SPOTLIGHT ON…LMD CERTIFIED ORGANIC DOMESTIC CLEANING PRODUCTS
The last teaspoon’s been rescued, you pull the plug and watch the now murky, filmy, tepid wash-up water gurgling down the drain. There’s a slight twinge of guilt and you promise yourself that next time you shop for detergents, you’ll buy one of the certified organic dish liquids available.
So what are we pouring down our drain on a daily basis? Chemical names like sodium hydroxide, phenyl phenol aldehyde, Cocamide DEA, methylchloroisothiazolinone (had to break that one down just to be able to pronounce it!) and abbreviations CI 19140 and CI 42090 abound on most household cleaning products. Here are some facts about each one, just to put things into perspective:
- Sodium Hydroxide: also known as lye and caustic soda, can produce irritation of the skin and eyes
- Phenyl Phenol Aldehyde : Resin, sensitizing agent, could cause contact dermatitis and skin irritation.
- Cocamide DEA: Surfactant and emulsifier, suspected of increasing the risk of cancer, fetal brain development
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone: a preservative also used in glue production, paints and fuels, one of the most potent allergens, a known human immune and skin toxicant.
- CI 19140: Blue colouring, causes hyperactivity, skin rashes. Potential carcinogen.
- CI 42090: Orange colouring, potentially harmful to sensitive skins
But I wear gloves!’, I hear you say. Yes, you might be protecting your skin and gel nails nicely, but what about the gloop that goes down the drain? Here’s the scoop:
- The chemicals used as surfactants in detergents to get the dirt out, go down the drain and during wastewater treatment, they break down and form the environmental estrogens called nonylphenol and octylphenol.
- These NPE’s go into septic systems or wastewater treatment plants and ends up in sewage sludge. Some of the sewage sludge is applied to agricultural land. (Got your interest now!)
- NPE has been detected at worrying levels in rivers worldwide and in groundwater from septic systems. It is very toxic to fish, and can cause feminization of male fish. (Huh?)
- The reason for all the trouble is that most synthetic detergents are made of petroleum derivatives that are all but indestructible.
- Instead of breaking down in the soil and becoming food for bacteria, the synthetic detergents remains active long after it goes down the drain, bubbling on and on through rivers and lakes and often seeping through the earth from septic tanks to well water. (Remember more foam does not mean more clean…)
- While wastewater treatment is extremely effective in removing biodegradable food and human waste, it was never designed to address this broad spectrum of chemical pollution.
Therefore, keeping these chemicals out of the environment is as important for human health as it is for wildlife health.
Right, now you’re at the shop and standing in front of the shelf with endless variations of cleaning agents. You’re armed with knowledge and filled with pride that you’re going to start making a difference. You immediately discard the cheap and nasties (they don’t last well anyway) and start comparing prices of your regular brand vs. organic alternatives. Hmm, the one costs 3 times more, but will it last 3 times longer……no I need to consider the environment…..perhaps I’ll just get a small one…..no that’s false economizing….can you hear yourself yet !?
I can quite confidently confirm that your regular off the shelf cleaning agents and my certified organic cleaning agents are equally cost effective with the bonus of being completely biodegradable and not harmful to your family, pets or the environment. Eg.: a well-known brand glass cleaner cost R28.99 for 750 ml. Our certified organic window cleaner costs R25.00 for 500 ml. Not much difference now, is there?
So how does it work, you ask? Proven to clean as effectively and efficiently as conventional cleaners, The LMD Enviro® range of household cleaning products is made exclusively from natural plant-based ingredients, essential oils, has no colourants and is 100% biodegradable.
All LMD ENVIRO® products have been produced strictly in accordance with EcoCert specifications. The products are formulated using biodegradable ingredients and are packaged in bottles that are recyclable. No testing has been done on animals. The products are produced in an ISO 9000 compliant factory. LMD ENVIRO® products are a practical way for consumers to facilitate in reducing their ecological footprint without compromising performance. Here is a small selection from the range:
- LMD ENVIRO® Dishwashing Liquid with organic lemon essential oil & enzymes
- LMD ENVIRO® Window & Glass Cleaner with enzyme action
- LMD ENVIRO® General Purpose Cleaner with organic eucalyptus & orange essential oils
- LMD ENVIRO® Fabric Softener with organic lavender essential oils
- LMD Biologix Drain Cleaner with Enzyme Action & Essential Eucalyptus Oil
- LMD Biologx Toilet Cleaner & Descaler with Enzyme Action & Essential Oils
- LMD Biologx Tile Cleaner with Enzyme Action & Essential Oils
If you have found this information interesting then you might also like to read more about Naturone, a natural progesterone cream, which is essential for combating the synthetic estrogens, which abound in our environment.
Thank you for reading and I hope to have sparked your interest and commitment to a healthy home environment and furthering the greening process. Next month give glass recycling a go !
Warmest regards,
Marlize
