax to clean your home.

What is borax?

Borax is a (powdery, white) mineral that also goes by a few other names: sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate. A close cousin of borax is boric acid, which has many of the same concerns discussed below. While you might prefer to remember only one of these names, knowing them all helps you sleuth it out better when reading labels. Borax is a pesticide that poisons insects, fungus and weeds, but it also has plenty of other uses that we encounter in consumer products.

How are we exposed to borax?

In our daily lives, there are two ways most of us encounter borax: when we clean and when we preen. It’s also in slimy toys and some nutritional supplements.

1. Cleaning products It’s not easy to find out what’s in most cleaning products, with a few exceptions. But it’s important to try, since many products are a source of harmful air contaminants and, to make it that much harder, greenwashing is rampant.

If you’re thinking about making your own cleaning products as a safer alternative, we recommend that you not use the recipes that include borax, since it may pose health risks, too. Unfortunately, it’s often pitched as a “green,” less toxic ingredient – but we don’t agree. If you’re going to make your own, consider these borax-free ideas.

2. Personal care products Boric acid or sodium borate can also be found in personal care products. The cosmetic industry’s own safety panel states that these chemicals are unsafe for infant or damaged skin, because they can absorb readily into the body. Despite this guidance, boric acid is found in some diaper creams. See EWG’s Skin Deep cosmetics database for other personal care products containing borax or boric acid and click here for diaper creams that don’t contain it.

Both the European Union and Canada restrict these ingredients in body care products made for children under three years of age and require that products containing these ingredients be labeled as not appropriate for broken or damaged skin. No similar safety standards are in place in the United States.

3. Goopy toys Play Doh, silly putty, and other slimy toys may also contain boric acid. Homemade playdough is a safer alternative to the store bought variety – here’s a simple, borax-free recipe.

4. Nutritional supplements Boron, a component of borax and boric acid, is considered a trace nutrient, though its essential biological role is unknown. As a result, some nutritional supplements contain boron, which may be in the form of boric acid – check the list of ingredients.

What’s the problem with borax?

Borax can have short- and long-term health effects:

Short-term irritant. Borax can be irritating when exposure occurs through skin or eye contact, inhalation or ingestion. Poison reports suggest misuse of borax-based pesticides can result in acute toxicity, with symptoms including vomiting, eye irritation, nausea, skin rash, oral irritation and respiratory effects. Toddlers and young children face special risks from hand-to-mouth transfer of carpet or crack and crevice, dust or spray borax treatments.

Hormone disruption. Borax and its cousin, boric acid, may disrupt hormones and harm the male reproductive system. Men working in boric acid-producing factories have a greater risk of decreased sperm count and libido. According to EPA’s safety review of these pesticides, chronic exposure to high doses of borax or boric acid causes testicular atrophy in male mice, rats and dogs.

Animal studies reviewed by the EPA indicate that while the female reproductive system is less sensitive to borax, exposure to it can also lead to reduced ovulation and fertility. Borax and boric acid can cross the placenta, affecting fetal skeletal development and birth weight in animal studies of high-dose exposures.

In its 2006 review of the safety of borax pesticides, the EPA declined to perform a risk assessment that included exposures from cleaning supplies, cosmetics and other consumer goods along with professional and consumer pest-control products. As a result, it’s difficult to assess the level of risk that may be involved in using borax to clean your home. In light of the reproductive effects reported in both animal and worker studies, we suggest that you avoid borax in homemade or store-bought cleaning supplies.

What should I use to keep my house clean?

Most people buy cleaning products at the store, but making your own is pretty easy if you’re up for it. Here are some simple tips for both – keeping in mind that a few basic products — like all-purpose scrub — are all that you really need.

Buying cleaning products. At the store, look for certified green products with the Green Seal or EcoLogo mark on the label whenever possible. And check with the manufacturer for a complete list of ingredients in any cleaners you use. If they won’t tell you what’s in it – don’t buy it.

Unfortunately, borax will often only be listed on the product’s label when its marketing reflects its pesticide qualities (e.g., the label claims it’s an anti-bacterial product). If it’s not marketed that way, manufacturers tend to claim that it’s inert (which they can), because then it need not be listed on the label. Clear as mud, right? That’s how they like it.

