Journal 14: Why don't we care?

Over the past few days, I've been thinking a lot about why we as consumers continue to buy chemical-packed cleaners. Are the risks of cancer, breathing problems, and other ailments not enough to shock people into using greener options? I believe this to be part of it. If you're not living near power plants or factories where you can smell the pollution, the environmental effects just don't scare you quite as much as they would someone who is directly affected by it. What does it take for people to understand the ways that chemicals impact us? What does it take for industries to realize the same thing?

Another reason might simply be association. We like having clean counters, clean sinks, clean showers. It is understandable that we associate a bacteria-free environment with chemical cleaners more so than we associate chemical-free cleaners. The smell of disinfectant makes us think "Yeah, that's clean," but why can't the smell of a simple cleaner like Apple Cider Vinegar make us think the same thing? For decades, the lemony smell of Pledge and the choking induced by Comet when we clean our bathrooms makes us think that we have cleaned. What if we have left behind a more hazardous mess than we started with?

A big factor for consumers will inevitably be cost, as well. On the Walmart website, a 32 fluid ounce bottle of Clorox all purpose bleach spray costs $3.72, or $0.12 per ounce. The ingredients were discreetly listed, but Clorox states that you should only use this cleaner in well-ventilated areas where you can open a window and turn on a fan. They also state that the vapors can irritate and the strong smell can be too harsh for children. For just a few cents more at $3.99, you could buy a 16 oz. bottle of Mrs. Meyers Household Spray. Unlike Clorox, the Mrs. Meyers website lists an extensive chart of all their ingredients and their purpose. Things like Parabens and Formaldehyde have been replaced with safer options like plant derived ingredients and birch bark extract. Yes, the cost is higher, but this cleaner is safe for consumers, easier on the environment, and widely available at a number of stores throughout the country. It comes in a number of pleasant scents that won't leave you coughing and lightheaded just trying to get your sink clean. Tell me again why we prefer Clorox?