Dish Washing
by Stephany Tellez, posted on 2009-01-07 22:33:18
Growing up in my family, washing dishes was a part of becoming a woman. As funny as it might sound or seem, it is true. Though times have changed, sometimes I feel like I am living in los tiempos de mi abuela. It was a shock to some family members that I was 10 years old and still having my parents wash dishes after meals. It is not that I didn’t know how. It is just that I was very spoiled and they did it for me. My parents eventually stopped spoon feeding me and had me wash dishes and I’m glad to say I am great and fast at it! Now all I need is to learn how to cook and I’m ready to find a husband! (Just kidding).
Another thing I learned about washing dishes is what soap to use and how much to use, always trying to conserve where we could. Nowadays, going green is becoming a lot simpler since so many companies are producing green house cleaning products.
Many times, the amount of foam produced and the great smell left behind are used as indications of how effective the product is. Sorry to break your clean dishes hearts, but that is not always the case and research has proven it. According to an article by Misty McNally in Green Guide magazine, foam is irrelevant on how well a product works. If anything, all those chemicals used to make the foam are unneeded and harmful to the environment. As much as we want to believe that the dyes and scents used in our normal products make them work better, it is not the case; they just make the task more pleasant. To some people, such liquids turn out to be irritating to the skin, eyes and nasal passages. However, you can still enjoy a good scent with a dish soap made with essential oils stemming from plants.
The biggest issue is the myth behind the word phrase “antibacterial.” Companies use certain ingredients (such as triclosan and tricloban) to kill bacteria in these products. Research has shown that in order to for these ingredients to work, dishes must soak for two hours in 100-degree water. Different research has shown that triclosan becomes inactive when exposed to chlorinated tap water. Often times, in killing the bad bacteria, the good bacteria get killed too which increases drug-resistant germs.
Next time you go to the store try some of the greener products. You will be doing yourself and the environment a favor in the long run. I will warn you watch out for labels that stay to be natural, organic, biodegradable, or cruelty-free. Many companies will try to use words like this in their label to attract the buyer, but often times can be false claims. Look for companies that will provide full ingredients disclosures. Keep an eye for those that tell you exactly what is in the product rather than vague category descriptions such as preservative or surfactants.
Listed below are some products to lookout for:
* Seventh Generation Dish Liquids
* Clorox Green Works Natural Dishwashing Liquids
* Ecover Dishwashing Liquids
* Planet Ultra Dishwashing Liquids
Comments from members0 comment |
|---|