Making your own. Common kitchen ingredients like vinegar, lemons, and baking soda make great homemade cleaning supplies. Always take care when combining ingredients – some combinations are safer than others! For example, combining bleach with any acid (vinegar, lemon juice) will create very toxic vapors that you don’t want to breathe. Click here for some specifics about what not to combine.

Whether you buy or make your own, remember: other than plain soap and water, most cleaning supplies should be handled with caution, since many may be skin or eye irritants or produce caustic vapors.

Check out EWG’s Healthy Home Tips on green cleaning for safer ways to keep your home clean.

Fabric softeners and dryer sheets, considered laundry room staples by many, are a relatively new invention. They were designed to make our clothes feel a little softer and less staticky – and to line the cleaning products industry’s pockets, to the tune of millions to billions of dollars each year. Most fabric softeners also coat our clothes with strong, long-lasting perfumes.

We took a closer look at the chemistry of common fabric softeners, and we don’t like what we see (or smell).

How do fabric softeners work?

Manufacturers market liquid or dry crystal fabric softeners for washing machine rinse cycles and dryer sheets for the dryer. A few laundry detergents claim to have a bit of softening built in, though that “Touch of Downy” may not make much of a difference in the way clothes feel.

Fabric softeners and dryer sheets coat our clothes with a subtle layer of slimy chemicals – in fact, that’s why they feel a little softer. The most common softening chemicals are called “quats” (short for quaternary ammonium compounds) and include such chemical mouthfuls as diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, dihydrogenated palmoylethyl hydroxyethylmonium methosulfate and di-(palm carboxyethyl) hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methyl sulfate.

Of course, difficult pronunciation does not necessarily mean danger, but in this case it does clarify that we’re talking chemicals here, not vague, wonderful softness (as the advertisers would like you to believe). Quats are in many cleaning products, including most antibacterial wipes.

So what’s so bad about quats?

The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics, a leading international authority on asthma, calls these chemicals “asthmagens,” substances that can cause asthma to develop in otherwise healthy people. With asthma affecting nearly 1 in 10 American children, it makes sense to avoid exposing kids unnecessarily to asthma-causing chemicals.

Many quats have antibacterial qualities. While it might sound useful to keep clothes germ-free, freshly washed clothes are already plenty clean, and overuse of quats may lead to development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

And what about that “fresh, clean scent?”

The mystery mixtures that provide the jolt of fragrance in fabric softeners and dryer sheets can contain hundreds of untested chemicals, including toxic ingredients like phthalates and synthetic musks – both suspected hormone disruptors. Fragrances are among the world’s top five allergens.

A recent University of Washington study on air contaminants from fragranced consumer goods detected between 18 and 20 chemicals in each of four laundry products – including likely human carcinogens acetaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, developmental toxicants methyl ethyl ketone and chloromethane, and allergens like linalool. I don’t want this in my laundry and my neighbors probably don’t want it in the dryer air that vents in their direction. Turns out that air gets contaminated, too.

A few fabric softeners for babies or people with sensitive skin are fragrance-free but still contain quats.

Green options for the wash

To reduce your family’s exposure to untested, unnecessary chemicals that can cause asthma, allergies and other health problems, simply skip the fabric softeners and dryer sheets. It’s easier, healthier and cheaper to just say no.

If you can’t live without that extra softness, try using 1/2 cup of white vinegar per load during the rinse cycle as a natural fabric softener. And while you’re at it, hang it out to dry, too – that fresh, outdoor smell might just be better.

A quick spritz of air freshener may seem like the perfect quick fix for funky odors from the diaper pail or the bathroom. Unfortunately, that pleasing smell is just more indoor air pollution.

Levels of harmful air pollutants like formaldehyde, chloroform and styrene range from 2 to 50 times higher indoors than outdoors. And because we spend most of our time indoors, our toxic exposures inside our homes, workplaces and schools are significant.

The dirt on air fresheners

Air fresheners – in aerosol, spray, solid, candle or plug-in form – don’t remove odors. They just mask them.

