How does home cleaning impact your health? Just take a look at the ingredient labels on your cleaning supplies! Here’s how cleaning your house can affect everyone’s well-being.
First, let’s consider why we clean our homes or hire professionals to do it. While it’s usually for tidiness and appearance, there’s also a crucial reason: health protection. Harmful bacteria and fungi can build up in places like the kitchen sink, often going unnoticed. Even when our homes are messy, we tend to overlook the potential health consequences.
The real issue isn’t with the habit of cleaning daily, but with the products we use. We buy cleaning supplies expecting them to make our homes spotless. Though those shiny soaps, scents, detergents, bleaching agents, and cleaners make our kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets look and smell great, they can also have dangerous health effects on everyone in the house.
Cleaning products vary in the health risks they pose. While some can cause minor issues like respiratory irritation and watery eyes, others can lead to serious long-term problems such as lung cancer. According to the Washington Toxics Coalition, some of the worst offenders are oven cleaners and acidic toilet bowl cleaners. These corrosive chemicals can cause severe burns to the eyes and skin, and are particularly harmful to people with asthma or heart problems.
Some cleaning ingredients might have low immediate toxicity but can contribute to long-term health issues like hormonal disruptions. These disruptors can interfere with our body’s natural chemical messages, leading to problems like decreased sperm counts and birth defects.
Fortunately, there are safer alternatives. Everyday items like lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda can clean just as effectively, if not better, than their toxic counterparts. Additionally, many companies now offer ‘green’ cleaning products that are free from harmful chemicals. You can also make your own non-toxic cleaning solutions.
Avoiding chemical-based cleaners is crucial for maintaining good health. Some manufacturers don’t list all their ingredients on the packaging, so be cautious and informed when making purchases.
Recent studies suggest that the rise in unexplainable cancers, reproductive issues, and neurological disorders in children, such as ADHD and autism, may be linked to these toxic ingredients.
To protect your health, stay away from harmful chemicals and consider hiring a professional cleaning service that uses safe, non-toxic products.
