Hazards of using chemicals in home cleaning products

A surprising number of the most harmful toxins ever created are found right in our own backyard — indeed, right inside your mop closet.

The air in our homes is filled with fumes from petrochemical solvents added to cleaners to dissolve dirt. The average household contains anywhere from three to 25 gallons of toxic materials, most of which are in cleaners. No law requires manufacturers of cleaning products to list ingredients on their labels or to test their products for safety. It’s up to you to make sure your home is not only clean, but also nontoxic.

Children are more susceptible to dangers posed by chemicals than adults. Their small bodies are especially vulnerable to chemicals that are hazardous to their health and are at greater risk of developing allergies than adults.

Children are at higher risk when playing on floors with the residue from formaldehyde, asbestos and pesticides from common household cleaners. They breathe the toxic fumes produced by home cleaning chemicals first before adults and their immune systems are not as developed as adults.

The number of people with allergies has exploded since the old 1960s. There are thousands of chemicals in circulation, and we know too little about many of them.

Many household products contain harmful chemicals. For example, formaldehyde is in almost all cleaning products, including laundry detergents, toothpaste and shampoo.

Laundry detergentscontain phosphorus, enzymes, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, sodium nitilotriacetate and countless others. These chemicals can cause rashes, itches, allergies, sinus problems and more. The residue left on your clothes, bed sheets, etc. is absorbed through your skin, as is everything else you touch. Thus, the success and popularity of transdermal patches. Don’t fall prey to the bombardment of advertisements strongly suggesting that you absolutely need these products. You don’t, but their profit margins do. If declining health is what you desire, use these products.

Disinfectantsare usually phenol- or cresol-based and deactivate sensory nerve endings. They attack the liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, and the central nervous system (CNS) and it takes over a year to eliminate the unhealthy effects of spraying 2 ounces, even with heavy cross ventilation.

Oven cleanersare one of the most toxic products people use. They contain lye and ammonia, which eat the skin, and the fumes linger and affect the respiratory system. Then thereís the residue thatís intensified the next time you turn your oven on. Use sea salt and baking soda instead.

Air freshenersinterfere with your ability to smell by releasing nerve-deadening agents or coating nasal passages with an oil film, usually methoxychlor, a pesticide that accumulates in fat cells and over-stimulates the CNS. Dryer sheets fall into this category. They are extremely toxic. Avoid them. (The only reason you require fabric softeners is because the chemicals in laundry soap create the static. It may take several washings with chemical free detergents to eliminate the chemical residue static. Your patience will be well rewarded.) Some other common ingredients include: P-dichlorobenzene, naphthalene and formaldehyde. Fresh, organic citrus juices, vinegar, spices, and essential oils will do a better job, risk free.

Of the chemicals found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, asthma attacks, and psychological abnormalities.

The toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution.

Indoor air in the home has been found to have five times higher toxic chemical concentrations than outdoor air. A five-year study by US Environmental Protection Agency showed many indoor samples to be 70 times more toxic.

Just because a chemical is not banned does not mean it is smart to use it.

Cleaning with chemical agents will always leave chemical residues.

Within 26 seconds after exposure to chemicals such as cleaning products, traces of these chemicals can be found in every organ in the body.

The first agent of chemical warfare was chlorine. Chlorine is the number one cause of breast cancer and can be lethal. Scientist won’t handle chlorine without protective gloves, facemasks and ventilation yet it is the most store-brand cleaners.

Is there a better solution than traditional with cleaning agents?

Instead of using cleaning agents that contain chemicals that are detrimental to your health and the health of your loved ones at home, there are other better alternative home cleaning products that you can use. Some of these are natural or eco-friendly cleaning agents which are less harmful. A better choice is to use microfiber cleaning products which basically do not need to use any cleaning agents except water. One such company that produces a range of amazing house cleaning products is ENJO from Austria. The ENJO home cleaning products are far more efficient in removing dirt and bacteria and best of all, it only use water - no more need to use and store toxic chemicals.