It’s literally impossible to track down a full list of ingredients for most air fresheners sold in the U.S., because there is no requirement for companies to disclose ingredients. A few companies provide ingredient lists on their website in response to consumer demand, but the word “fragrance” may hide dozens of chemicals, many of which may never have been assessed for safety. Ingredients commonly used in fragrances in air fresheners include phthalates, which make fragrances last longer and are linked to male reproductive system birth defects and hormone disruption, and synthetic musks, which are linked to allergies and hormone disruption.

Last year, a University of Washington study found that eight unnamed, widely used U.S. air fresheners released an average of 18 chemicals into the air. On average, one in five of these chemicals were hazardous substances highlighted in federal and some state pollution standards. Fully half the air fresheners tested released acetaldehyde, a likely human carcinogen according to the EPA.

When EWG conducted more sensitive testing of the air freshener Febreze Air Effects as part of a 2009 study of cleaning supplies used in California schools, we detected a total of 89 airborne contaminants, including acetaldehyde.

Are there greener alternatives?

When it comes to air fresheners, not so much. Some cleaning supplies are rated green by third-party certifiers Green Seal and EcoLogo, but there are no green certification standards for air fresheners.

Natural or homemade air fresheners scented with essential oils aren’t guaranteed free of potentially harmful chemicals. Essential oils are a complex combination of highly concentrated, naturally-derived chemicals. Though they are found in the natural world, they are rarely so concentrated. Few natural chemicals in essential oils and other plant-based ingredients have been tested for safety. Some can trigger allergies in sensitive individuals.

Better ways to freshen your indoor air

Instead of using air fresheners, open a window, run a fan, and get rid of the real source of the smell. A box of baking soda is a safe way to reduce odors. A HEPA air filter can safely remove some odors and allergens.

It just doesn’t make sense to pollute our inside air. It’s easier, cheaper and healthier to just say no to completely unnecessary products.

It seems like that handy canister of antibacterial cleaning wipes is everywhere these days. Grocery stores dispense them for dabbing at the handle of your cart, gyms park them conveniently for wiping down exercise equipment. Many schools hand them out so kids can scrub their desks and even include them on back-to-school supply lists.

Yes, wipes are everywhere. But are they harmless? Unfortunately, for most popular versions, that’s not the case.

Why worry? In a word: Quats

The most common antibacterial agents in cleaning wipes are called “quats” (short for quaternary ammonium compounds) and include such chemical mouthfuls as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and benzalkonium chloride. Of course, difficult pronunciation does not necessarily equal danger, but in this case we are talking about pesticides that are certainly toxic to bacteria and can affect human health, too.

The American Medical Association discourages the use of antibacterial agents in consumer products because they may encourage the development of “superbugs” – antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Quat-resistant bacteria have been detected in homes routinely cleaned with antibacterial products. These bacteria were also resistant to a number of other important antibiotics, suggesting that regular exposure to quats could create microorganisms difficult or impossible to control with today’s antibiotic arsenal.

The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics, a leading international authority on asthma, considers these chemicals to be “asthmagens,” – substances that can cause asthma to develop in otherwise healthy people. With asthma now affecting nearly one in ten children in the U.S., it makes sense to avoid unnecessary exposures to asthma-causing chemicals, especially for kids.

Hold the fragrance, please!

The mystery mixtures that provide a wipe’s burst of fragrance can contain hundreds of untested chemicals, including toxic ingredients like phthalates and synthetic musks – both suspected hormone disruptors. Fragrances are also among the top five allergens worldwide. Just skip them; does a wipe really need a scent?

Greener options for clean hands and surfaces

Regular hand washing – with ordinary soap, not antibacterial versions – is the best way to fight germs and avoid getting sick. Fragrance-free alcohol hand sanitizers are good options when no sink is available (like a school classroom, for example). And because antibacterial pesticides don’t always penetrate the dirt and grime that hide germs, routine cleaning with regular – not antibacterial – cleaners is the best way to keep surfaces free of germs. So don’t ask kids to clean school surfaces with antibacterial wipes – a quick squirt with soapy water and some elbow grease is healthier.

