Here's an article written before by a Cleaning Support writer:
Cleaning Out Dirt or Disrupting Nature?
I guess we could agree that making our surroundings
clean would do us good. If there would
be no harmful bacteria around, we could all live healthily and feeling
comfortable. However, some cleaning agents
contain hazardous chemicals that are detrimental to our environment.
I saw a man watering the plants with water filled with
suds. It was what he used to rinse something
he cleaned using a detergent. I wondered
if it would really not be bad for the plants.
To that man, it was fine, because he believed the label on the detergent
saying “green”. In my head, I was
thinking if our cleaning contributing to the destruction of the environment? I went to look into our stock of cleaning
agents, and found out that it had other labels saying, “biodegradable”, and
“natural”. Honestly, I did not have any
clue about the specifics of it. I began
to be curious. You know the saying, read
between the lines. Moreover, in a more
analytical manner, know the context of what you are reading. So, I did and found out significant
guidelines when choosing the kind of cleansers to use. In this way, I could be cleaning whatever I
dare to clean without a heavy conscience against the good of the environment.
Here are the Guidelines:
First, do not fall into the trap of vague labels. Instead, find out cleaning agents that inform
people how many days it would take for it to biodegrade, rather than just plain
labelling saying “biodegradable”.
Second, avoid cleaning products that contain:
a.
Alkylphenol
ethoxylates (APEs) which contain nonylphenol ethoxylates and
octylphenol ethoxylates found in
detergents, stain removers, disinfectants.
It is also put in citrus degreasers.
It was discovered in Britain by John Sumpter that male fish in rivers
produced egg-yolk proteins when exposed to APEs. An abnormality brought by APEs ability to
mimic estrogen of salmon and other fish.
b.
Phosphates which
pollutes the water, and consequently leads to the death of fish and other
aquatic life. It promotes the overgrowth
of algae which depletes the oxygen in the water.
Third, choose cleaning agents that are bottled in
materials that can be recycled. Avoid
those bottled in vinyl made of vinyl chloride, a
cancer-causing chemical.
Fourth, the term “organic” does not mean the same when referring to
food. It is actually carbon-based
chemicals like VOCs
(volatile organic compounds) which have real bad fumes. Such would cause damage to the brain or
cancer.
Personally, I could not help, but wonder if there is
an authority that regulates on chemical matters. It is good to know that there is the chemical
regulator in Australia called as the National
Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) which is
responsible in regulating industrial chemicals. It works with the
Australian Department
of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities which also plays its part in chemical management in
the country – making environmental assessments of chemicals for industrial and
agricultural purposes, supporting the formulation of international agreements
in the subject of harmful substances, and coordinating with the States and
Territories.
To protect the environment, we need to really care
about issues concerning it, be educated, act, change our old ways and influence
others to do the same. According to the
social research series entitled, “Who Cares about the Environment” by the State
of NSW and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, ‘Many are pro-active’. In the results of the latest study dated 2012,
it was stated that, “…one-in-two people
say they have tried to encourage someone to change an activity or practice that
was harmful to the environment”. The
subjects of the social survey were 2,006 NSW residents from ages fifteen years
old and above. The qualitative research
included nine discussion groups. It was also
cited in there that, “…At home, people
continue to practice many positive environmental behaviours as part of their
daily lives…people who are doing more are those who feel their actions make a
difference.” This is an indicator
that people are changing the old ways to protect the mother earth. Interestingly, six percent (6%) from the
total number of respondents find that environment/environmental issues are the
two most important issues for NSW now – placing the matter as seventh (7th)
in the rank (alongside the issues on planning and development). While, fourteen percent (14%) find that it is
important in ten (10) years’ time. As a
future priority, it ranked fifth (5th). With regard to the changes, it was explained
in the social research series that the “key contributor” to it is the decrease
of issues concerning water issues and lesser instances when climate change is
mentioned.
It takes a whole community to make an impact that is protective of the
environment. Let us maintain the cleanliness
of our surroundings while being mindful of the environment. In Cleaning Support Services, only safe
cleaning materials are used, because we value nature.
References:
How Toxic Are Your Household Cleaning Supplies?
National chemicals management
Who
Cares about the Environment in 2012? At
a glance
Copyright
State of NSW and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
#australia
#best #brisbane #cheap #cheapest #cleaning#cleaningservice
#cleaningservices #cleaningtip #melbourne#most #reliable #service
#services #sydney #testimonials #tips #top #vacate #love #me #cute
#follow #photooftheday #like #tbt #girl #followme #picoftheday
#beautiful #tagsforlikes #instadaily #happy #igers #summer #instamood
#bestoftheday #fun #smile #food #instalike #fashion #all_shots #swag
#webstagram #iphoneonly #friends #like4like #l4l #instago #tflers #eyes
#tweegram #amazing #selfie #nice #lol #sun #instacollage #nofilter
#pretty #statigram #style #throwbackthursday #iphonesia #follow4follow
#my #instacool #hair #instafollow #life #bored #sky #cool #instagramhub
#harrystyles #shoutout #likeforlike. #look #20likes #funny #family
#boyfriend #niallhoran #hot #makeup #colorful #throwback #picstitch #jj
#loveit #igdaily #girls #photo #tired #pink #home #instaphoto #repost
#beach #shoes #blue #jj_forum #a #party #baby #in #f4f #instalove
#nature #night #louistomlinson #art #music #followforfollow #day #snow
#fitness
