Asthma Friendly Floor Cleaner??

[Not_Giving_Up]

I was diagnosed with adult onset asthma a couple of years ago. Even before the official diagnosis, I hated to mop because the smell of the cleaner set my sinuses and allergies off...Now, I wheeze like crazy. I'm allergic to pine, but had always used pine-sol because I felt it got my floor clean...I'd just open a window or cut on a fan...something to ventilate. Anyway, here's the deal - I have tried different scents of pine-sol, but they all drive me batty. I tried some clorox stuff, but bleach is worse (it said fresh scent, didn't think I'd be able to smell the bleach!!). I'm tired of getting dog sick every time I mop. Anybody out there with asthma, or kids with asthma - what do you use to mop the floor that doesn't trigger an attack?

[otohara]

1. here...

http://www.ecos.com/


http://www.ecos.com/NEWSITE/pages/gensub/floor.html


or go to health food store -

[Not_Giving_Up]

7. OK, this may be harder than I thought

Orange smell sets me off as well, which is the scent of the only floor cleaner I saw, and it was for wood floors. I didn't see anything for tile...I can't handle fruity or flowery either...(Did I mention I'm allergic to EVERYTHING???) I've been told I should live in a bubble!

[otohara]

15. Really - I Don't See Orange

Floor Kleener

Earth Friendly Products Floor Kleener is the first naturally derived product that can be used on wooden floors and wood floor laminates. Floor Kleener has been formulated to clean and protect the sealants in your flooring system. It will not strip your floors of their wax or seals. It is an effective way to clean daily spills or it can be used to clean the entire floor area. The easy to use trigger sprayer allows you to use the product without having to mix and mop. It is free rinsing which means you do not have to use water to rinse the product off when finished.

or try these products - available at most grocers - quick shine is amazing stuff - not sure how natural it is, does not bother my allergies.

http://www.hollowayhouse.net/product_list.asp?cid=2

or....

http://www.onlinefloorstore.com/cms/

[havocmom]

2. Try vinegar in water

Works pretty well unless you are dealing with a LOT of grease stuff on the floor. It is pet/allergy friendly for most and vinegar does kill cooties if the solution is strong enough. Smells like you are making pickles for a bit but dissipates quickly.

[Not_Giving_Up]

3. Oh man, I don't know if I can take vinegar

PEEEEEEEYEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

[benburch]

4. You could get some detergent.

Such as; http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyitnow64/bibaflde.html

Which should not have the ammonia and chlorine that set you off.

[otohara]

5. P.S.

No aerosol's either - there's safe cleaning products for everything....

those pre-moistened thingys don't bother me, like Glade, Windex

good luck

[Not_Giving_Up]

10. I don't use aerosols

Except Lysol...I have kids...little buckets of germs!

[eyesroll]

6. If you have access to a janitorial supply house

(take a look in the yellow pages -- many are open to the public), many of the professional floor cleaners are pretty low in allergen/asthma triggers.

Ask the salesperson there to see the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), which they're required to have on hand. There will be a few numbers on the sheet, corresponding to the health risks. Look for a "1," or, better yet, a "0," (it's a 0-4 scale) and then look under "respiratory concerns" (or however it's phrased) for specifics.

Another resource is Green Seal (www.greenseal.org) -- take a look at their cleaners section. These products go through a rigorous testing process to ensure they're safe for health and environment (many of them are available at regular stores, but be careful -- sometimes, the pro formula is different).

(I write about this stuff for a living.)

Good luck to you.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. seventh generation products dont make me wheeze

[CornField]

16. I second 7th Generation -- their stuff is great!

It's a bit more expensive, but IMO worth it.

Outside of that, I'd try pure essential oils. I often put grapefruit oil in my dish water - not only does it help cut grease, but it makes me happy! :) All of the citrus are great for cutting oil/grease... just be careful of the lemon family because it makes you more sensitive to the sun.

Tea Tree Oil (great for cloth diapers) and Lavendar (excellent for cuts and scrapes)are two other staples that are always in my cabinet.

Chemical and fragrances set my daughter and husband off -- natural oils never have.

[Aiptasia]

9. I've found that

Swiffer liquid floor cleaner is very kind to my asthma. I have one of those swiffer mops for my vinyl and tile floors, and the cleaner that comes with it doesn't arisolize like other cleaners, nor does it have any irritating odors. No mixing, and the spray jet is on the bottom of the mop head a mere 1/2" to the floor.

[Not_Giving_Up]

11. Ah HA!

I've been telling the lump on my couch that I want a Swiffer practically ever since they came out. OK, that does it! Swiffer time!

