If you haven’t switched to the eco-friendly all-purpose cleaners (e.g. Seventh Generation), you may want to consider what you’re exposing yourself and your family to each time you clean. There are many ingredients in the conventional all-purpose cleaners that are not only hazardous to your health but to the environment as well.
According to National Geographic, 9% of all the exposure reported to US Poison Control Centers was caused by cleaning products, out of which 36 resulted in death. The effects chemicals in cleaning products have various health hazards, form mild (such as skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes or chemical burns) to more serious and long term ones, such as cancer.
Here is the list and explanations of most of the volatile ingredients in the conventional all-purpose cleaners:
? Enzymes—intended to remove stains and grime from clothing, carpets and upholstery. Enzymes, particularly protease enzymes remain in the fabric and can be inhaled continually, which leads to various respiratory problems, such as asthma.
? Ethanol—natural alcohol made from plants, however it can irritate skin, eyes and lungs.
? Potassium hydrate (also potassium hydroxide, caustic potash and lye)—is very corrosive so keep in mind to wear gloves every time you use products containing potassium hydrate and store it in a place unreachable for children since ingestion causes damage to the digestive system, and in severe cases even death.
? Surfactants—these chemicals enable cleaning chemicals to spread more easily by lowering water surface tension. Unfortunately, manufacturers are not required to disclose what type of surfactant they use in their product and use terms such as “nonionic surfactant”, “anionic surfactant” or “wetting agent”. Some are milder and safer than others, e.g. alklyl polyglycoside (made form corn) and some contain 1.4-dioxane (a human carcinogen), e.g. Sodium laureth sulfate (also SLES and sodium lauryl ether sulfate).
Furthermore, you should keep in mind that products labeled “Danger” or “Poison” mean that the ingredients it contains are corrosive, flammable, combustible or irritating and may cause serious health damage or illness during or as a result of its normal use. On the other hand, labels such as “Warning” or “Caution” are less hazardous but if used improperly may still cause damage to your health.
Lastly, steer clear of vague claims such as “eco-friendly” or “non-toxic” and instead choose products with more specific claims, e.g. “TEA-free” or “No sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate”. And don’t be fooled by ‘biodegradable’ since when it comes to cleaning products this term is pretty meaningless. All substances eventually break down; the question here is how long it takes them to degrade. So, go for products that state, for instance, “Biodegrades 90% in 7 days”.