Where an antibacterial cleaning wipe is necessary, look for alcohol-based wipes, rather than those containing quats. If you don’t see these in the cleaning aisle of your grocery or drug store, try the aisle with bandages and antiseptics. And if you do use wipes, pulls them from the container slowly and with a sideways motion – a quick, upward jerk can spray disinfecting chemicals right into your eyes.

PS – Diaper wipes for babies are a whole different ball of wax. The ingredients to avoid there are preservatives (specifically ones that release cancer-causing formaldehyde, like 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, also known as bronopol) and fragrance. You can find safer, fragrance-free options in EWG’s Skin Deep database, or make your own at home using cloth or paper towels (that way you’ll know exactly what’s in them!).

As parents, we consider many factors when selecting a childcare situation for our children – among them cost, convenience, philosophy, hours and the ratio of caregivers to kids. But how many of us give a thought to environmental health? We should, because young children’s developing bodies are very susceptible to chemical exposures.

To make it a little easier, Environmental Working Group put together these tips on how to create a green childcare environment, with an emphasis on the steps that matter most. We’re all about strategic changes that make the biggest difference to kids’ health. Parents can use these tips to assess childcare facilities – and share the downloadable tip sheet with staff to help them create a greener space. Remember, a few simple actions can reduce many exposures to toxic chemicals. Why not start today with this great list?

Most important for infants:

Mix formula with fluoride-free water, as the American Dental Association recommends. If your tap water has fluoride, buy non-fluoridated water.

Don’t serve ready-to-eat formula – it contains more BPA (from the can lining).

Never microwave food or heat milk in plastic. Use glass or ceramic instead.

Use glass or BPA-free baby bottles. Discard older plastic ones, especially if scratched.

Use fragrance-free wipes, diapers & diaper cream.

Create a healthy space

Seal or remove arsenic-treated wood decks & play structures. Those built before 2003 likely contain arsenic. Don’t allow children to eat at older picnic tables (or cover them with a cloth).

Have kids wash hands after playing near these surfaces, or avoid them altogether.

Watch for lead paint. Older paint may contain lead. Kids face health risks from loose chips and lead in dust. If your building was built before 1978, use a certified lead-safe contractor for any repairs.

Don’t use bug spray or weed killer inside or out.

Clean greener & disinfect when kids aren’t around. Choose certified green cleaning supplies, dust & vacuum often (with a HEPA filter), use fragrance-free laundry detergent and skip air fresheners & dryer sheets. Disinfectants can be toxic. Where necessary, disinfect with safer peroxide-based products or bleach. Always follow product directions.

Remove or repair furniture & mattresses with exposed foam. Before 2005, most foam was treated with toxic fire retardants.

Take care with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Don’t put them in lamps that can fall, releasing mercury. If a bulb breaks, clear the room, air it out, put on gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask, seal the waste, wash up. Replace mercury thermometers & thermostats with mercury-free options.

Eating & drinking

Offer healthy snacks. Choose fruits & veggies from EWG’s Clean 15 list or buy organic – and always wash them. Don’t microwave food in plastic. Microwave popcorn bags contain toxic chemicals – try air-popping instead. Choose organic dairy and meat when possible; buy rBGH/hormone-free milk. Use BPA-free dishware.

Wash little hands before eating – with plain soap & water. Skip anti-bacterial soaps – they’re no better than plain soap and contain toxic triclosan. If you use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, choose fragrance-free.

Drink safer water. Filter tap water as needed to remove contaminants. Check EWG’s Tap Water Database to find an effective filter. Test water fountains for lead.

Playtime!

Avoid soft plastic toys & metal jewelry. Many plastic softeners are toxic. Choose items labeled PVC- and phthalate-free. Avoid metal trinkets and play jewelry, which can contain heavy metals. Skip face paint unless you know it’s free of lead and other contaminants. Natural, unpainted wood toys are a good choice.

Use safer art supplies. Don’t use rubber cement, permanent or dry-erase markers or materials meant for adults. Stick with paper/cardboard, yarn, wood & homemade play dough. If you don’t know what’s in something, skip it.

Apply safer sunscreen. Use EWG’s Sunscreen Guide to find ones with SPF 30+ and zinc or titanium. Skip oxybenzone, retinyl palmitate, sprays, added bug repellent. Wear hats & avoid mid-day sun.

