Many popular and inexpensive home cleaning products contain toxic chemicals. There are alternatives, but they can be expensive or require extra steps. What happens when those barriers are removed? OEC partnered with Hacienda CDC to find out.
Hacienda CDC Eco- Healthy Home Survey
In the Fall/Winter of 2020, socially distanced, in-person focus groups and bilingual online surveys were held in Hacienda CDC’s housing communities to listen to residents’ concerns about toxic chemicals in the home. COVID-19 hit the Latino/x community particularly hard, and the increased levels of disinfecting increased families’ and kids’ exposure to dozens of different toxic chemicals (ie. bleach) in their products. It should not be a cost burden to obtain environmentally healthy, non-toxic, and sustainable cleaning and personal care products. In all, 75 residents participated in either focus groups or online surveys.[1]
Based on that input, we came up with affordable Spanish and Englishcleaning and sanitizing recipes and tailored eco-healthy home kits with non-toxic ingredients, and distributed them to these residents. We then surveyed participants a second time in the Spring/Summer of 2021 after they got a chance to use their eco-healthy home kits. This report shows a significant positive outcome for the health of residents.[2]
During the Fall 2021 focus groups, residents noted that:
They usually had to leave the room after cleaning with chemical products, due to the fumes.
49% had health problems such as dry skin, rashes, headaches, and nausea with conventional chemical products.
79% were concerned about health impacts from cleaning and personal care products and impacts to their indoor air quality.
85% noted that cost was a major factor in choosing products. The pandemic’s financial constraints forced them to seek out the cheapest cleaning products available.
94% are interested in natural more environmentally friendly solutions.
This project would not have been possible without the participation of the residents at Hacienda CDC. We are grateful for their collaboration and openness in this partnership.
[1]See OEC Roundtable Report for full findings, Prepared by Lara Media (February 2021).
[2] Only 11 participants filled out a second survey.
Once upon a time, cleaning supplies were simple. After the first synthetic detergent was introduced in 1946, a host of other synthetic cleaning products came on the market. Today, there are more than 10,000 household cleaning products of various brands.
Some ingredients are linked to health concerns including asthma, cancer, and neurological damage. Other ingredients lack full data on health effects. Because manufacturers are not required to list all ingredients, it’s hard to know the
Nearly any household job can be done with simple ingredients. It may take a little extra time to activate and effort to scrub, but the benefits to health are worth it!
Oven cleaner. Start by removing debris with a vacuum or towel. Coat the oven (not the burner) with a paste of baking soda and water. Let sit at least 30 minutes. Scrub tough spots with a rag in a circular motion. Wipe clean. Finish with a vinegar spray to remove any remaining baking
You can do almost any household cleaning job with just five ingredients: baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, castile soap—and elbow grease. Green cleaning amy take a bit more time and effort to work without the harsh chemicals. But the payoff is a healthier home and a gentle touch for our air, water and landscape.
Baking soda
Deodorizer: Sprinkle in garbage cans and litter boxes, open a box in the fridge, or sprinkle on carpet before vacuuming to absorb odors.
When it comes to healthy indoor air, there’s no substitute for fresh air flowing in your home. But there are ways to give that fresh air a boost:
Dust with a damp cloth: Studies find up to 66 toxic substances in household dust.
Go shoe-free indoors: Avoid tracking in pollutants by removing shoes at the front door.
Try micro-fiber cloths for dusting. Microfiber cloths and mops are a great tool for dusting floors and surfaces. Particles cling to the mi
Household cleaning products can contain chemicals that harm your health, and harm waterways when they go down the drain. Try cleaning with these simple ingredients to save money, stay healthy and keep our rivers clean.
Green cleaning kit:
White distilled vinegar
Use it in a spray bottle on windows and as an after-shower spray to cut soap scum
Pour some into your clothing rinse cycle to remove odors and soften clothes
Simmer on the stove to
