Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaner
Homemade Cleaners are Good for Your Health, Finances, and Planet
May 19, 2008
Most people realize that a clean house isn’t only attractive but it is also healthier and more sanitary. As a result, people will spring for any all-purpose cleaner that cleans quickly, easily, and is advertised as anti-microbial or anti-bacterial.
The Hazards in Two Popular All-Purpose Cleaners
The material safety data sheet for Fantastik All-Purpose Cleaner contains the following warning: “Prolonged contact w/skin or eyes may cause transient irritation. Eye irritation on rabbits: eye irritant. Animal studies clearly demonstrated dose-related adverse effects on the cns, hematopoietic tissues, blood, kidneys & liver, associated w/administration of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (egbe). (efts of overexp).”
The material safety data sheet for 409 All-Purpose Cleaner states that it is an eye and skin irritant and suggests that prolonged exposure should be avoided. It also lists the following precautions for using the product: “Wear safety glasses. With repeated or prolonged use, wear gloves.” The safety sheet also says that product may be absorbed through skin and may contribute to “overall exposure” although it doesn’t make clear what that overall exposure might be.
Cheap Green Homemade Alternative
If you want something that cleans better than plain water but do not want to risk exposing your family to harsh chemicals, perhaps you should make your own all-purpose cleaner.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp dish soap
- ½ cup of vinegar
- ½ cup rubbing alcohol
- ½ cup of water
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients in a spray or squeeze bottle and use to clean household surfaces.
Cost Analysis of the Earth-Friendly Alternative
A 32-ounce bottle of Fantastik costs $3.89. A 32-ounce bottle of 409 costs $3.99.A one-gallon jug of generic white vinegar costs $1.94. A 16-ounce bottle of wintergreen scented alcohol (plain would be cheaper) costs $1.23. A 56-oz bottle of Dawn dish soap costs $4.47. The cost for 32 ounces of wintergreen scented environmentally friendly and healthier homemade all-purpose cleaner is $1.07.
The price for homemade cleaner can be decreased by buying in bulk and by using plain alcohol rather than wintergreen scented. However, the wintergreen scent masks the vinegar smell for those who find the smell of vinegar offensive.
Safety Concerns Surrounding Rubbing Alcohol and Detergent
Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is a common product found in most homes. The material safety data sheet for Isopropyl Alcohol 70% defines it as a mild irritant and that it is most irritating when introduced to existing conditions. For instance, it will be much more irritating to dry, broken skin that to healthy skin.
However, rubbing alcohol is a common disinfectant and has many topical uses including: cleaning skin, disinfecting cuts and scrapes, and for massaging stiff sore muscles.
The biggest danger of rubbing alcohol is that it is very flammable and exposure to open flames or heat sources should be avoided.
The material safety data sheet for Dawn/Ivory/Joy rate the health hazards from ingesting the detergent or from getting in the eyes as a “transient irritation.” There are no significant cautions listed for these detergents.
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