Bleach and the Environment

I have blogged in the past about the harmful effects of bleach in your home. Today, however, I read a very well written piece about exactly how bleach affects your body and the environment on Grist.org.

Grist says...When considering chlorine bleach for other household uses, remember that bleach is dangerous to your lungs and mucus membranes. The production of bleach results in production of dioxins. As you use the bleach, it may produce trihalomethanes, linked to cancer, and adsorbable organic halides, which are harmful to marine organisms.

The truth is, you can get your home just as clean by using vinegar, baking soda, or soap. Everywhere we look we see new house cleaning products that promise to kill all the bacteria in your home. You don't want to create a completely germ free environment for your family, though, because its better to develop a strong immune system that will fight germs in places that haven't been cleaned so deeply.