Adjust outdoor play based on local air quality using AIRNow.gov. On high pollution days, limit high-energy outdoor play for kids, especially those with asthma.

Another resource for parents and care providers is the national eco-healthy childcare program, which helps childcare facilities shift to safer practices through a self-certification system.

At the end of every summer, most parents buy back-to-school supplies. It’s a ritual – and more and more parents are greening the process by asking how to pick the safest – and greenest – options.

To make that job a little easier, Environmental Working Group put together some school supply shopping tips this year. We focused on 11 common products that children often use (and parents are asked to buy) at school:

1. Art supplies Many contain toxic chemicals that are not suitable for children — especially younger ones. Pay special attention to paints, which should be water-based to avoid solvents and colored with natural, non-metal pigments.

Don’t buy polymer clays that stay soft at room temperature or can be hardened in a home oven — they’re made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and often contain phthalates. Consider making your own “clay” out of common baking ingredients instead. Note: A label that says “Conforms to ASTM D-4236″ simply means the product is labeled as required, not necessarily safe.

2. Crayons & markers Common crayons often contain paraffin wax, which is made from crude oil. Look for alternatives like soy and beeswax. Don’t buy dry-erase and permanent markers, which contain solvents. Be wary of plastic-encased crayons or scented markers — scents encourage kids to sniff them, and the chemicals used in the fragrances are not listed on the label. Try a pencil highlighter instead of the familiar plastic ones.

3. Glue Try to minimize kids’ exposures to extra-strong or instant adhesives like epoxies, model and “super” glues; they contain toxic solvents. Water-based glues are safer bets, though most are made from petrochemicals. Some better options are: glue sticks or white/yellow/clear “school” glue. Children should not use rubber cement.

4. Hand washing Choose sanitizers with ethanol (ethyl alcohol) but no fragrance, and liquid hand soaps without triclosan, triclocarban or fragrance. Check this product list in EWG’s Cosmetics Database. And remember: Plain soap and water is just as effective!

5. Backpacks If it’s time for a new one, look for natural fibers and skip those made with PVC. If natural fibers aren’t an option, polyester and nylon are better than PVC. (Check the label for #3, the symbol for PVC, or look for “no PVC” on the label.) Labels don’t always list the material, so you may need to contact manufacturers or visit their websites. Learn about more PVC school supplies to avoid in this thorough PVC-free guide from the Center for Health, Environment and Justice.

6. Lunch boxes Because they hold food, it’s especially important that lunch boxes be made from non-toxic materials with NO lead paint, PVC, BPA and antimicrobial chemicals like Microban. Some options are: cotton lunch bags, BPA-free plastic or unpainted stainless steel. Reuse utensils from home and pack food in reusable, rather than disposable, containers (such as lightweight stainless steel or #1, 2, 4 or 5 plastics).

7. Beverage bottles Skip commercial bottled water — it’s expensive, wastes resources and the water quality isn’t necessarily better than tap. Instead, send your child to school with filtered water and other beverages in a reusable bottle made from BPA-free plastic, BPA-free aluminum or stainless steel.

8. Pencils and pens Pick plain wooden pencils (no paint or glossy coating) made from sustainable wood or recycled newspaper. Skip the scented ones. Try to use recycled ballpoint pens.

9. Notebooks and binders Avoid plastic covers on binders and spiral notebooks; they’re usually made from PVC (#3 plastic). Opt for recycled cardboard or natural fibers instead, or look for “no PVC” on the label.

10. Paper products   Look for recycled paper made from at least 30 percent post-consumer waste that isn’t whitened with chlorine bleach. Or consider virgin paper made from alternative fibers or sustainably managed forests. Choose 100 percent recycled tissues and paper towels made with post-consumer waste and without chlorine bleach. Avoid added lotion, fragrance and dyes.

11. Cell phones A lot of kids have cell phones. If purchasing a new phone, choose one with lower radiation (“SAR” value) by searching EWG’s cell phone database. Teach your child that when she’s not using it, she should turn it off, store it in her backpack or somewhere else away from the body, and text instead of talking. Get our eight cell phone safety tips.

