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Switch to a natural tile and tub cleaner

Why This is Green

Conventional cleaners, including sink, tub, and tile cleaners, meant to make our homes look their best actually pollute them, us, and the environment. They contain a whole host of hazardous, often petroleum-derived, chemicals including ammonia, glycol ethers, synthetic fragrances, and the synthetic antibacterial agent triclosan—which have been linked to cancer, asthma, hormone disruption, liver and kidney damage, and more. If ammonia mixes with chlorine bleach, it releases highly toxic chloramine gas. If you’ve ever scrubbed a tub, you know that these chemicals can also irritate your eyes and skin.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to find out what a cleaner contains as cleaning product formulas are currently considered government-protected trade secrets. To avoid hazardous ingredients, look for warning labels on conventional products; bottles marked “danger” “poison” “toxic” and “hazardous” should be left on the store shelf.

Even better? Switch to a natural cleaner. Natural cleaning product companies usually willingly disclose ingredients on their plant-based cleaners. Your house and lungs will thank you, and, because they help keep wastewater clean, so will the fish.

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How To

Read ingredients on products, not marketing language. A bottle may be stamped with a green certification label that was made up by the company selling the product, not a third-party certifier. Buyer beware.

If a product doesn’t have an ingredient list, don’t buy it.

Making your own tub scrub could not be easier: mix baking soda with plant-based dish soap. Or, mix ¼ cup baking soda with ½ cup white vinegar. Either works with a damp sponge and elbow grease.