[Aiptasia]

12. it's worth a try

it works well for me. Plus, it's soo much easier to cope with than a mop and bucket.

[flamingyouth]

21. I was going to say the same thing

I have asthma and I have wood floors. I love my Swiffer Wet Jet. The smell doesn't get to me and it really cleans the floors well.

There was an urban legend floating around that the cleaner was chemically similar to anti-freeze and could hurt your cats or dogs, but it's been debunked, according to www.snopes.com

[RUDUing2]

13. hot water and vinegar, lemon juice or baking soda...

or go to the health store and buy some *green* cleaners..

http://www.lungsandiego.org/asthma/adults_cleaners.asp
Asthma-Friendly Household Cleaners
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Always remember: Use mask and gloves when cleaning.

All purpose cleaner: Vinegar and salt.

For cleaning glass: Equal parts vinegar and water in spray bottle.

For disinfectant: Three vinegar, one part water.

For cleaning toilet: Add baking soda to vinegar.

For cleaning film build-up in bathtub: Wipe with vinegar and baking soda for cleaning powder.

For cleaning refrigerator: Two pounds baking soda, one quart warm water.

For cleaning greasy pots and pans: Soak in water with two teaspoons baking soda.

For cleaning opener/garbage disposal: Once a week, pour one cup baking soda, followed by one cup of vinegar. Allow foam to soak for several minutes, then flush with boiling water. Use Clorox wipes for surface cleaner/disinfectant.

Using roach gel: Apply on spots or lines along cracks, and any suspected roach traffic and nesting areas. Apply every three months.


Chlorine is a major no-no for asthma...think about it..the germans used chlorine gas as a weapon in WWI cause it irritates the bronchials and lungs so severely...(my boys have ended up in the ER from indoor swimming pools)

For info on asthma go to

http://www.ginasthma.org and click on documents and resources and print out the guides
also
http://www.lungusa.com
http://www.nationaljewish.org
http://www.clearbreathing.com

(I have asthma, 3 of my 4 kids have asthma..two were infant onset, my dad and grandmother have/had asthma..my aunt and greatgrandmother died of asthma)

[Midlodemocrat]

14. What medications do you take for your asthma?

...the reason I ask is because my husband suffered terribly from what we thought was stress related asthma, until he had a significant change in meds. No wheezing, no breathing trouble.

[Not_Giving_Up]

17. Well, let's see....

Currently, I huff Advair twice a day (to prevent attacks), I use an Albuterol inhaler when I need it...I also use Flonase and Claritin for allergies. I'm currently uninsured (fun!), but will have insurance 12/1...I'm going back to the doctor. I want to try out Singulair, supposedly good for asthma and allergies, and it's a non-steroid.

[Midlodemocrat]

20. You may be having an allergic reaction to the Advair

There have been some reports of people getting WORSE asthma attacks while on Advair. It works great for my son, terribly for my husband. My husband currently takes Singulair, Flonase and when he thinks he is getting an attack, Xanax. The Xanax has all but eliminated the attacks. We just got back from a long trip and he was symptom free the whole time. The longest time he has been that busy without symptoms that I can remember.

[hunter]

18. Honestly, you should check your medications...

... because if the floor cleaners don't get you, something else will.

I live with "moderate" asthma. If I ever neglect my meds I end up in the hospital. (I haven't done that for over fifteen years.) If my lungs are in a constant state of irritation such that day-to-day things like common household cleaners are bothering me, inevitably I will come down with bronchitis or pneumonia.

That doesn't mean I don't do my best to avoid things that irritate my lungs at home, but I can't be a hermit. I've got to take enough medication to keep my lungs calm anywhere I might go.

At home I mostly use water from our reverse-osmosis unit as a household cleaner. It is surprisingly effective. A few years ago my wife bought one of those "European" style steam machines. She loves it but usually I'm too lazy to wait for it to heat up, or to haul it around the house, since it's about the size of a small portable vacuum cleaner.

There are all sorts of "unscented" cleaners you can add to water for things like kitchen grease. One problem is that Americans tend to associate strongly scented "disinfectants" such as bleach or pine-sol with "cleanliness" so that less popular unscented cleaners are harder to find. Larger custodial supply firms ought to have them, and a one gallon bottle will last you a long time.

[Not_Giving_Up]

19. Yep, I'm hitting a new doc after my ins goes effective

Seems like I'm always sick. I ran out of my Albuterol inhaler because I was using it nearly every day, despite the Advair rip off. Yes, I realize that I have three cats, but I'm not allergic to them, and I vac and dust like a crazy woman trying to keep dander down.