Many conventional cleaning products contain toxins or harmful chemicals.
"Active ingredients" on labels are a code for pesticides or other chemicals, which are harmful to the people using the cleaners and the environment in which the substances eventually end up. A common pesticide found in soaps is triclosan. Triclosan washes down the drain, and can actually harm the aquatic fish and wildlife.
Many household-cleaning products can also cause birth defects. A 2010 study by the New York State Department of Health showed that children whose mothers held cleaning jobs while they were pregnant have an elevated risk of birth defects. Another study done by British scientists determined that children whose mothers used a lot of cleaning products while pregnant had a higher risk lower lung functionality and persistent wheezing. The European Union considers borax and boric acid, a common ingredient in laundry and dish detergents, can decrease sperm count and fertility. The EU also believes Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (DEGME) and other glycol ethers can decrease fertility or cause birth defects.
Natural cleaning products are just as effective, and not necessarily more expensive. As a Skidmore student, I want my school to switch to using cleaning products that are natural, and safer for the environment, the cleaning staff, and myself.
Check out the Environmental Working Group's Guide to Healthy Cleaning for more information about the dangers of conventional cleaning products:
http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners
