It's one of the most common causes of hospital admission among New Zealand children. Sadly it's our homes that may be one of the contributors to the asthma epidemic.

There is growing evidence to prove a link between commonly used cleaning products and asthma sufferers. Research published in the British Medical Journal^* found that nurses exposed to cleaning products and irritants in the workplace were 70% more likely to develop Asthma.

* http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/136045.php

Kill the unseen nasties...

It's scary to think about the unseen germs, bacteria and viruses festering in your home. It's often this bacteria that is more dangerous that the dirt you can see and scrub off. In some cases, there are 200 times more E.coli on the cutting board than on a toilet seat!

Think of how many things your hands touch in a day – inside and outside the home. Around 80% of germs are spread through your hands. These are easily transferred to eyes, noses and mouths because we're always touching our faces. Young children, babies and toddlers are even more susceptible.

Using high-performance ethyl alcohol based cleaners and sanitisers can help protect your home and give you and your family an added defense against things like E.coli, H1N1 and most common viruses and bacteria.

Rid your home of harmful chemicals...

Despite what some people think, a cleaning product doesn't need to smell toxic to work effectively. Some of the toxic chemicals used in conventional cleaners can have long-term health effects.

We're spreading and spraying these chemicals all over our homes and they leave unseen residues on surfaces and in the air – especially if you're cleaning without good ventilation (highly likely in the winter time).

These unseen nasties can cause eye and skin irritants, headaches and allergies. Some studies are only just scratching the surface on the hidden impact of our toxic cleaning culture.

Research published in the Environmental Health journal found women who reported the highest combined cleaning product use had a doubled risk of breast cancer compared to those who used less products.^*

Natural plant based cleaners are as effective as conventional cleaners and are safe for you and your family.

* http://www.ehjournal.net/content/9/1/40

It may make you smarter...

If you want your kids to excel at school, you may be giving them a good shot by switching to naturally-based cleaning products. Some research suggests that shifting to greener cleaners can significantly improve mental performance.

A detailed study at an elementary school in Washington DC found that the test results of children in math and science (the notoriously tricky subjects), significantly improved after the school switched to green cleaners. It's research like this that has compelled ten US states to mandate green cleaning in schools.^*

* http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/

Help save the planet...

Toxic chemicals commonly used in cleaners are having a pretty nasty impact our pristine waterways and coastlines. Bleaches, disinfectants, chlorine based cleaners, dyes or phosphates and other nasty chemicals can be highly toxic.

The toxins often don't break down in sewerage treatment and then get washed into our pristine waterways, reaching our rivers, lakes and seas.

This can cause marine pollution, which results in dead zones affecting aquatic life. The chemicals often don't effectively bio-degrade and can get back into the food we source from our waterways, and cause things like long term reproductive damage.

Plant-based cleaners are highly-biodegradable and contain no harmful chemicals so they won't end up polluting our environment or our homes.