Get the guide. You can download these tips, too, ’cause they’re mighty handy when you’re staring at all those crayons, notebooks and markers in the store!

Whether your child eats the school lunch or your own hand-packed version, there’s a chance she might not be getting enough fruits and veggies. U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics show that American adults and teens are chronic under-eaters when it comes to produce. And while we likely do a better job with our little ones, per capita annual consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables has been roughly flat for the past two decades.

Of course, a concerned parent piling produce into lunch boxes might also be pondering the trace levels of pesticides that could be present. It’s a valid concern: USDA research shows that pesticides are detected in 7 of every 10 fruit and vegetable samples tested. Very little is known about the safety of real-world pesticide exposures, but the available studies of people point to increased risks of neurological damage in children. While this is unsettling, the answer is not skipping the produce.

So what’s a parent to do?

1. Buy organic if you can. Yes, those organic peaches and apples are more expensive, but they’re a worthwhile investment – especially if you’re pregnant or feeding kids. Exposure to toxic chemicals – such as pesticides – is especially risky for smaller, still-developing bodies.
2. Buy organic when it matters most. Every year EWG ranks popular fruits and vegetables based on the amount of pesticide residues found on them. Sweet peas, mangos and avocados, for example, are all on EWG’s “Clean 15″ list, meaning they have the lowest levels of pesticide residue. Celery, peaches and strawberries are among the “Dirty Dozen” with the highest levels. When budgeting your produce dollars, you can feel better about buying conventional when you know which ones have lower pesticide residues.
   Download EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce and the handy iPhone app at FoodNews.org. You can get a grocery bag tag for a small donation, too.
3. Take a trip to the farmers’ market. Buying local doesn’t necessarily mean “pesticide-free,” but it does give you the chance to talk to the farmers themselves and find out what growing methods they use. Small farms may not always be certified organic by the USDA, but sometimes they use little or no synthetic chemicals.

Here are a few low-pesticide fruits and veggies we’d like to see in more school lunches, whether packed by parents or offered in the cafeteria:

• Melon (cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew) : High in vitamin C and potassium, cubes of these sweet, crunchy treats are easy to pack in a lunchbox or scoop onto a cafeteria plate.
• Cabbage: Full of B and C vitamins and fiber, cabbage goes great in salads and coleslaw and can be stuffed and baked.
• Sweet corn: I’m happy to chomp on a fresh, sweet ear of corn, even raw, though this might not be an option for kids who’re losing or have lost a baby tooth in front. Off the cob and cooked, corn is tasty hot or cold.

With all this pesticide talk, let’s be clear about the benefits of produce: The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure. EWG’s Shopper’s Guide can help reduce exposures to pesticides as much as possible for families wisely seeking to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Get the straight scoop about pesticides and produce from Dr. Weil in this short video.

Learn more about healthy school lunches – and the public policies that affect them – from Chef Ann Cooper, known as “The Renegade Lunch Lady,” in her book, Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children.

Yesterday, I wrote about a recent Environmental Working Group study of school cleaners and indoor air pollution that revealed how many toxic pollutants are emitted into classroom air by traditional cleaning supplies.

In that same study, we also found that cleaning classrooms with “certified green” cleaning products is a simple way to clear the air – for students, teachers and custodians. To be certified, these products must meet strict health and safety standards provided by two independent organizations: Green Seal and EcoLogo.

Act now! Here’s how. Whether you’re a concerned parent or work at a school or daycare center, the time to get behind the green choice is now! We know you’re busy, so we put together some tools to make it easier to educate and persuade decision makers to choose greener cleaning products.

Get started by downloading EWG’s green cleaning fact sheet, sample parent letter to school staff (you can edit it), and a list of steps you can take to encourage your school to start cleaning greener.

