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ALTERNATIVES TO HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

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Alternatives to Hazardous Household Products

Tips on Finding the Safest Household Products

Children, seniors and pets are particularly sensitive to household chemicals. Using less toxic household products keeps the home healthier and helps protect the environment.  Use our Safer Alternatives Guide to find more tips for finding less toxic products:

  • Look at the warning words on the label. The warning words "Caution" and "Warning" indicate a moderate hazard. The words "Danger" and "Poison" on the label indicate highest hazard. Avoid products marked "Danger" or "Poison" and look for products with no warning words. Note that particular warning words don’t always refer to the same kind of hazard.
  • Chose a product with no scent or a mild scent. Scented products can add chemicals to the indoor air environment and may be disruptive to children and to people with respiratory ailments or sensitive skin.
  • Check the product’s ingredients. Finding out what’s in a product can sometimes be difficult because manufacturers aren’t required to list all the ingredients (except for food products).  For example, many manufacturers don’t list inert ingredients even though people may be sensitive to these.  Even when ingredients are listed, the information can be confusing.  Use the warning words as a guide. The National Institutes of Health Household Products Database provides information about the health effects of household products. 
  • Follow the instructions for product use. Information on the product label tells how to properly use the product, how to store it and clean it up, and how to avoid water pollution and environmental harm.

Use or Make Safer Alternatives

Safer alternatives can be substituted for many products that contain hazardous ingredients, particularly for products used to clean drains, toilet bowls, ovens, bathtubs and tiles. Suggestions for less toxic alternatives have been published by a number of agencies. These include:

Hazardous Products and Safer Alternatives, Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County. For each potentially hazardous household product, there is information about potential hazards, disposal options and safer alternatives.

Make Your Own Green Cleaners, Seattle Public Utilities, describes methods for cleaning without using toxic cleaning products.

Bisphenol A (BPA), Plastic Bottles, Canned Goods, and You describes the health-related evidence on bisphenol A, or BPA,  and discusses alternatives to products—like baby bottles and food storage containers-- that contain BPA.

Support Green Businesses

Some businesses have made a commitment to reduce the use and/or sale of products containing hazardous ingredients and have substituted safer products. Support them!

Shop at EnviroStars businesses – businesses that offer less toxic alternatives and make a commitment to keep the environment clean.

Support garden stores (PDF) that sell less-toxic plant care and pest control products and tools for efficient watering.

More Information

  • The National Institutes of Health Household Products Database provides information on potential health risks of particular products, by name of product.
  • The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County provides information about how to garden using natural yard care techniques rather than toxic pesticides.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about products that contribute to indoor air pollution.
  • The Washington Poison Center provides Mr. Yuk stickers and more. The toll-free number is 1-800-222-1222 (TDD number in Seattle: 1-800-222-1222).

Books

Baking Soda, Over 500 Fabulous, Fun and Frugal Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of. Vicki Lansky, The Book Peddlers. Grandmother knew how useful baking soda is.  Now everyone can find out too.

Clean it Fast, Clean it Right. Edited by Jeff Brendenberg, Rodale Press. Household tips from A to W (even a remedy for shrunken sweaters!) using common generic products.

Clean House, Clean Planet. Karen Logan, Pocket Books. Provides a wealth of cleaning information and rates the effectiveness and cost of alternatives.