It’s obvious change is in the wind because even conventional, mainstream companies are coming out with “green” cleaning products; fortunately for the consumer, the natural products industry already has a head start. From grimy clothes to dirty dinner dishes, there is always something to clean, and a more natural way to approach it. But more specifically, what natural choices are available?
Although mites may not seem like a common problem, many households are at risk. Eileen Sheets, managing director at Bioforce USA, noted a study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Services reported dust mite levels in bedding in nearly half of the homes (45 percent) were at least 2 micrograms/g, a level associated with the development of allergies. “In fact, dust mite allergy is the fastest growing allergy—second only to pollen as the cause of all allergic reactions,” she said.
“Allergy specialist, Gillian Shepherd, M.D., describes dust mites as microscopic spiders that thrive in humidity and feed off the skin cells humans shed,” Sheets said.
Neem, a mahogany tree found in tropical and semi-tropical regions, is known to fight off scabies. Bioforce USA developed Mites Out!, a neem-based spray product that can be used on fabrics and upholsteries, as well as children’s toys to combat dust mites. “[Mites Out!] is made from TN-MP 100, a patented, extract of the neem tree. It’s natural, nontoxic, non-irritating and non-staining,” Sheets added.
“In general, we use ingredients found in nature, or easily made from substances found in nature,” said Martin Wolf, “scienceman” at Seventh Generation. “Plant-derived oils, such as certified sustainable palm kernel oil are used to create cleaning agents called surfactants. Surfactants change the properties of water and oil so they can mix, and water can remove greasy soils. … Enzymes are the chemical workers of all living creatures. They help digest food by converting starches to sugars and proteins to smaller molecules called peptides, for example. We use them to remove starch and protein soils (such as grass and blood) from dirty laundry.”
From plant-based sprays to plant-based surfactants, Mother Nature is continuously providing alternatives to the conventional. Ecover’s main ingredient is citric acid, which serves as a biodegradable ingredient. “The ingredients and formulations we use completely break down and quickly biodegrade,” said Kipling Wagner, assistant marketing manager at Ecover. “They can go back into our waterways without detriment to aquatic life. Additionally, as the products biodegrade quickly and completely, they can be used for grey water systems as well as safe for use with septic tanks.”
Keeping the waterways clean of contaminants is not a new issue. In a 2002 U.S. Geological Survey study of contaminants in U.S. stream water, 69 percent of streams sampled contained persistent detergent metabolites, and 66 percent contained disinfectants.