When talking with school staff, remember these key selling points about green cleaning products:

• No asthmagens. Certified green cleaning supplies do not contain “asthmagen” ingredients – chemicals that cause asthma. Asthma is a growing problem for children, teachers, and custodial staff.
• No chemicals of concern. Certified green cleaning supplies do not contain carcinogens, reproductive toxins, heavy metals, phthalates and lots of other chemicals of concern commonly found as ingredients in conventional cleaning supplies.
• Safer for workers. Certified green cleaning supplies are safer for school staff. For example, green cleaning products do not contain ingredients that are corrosive to the skin or eyes, reducing the chances of on-the-job injury.
• Effective. Certified green cleaning supplies really do clean. To be certified, they must pass industry performance standards.
• Cost-competitive. Certified green cleaning supplies are cost-competitive – and some schools have even saved money making the switch. For example, certified green cleaning supplies come highly concentrated and must be diluted on site, a practice that reduces the environmental impact of packaging and shipping. A single bottle of a certified green product can be more expensive than its non-green competitors, but diluting it properly means that schools get a lot more cleaning out of each bottle – and more bang for the buck.

Ten states have already passed laws requiring or encouraging the use of green cleaners in schools. In other states, many school districts have acted on their own to adopt green cleaning practices. If your school or daycare center hasn’t made the switch yet, our tools will help you persuade them to make the safer, green choice.

Remember that teachers sometimes bring their own store-bought cleaning supplies into the classroom, some of which may contain harmful chemicals, even if the school officially uses green cleaners. And children may be asked to bring in supplies, too, such as disinfecting wipes, which typically contain antibacterial chemicals that cause asthma. Check to see what’s actually used in your child’s classroom. It’s worth it – especially if the kids are doing some cleaning!

Need inspiration? Proof that it can actually be done? We’ve got it. Check out our profile of Manteca Unified, a California school district making the switch to certified green cleaning supplies.

As most parents know, childhood asthma is on the rise. In fact, 1 in 10 American kids now develops this chronic health condition during childhood. If your child is fortunate enough to be asthma-free, chances are she or he has at least one school or daycare buddy with the disease.

And it’s not just kids. Turns out teachers also suffer significantly higher rates of this life-threatening condition. So as researchers and children’s health advocates at Environmental Working Group, we wanted to know whether the cleaning supplies used in schools might have something to do with this trend, since they’re a common source of indoor air contaminants.

The Bad News First: Common school cleaners dirty the classroom air To better understand the potential link between asthma and school cleaners, we ordered up sophisticated air pollution tests for 21 common school cleaning products. These tests showed that as a group, these 21 products release into the air no fewer than 457 distinct chemicals. 457! And six of them are known to cause asthma in otherwise healthy people.

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by these results: Studies of folks who clean for a living find increasing evidence that asthma developed on the job is often linked to exposure to common cleaning supplies. Cleaning products can also trigger an asthma attack.

EWG’s tests found chemicals in cleaners that are associated with even more disturbing health problems. Eleven are known, probable or possible human carcinogens. We also detected reproductive toxins, neurotoxins and hormone disrupters in commonly used cleaning supplies.

As it happens, it’s not just the cleaners used in schools. Some of the products we had tested are also under the sink in millions of American homes. One of them, Comet Disinfectant Powder Cleanser, released 143 contaminants into the air – including formaldehyde, benzene, chloroform and four others that California has formally identified as causers of cancer or reproductive problems. Yuck.

It only makes sense to keep noxious chemicals out of the air wherever young (and not-so-young) children spend a lot of time. Students who stay after school for extra-curricular activities probably get an extra dose of cleaning pollutants since custodians often do a lot of their work after classes let out. Because children’s developing bodies are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals, schools rank high on our list of places that should be free of preventable, lung-damaging air pollution.

The Good News: There are effective greener alternatives EWG’s study also looked at “certified green” cleaning products to see if they were less likely to release potentially harmful contaminants. Independent organizations that review products according to health-based standards (Green Seal and EcoLogo) had given them high marks. Both in individual product tests and in simulated classroom cleaning situations where we compared them with conventional cleaners, the certified green supplies emitted fewer toxic chemicals.

Overall, cleaning a classroom with conventional cleaners emitted six times more air contamination (measured as volatile organic compounds) than cleaning with green cleaners. Six times!! But EWG’s tests showed that even some products certified as green had undesirable emissions, indicating that the certification process isn’t airtight.

What’s a parent to do? Advocate for change, of course! It’s easy, and the arguments are compelling. Check back tomorrow when we’ll discuss the best ways to talk to your school or daycare provider about switching to safer, certified green cleaning options.