How Toxic Are Your Household Cleaning Supplies?
Cleaning supplies have been designed to clean certain areas of your home in a very efficient and effective manner. Cleaning is incredibly important. It helps keep your home a healthy place that is free of bacteria and viruses. Unfortunately, many cleaning products are made with some pretty harsh chemicals that aren’t safe to breathe or touch. If you’ve been using the same products for many years now, it might be time to take a look at what actually goes into those products. Let’s talk about the toxicity level of your household cleaning supplies.
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide is also known as lye. It is a caustic soda that is added to a lot of cleaning products as a way to neutralize germs and odours in your home. While it’s effective for cleaning purposes, if you get it in your eyes, it can cause severe burns. Rinse your eyes immediately if this occurs, and seek medical help. If possible, use an eyewash station. Sodium Hydroxide is one of the most common chemical ingredients that you’ll find in a lot of cleaning products on grocery store shelves. It is irritating to the skin, the eyes and the mouth. Inhalation of sodium hydroxide can make you feel quite sick.
Phthalates
Phthalates are chemicals that are used as adhesives, artificial dyes and solvents in many different everyday products. You can find them in cleaning products, plastics and beauty products. You’ll find most air fresheners and dish soaps also contain phthalates. They can cause chemical burns and chemical poisoning when not used properly. Allergic reactions can also occur from exposure to phthalates.
Perchloroethylene
This colorless liquid is typically used as a degreaser. You’ll find it in a lot of soaps and cleaners that are designed to cut through grease, grime, and other messes. It is also a common ingredient in laundry soaps and dry-cleaning products. Exposure to this chemical can cause organ toxicity, bronchial inflammation, headaches and skin irritation.
There are a lot of different natural cleansers that you can invest in for your home if you’re looking to get rid of the dangerous chemicals that you have laying around. Many of these natural cleaners are citrus-based, and they contain natural abrasives to cut through grime. They also utilize essential oils to provide a safer scent. There are plenty of unscented products that you can choose as well if you happen to be sensitive to these kinds of things.
Now that the inside of your house is clean, let’s work on the outside! Click here for 4 must have additions for a beautiful backyard!
