It may shock you to realize how
toxic everyday cleaners can be. Homes can have hundreds of harmful chemicals
lurking under their sink.
Are the products that you're using
helping or hurting you? Toxins from cleaners can be absorbed topically through
the skin even if you're wearing gloves, or by breathing it in. Check out this
list of 8 toxic household cleaners.
Oven
Cleaner
Containing sodium hydroxide and piperonyl butoxide, oven cleaner gives off fumes so
powerful, you may find yourself leaving the kitchen, or even the house after
spraying it. Sound scary? It is.
The label warns against using the
product without gloves, a mask, and plenty of ventilation. Inhaling oven
cleaner fumes will make you cough, burn your eyes, and even make you sick.
After cleaning, the fumes may linger
and give your food a bad taste.
Use
instead: A paste of baking soda and water can
be applied to the inside of the oven (avoiding the heating element) and left to
sit overnight. Wipe off baking soda first with white vinegar, then with water.
Furniture
Polish
Formaldehyde is normally used in adhesives, or to embalm dead bodies. Someone,
somewhere thought it would make good furniture polish. Ammonia and petroleum
gasses are also used.
Household cleaners that are toxic
have the most random harmful ingredients!
Use
instead: A mixture of olive oil, lemon juice,
and vinegar.
Aerosol
Air Freshener
Aerosol air freshener is two evils
in one. Filled with hydrocarbons, VOCs, and formaldehyde PLUS petrochemicals that are known
carcinogens.
Additionally, other aerosols should
be avoided such as hairspray, and food products like pan spray and whipped
cream.
Use
instead: Essential oil mixed with water in a
spray bottle or diffuser.
Ammonia
On its own ammonia is sold as a
cleaner, and also as a component of other cleaners. It has a pungent smell that is easily recognized. Used for removing tough stains,
especially oil stains from the home.
If concentrated ammonia is inhaled
it can burn your lungs, and it can even be fatal.
Use
instead: Vinegar or peroxide.
Chlorine
Bleach
Bleach on its own is toxic, but when
mixed with certain other cleaners, can put off deadly fumes. Household cleaner
safety is serious business when mixing cleaners.
Used to disinfect, remove tough
stains and mold, bleach is very potent.
Use
instead: Baking soda, vinegar, and even
peroxide.
Drain
Cleaners
Most drain cleaners contain toxic chemicals like sodium hydroxide aka lye and strong acids that can
not only damage your plumbing, but maybe seriously harmful to your health.
Use
instead: Salt and baking soda followed by
boiling white vinegar.
Conventional
Dish Soap
Something we may not put much
thought into is what's in our dish soap. We assume that by rinsing it off we've
gotten rid of any residue.
Dish soap can leave behind manmade
phosphates, sulfates, fragrances, and other inedible chemicals.
Use
instead: Natural dish soap. Mixture of
vinegar and essential oil like orange or lemon which naturally disinfect, add
castile soap for viscosity.
Laundry
Detergent and Fabric Softener
Unbeknownst to most consumers is the
nasty toxic ingredients in most laundry products. Petroleum byproducts are
carcinogenic, toxic, and at the very least, irritating to the human body.
Laundry products also contain
synthetic fragrance, bleach, and a whole list of toxic chemicals that end with
-ate.
Use
instead: Soapberries aka soap nuts, baking soda, or white vinegar can
be used to wash and soften your clothes. Essential oil can be added for a fresh
scent.
Avoiding
Toxic Household Cleaners
Dangerous household cleaners come in
many forms. It can be a real wake up call when you realize how many toxic
household cleaners you've been using without even knowing it. Educating
yourself on chemical uses and safety tips can help keep you and your family
safe.
