IN THE AIR YOU BREATHE AT HOME
Most household cleaners and laundry detergents contain chemical ingredients that pollute the air you breathe with unwanted and unneeded toxins. There is a way to clean with chemical-free, safe, non-toxic cleaners that work as well or better than chemical competitors. The solution is to use citrus and coconut oil blends that not only clean and shine beautifully, they are safe to use around children and pets, and won't harm our precious environment. The secret lies in the natural cleaning agent, D-Limonene.
With a sweet citrus odor, safe profile and powerful cleaning ability, D-Limonene is on the rise in the household-cleaning category.Everyone is familiar with the scent and flavor of oranges, but the chemical compound responsible for the scent is not quite as well known. D-Limonene has been used in the flavor and fragrance industry for years to scent products, but it is also a very powerful cleaning agent. Industrial uses of D-limonene as a cleaning agent have been increasing for several years.
Safety/Environmental Issues: When ozone layer depletion was linked to the use of chlorinated solvents, use of those solvents was restricted or prohibited and many manufacturers turned to D-Limonene as an effective alternative. More recently, household and institutional cleaning product manufacturers are learning how to make more effective cleaners with D-limonene.
Formulating for Households: Typically, household cleaning products consist of blends of water, surfactants and builders such as caustics, ammonium hydroxide and acids. Although these combinations are effective, an organic cleaner such as D-Limonene is much more effective in dissolving organic dirt and holding it in solution. In addition, caustic and acid-based cleaners usually have pH values far removed from neutral. High or low pH formulas can cause burns and severely damage internal organs if accidentally ingested. By contrast, D-limonene is an organic and does not influence the pH of a solution. Only the surfactants and other additives in the solution, then, cause pH to rise and fall. By carefully choosing these other materials, most D-Limonene based solutions can be maintained near a neutral pH.
Other Interesting Facts: Obviously, D-Limonene poses little hazard to human health. It has been granted Generally Regarded as Safe status for food use by the FDA and is listed as a non-toxic under the Toxic Substances Control Act. It may act as a dietary antioxidant and is being investigated as a chemopreventative and chemotherapy agent. D-limonene is biodegradable, and so is safe with regard to water treatment facilities. It masks odors, and acts as a nutrient for healthy microorganisms in septic systems, as well.D-limonene has been proven to be an effective ant, cockroach, and flying insect killer and repellant. Initial studies have also demonstrated that d-limonene can be effective in killing many disease-causing microorganisms such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. D-limonene can be blended into a wide variety of products for every day use.
While petroleum- and chemical-based surfactants are less expensive than natural ingredients, more people are becoming concerned about the safety and environmental impact of household chemicals. Natural-based surfactants produced with coconuts and corn are a safe and healthy alternative, and orange oils boost performance and give cleaners a natural citrus fragrance.
It is time to make the change to natural cleaners.
Written by: Julia Galaburda
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