Is a clean home possible without chemicals?

Store-bought cleaners can contain
harmful chemicals and fumes.

The cleaning product aisles in supermarkets and other stores can be quite overwhelming with their abundance of specialty cleaners and chemical-laden products.

However, with many consumers becoming more health-conscious and weary of potentially harmful chemicals in such products, some trusted and non-toxic staples have been given a new life, including baking soda, vinegar, Castile soap and more. Others swear by the water and microfiber cloth cleaning method.

Going green when cleaning makes sense when it comes to personal health and the environment, but many people still question how effective these non-toxic cleaning products are.

Reducing germs – the green way

According to food safety specialists and other experts, home-made cleaners with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide can be effective in removing dirt and particles as well as reducing germs. Baking soda is a good scrubbing agent but not an effective sanitizer.

But apart from surfaces where food preparation takes place, sanitation is not always necessary, experts say.

Often, hot water and soap is enough, as is regular cleaning and changing kitchen rags twice weekly.

Households with senior residents, young children or pets may want to sanitize more often.

Concerns about chemicals

A survey released by The Shelton Group earlier this year found that 24 percent of Americans buy or make all-natural cleaning products and an even larger number (65 percent) of Americans say that they are concerned about chemicals in products.

Common household cleaners can contain chemicals such as butyl cellosolve (can irritate skin and eyes and damage the liver and kidneys), crystalline silica (an eye, skin and lung irritant), phosphates (suffocate aquatic plants and animals) and chlorine (fumes are irritating to eye, throat and respiratory tract).

Green does not always mean non-toxic; reading labels is still one of the most important habits for customers.

Source: Detroit Lakes Online

Reduce chemicals everywhere

Activated carbon is the safest and most effective
way to remove airborne chemicals, gases and odors.

Chemicals are not only found in cleaning products and similar household staples – they can also hide in furniture, air fresheners, personal care products, building materials and many other sources.

Often, these chemicals become airborne and contribute to poor indoor air quality and health concerns.

Source control (choosing more natural and healthier products), good ventilation and air filtration can help reduce the risks associated with poor indoor air quality.

AllerAir has developed portable and highly efficient room air purifiers with activated carbon and HEPA filters that can remove the widest range of indoor air contaminants.

With general purpose air purifiers as well as units made for specific concerns such as allergy and asthma, mold, MCS, tobacco smoke and more, it’s easy to find the right air purifier for each problem.

Contact AllerAir for more information.
  

Air Quality Experts Warn Against the Dangers of Mold Caused by Flooding in St. Leonard and Anjou

The flash flooding that occurred in St. Leonard and Anjou, Quebec in early August have Indoor Air Quality Experts at AllerAir Industries, warning homeowners and business owners that there can be serious health effects from mold caused by water damage.

“Home and business owners in St. Leonard and Anjou have no doubt worked towards cleaning up the debris and damage caused by the east-end flooding in early August, but much of the real danger of mold can remain hidden,” said Indoor Air Quality Expert, Karen Hand, B. Chem. Eng. “I have been involved in numerous situations where families were unwittingly living in mold-infested homes, and wondering why they were suffering from medical complications.”

The Indoor Air Experts at AllerAir warn homeowners in St. Leonard and Anjou that molds can cause serious structural damage to homes, as well as health problems.

“We’re recommending specific air purifiers with deep carbon beds for homes affected by flooding—units that ensure thorough chemical absorption,” said Hand. “If you have a HEPA-only air purifier, this is not going to safeguard your family from the dangers of mold.”

Residents and business owners affected by the floods in St. Leonard and Anjou are invited to call (888) 852 8247 to speak to an Indoor Air Expert at AllerAir for a free consultation on choosing an appropriate air purifier for mold.

Wildfires in Chelan and Douglas Counties Cause Air Quality Alert

Smoke from wildfires raging in the Chelan and Douglas counties in the state of Washington have caused the local Health District to issue an air quality alert. Residents with heart or lung conditions such as asthma or emphysema, along with children and the elderly, have been warned to avoid outdoor activity and remain indoors with windows and doors closed.

People who live in areas that have been affected by wildfires should consider furnishing their homes with an air purifier designed specifically to combat the dangers caused by reoccurring wildfires.

For more information on equipment designed specifically for wildfires, visit the AllerAir website to find out more about air cleaners designed with medical-grade HEPA technology that traps 99.97% of fine particles at 0.3 microns and deep bed carbon filters to adsorb gases, chemicals and tough smoke odor.