Why Change to Green Household Cleaners? Who wants harmful chemicals?

I just saw this article on household cleaners and wanted to share as a follow up to my Turn Spring Cleaning into Green Cleaning.

All-purpose home cleanersTime for spring-cleaning? Using common household cleaners may expose you to potentially harmful chemicals. Ammonia and chlorine bleach can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. And some cleaners contain phthalates, some of which are endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with normal hormone activity, says EWG senior scientist Becky Sutton, PhD.

Although there’s no definitive proof that phthalates cause problems in humans, "the greatest concern is how early-life exposure will affect male [reproductive] development," Dr. Carpenter says. There’s weaker evidence, he adds, that phthalates affect the nervous and immune systems. Go natural with the cleaner you use the most frequently and in the most places, such as kitchen-counter spray—look for brands approved by Green Seal or EcoLogo, two organizations that identify products that have met environmental label guidelines.

Health.com: Green guide to cleaning

Jan

Dinner tonight: I'm thinking about grilling hot dogs served with baked beans and a salad. I have a wicked headache and shopping and cooking is not on my to do list right now.