My upstairs neighbor is a single mom of a college-age kid. Last summer, she went on a business trip for a couple of weeks, leaving her son (and their dog) home alone. Thankfully, no beer-fueled ragers ensued - just walks with the dog, and more meal deliveries than usual.
However, Mom must have let him know she was returning earlier than expected, because one day, the upstairs was a-clatter with sweeping, mopping, clinking dishes, and multiple trips out to the garbage bin. I’m guessing Joe College had really enjoyed his unsupervised summer break.
Suddenly a cloud of strong chlorine bleach fumes began filling our bathroom through some backdraft where our separate drains connected.
Either he had managed to turn the family bathroom into a biohazard in less than two weeks, or he just figured a large quantity of undiluted bleach would make the task easier.
I had to leave the fan on in our bathroom well into the next day to avoid a medical emergency in my own apartment.
While a trip through the common hallway to the laundry room is regularly accompanied by the aromas of bleach (somewhat diluted), Lysol, or laundry softener, we have yet to need to call Poison Control - despite wishing to do a citizen’s arrest for sensory assault by synthetic fragrance...
As the young adults among us head to campus, some for the first time, it’s worth preparing them to maintain a clean dorm by safely using non-toxic products.
According to the Connecticut Poison Control Center, the top non-drug reason for poison exposure cases last year was household cleaning substances, followed by cosmetics and personal care products.
While some people have always been more sensitive to fragrances and chemicals, we continue to learn more about the impact of common household products on the human body as well as the environment.
Recent news alerted us to the discovery of microplastic particles present in the human body, a disturbing follow up to widespread awareness of the microplastics accumulating in our oceans and other bodies of water.
And while microplastics are visible with a microscope, our view into the ingredients of common household cleaning products is much less clear.
According to the Environmental Working Group, “There are no current regulations [in the US] requiring manufacturers to fully list their ingredients on their packages or online [...] Even when they do list the ingredients, manufacturers often use generic terms [which] can mask dozens of compounds, some of which have been linked to serious health impacts.”
So how do we choose safe cleaning products? And how do we keep ourselves, our neighbors, and the environment safe while using them?
In the absence of legally mandated ingredient disclosures, third party safety labels and certifications are a good starting point. The Safer Choice standard by the US Environmental Protection Agency uses chemistry-based analysis at the ingredient level to label products that are safe for humans and the environment. Environmental Working Group, or EWG, issues the EWG Verified® mark for products that meet their ingredient transparency standards and contain no ingredients deemed “unacceptable” for human and ecological health.
EWG also rates widely available household cleaning products based on ingredient safety, as well as the manufacturer’s overall transparency on ingredient disclosure. These ratings can be found in their extensive product databases, at EWG.org and through the Healthy Living app for smartphones.
EWG strongly advises consumers to avoid products that contain triclosan, ammonia, chlorine bleach, phthalates, or the umbrella category “fragrance”.
Experts also caution that homemade cleaners, or products on the mass market labeled “natural” are not necessarily the best choices for health and safety.
Regardless of the product’s origin, common sense and best practices can help keep college students, campus workers, and the environment safe.
Wear protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and a respirator as needed. Ventilate the space you’re working in by turning on fans or HVAC systems that vent out of doors.
Use elbow grease first - Use mechanical cleaning before reaching for a harsher product. Soak or scrub stains and spills rather than using products labeled “extra strength.” Use a drain snake before resorting to chemical drain cleaners, for example.
Use the right product for the job. Match the product to the item or surface and how it’s used. Only use a product as strong as you need for the job.
Always read the label and use the product as instructed. Dilute concentrated products as labeled, and don’t mix different products together. Keep products in their original containers so product information is always available. And dispose leftover product according to the manufacturer’s label.
If you or someone sharing the space have an adverse reaction to contact with the product, or inhalation of fumes, get to a well-ventilated area, and contact Poison Control. Have the product container with you when you call. In Connecticut, Poison Control can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at 1-800-222-1222.
And to keep your dorm fresh in between your housekeeping blitzes, just do things the old fashioned way:
Wipe up spills and stains right away.
Leave your shoes by the door, and switch to a designated pair of slippers for inside your living space.
Open your windows and use fans to get fresh air into your dorm every day.
Pre-treat laundry stains, use the correct products with the appropriate machine settings, and thoroughly dry thick fabrics to avoid mildew.
Using common sense, basic safety practices, and choosing non-toxic cleaning products backed by science-based health standards, families can feel more confident sending their young adults off to campus.
If you are looking for a giftable starter kit of non-toxic cleaning products, that's also refillable and safe for waterways, try the EcoKind Cleaning Starter Kit from my side project, Green Doors Home.
Comments