How Toxic, Really, Are Commercially Bought Cleaners?
The Background Story
Before I begin with this piece, I need to admit something to you. Before I started working for a greener carpet cleaning company, I didn’t give a rats about the ingredients of the cleaning detergents I bought. I didn’t care that much about the ingredients in my beauty products or even in my food, for that matters. I was in my early twenties — all my life ahead of me, no time to worry about healthy choices, organic stuff, good food, or cleaning, least of all, cleaning. So whenever I actually attempted a spring clean, I would just buy the detergents that get the job done fast. Again, no time to read and look for signs on the label that say: “Danger”, or “Warning”. Funny how things change when you start a family and start to care for someone else and need them to be healthy for you and they need you to be healthy for them.
This happened shortly before I started working for Greener Carpet Cleaners. By that time,I was finally ready for a change — I just didn’t have the information I needed embark on it. This is how I learned the real dangers behind the labels. At first I thought “Greener” was just a fancy name, designed to attract more attention — later I really compared what’s in our cleaners and what’s in commercially-bought ones. The difference is huge and to be bias-free I won’t quote members of our staff. I will use some information from the Organic Consumers Association.
The facts
They divide the detergents in two categories mainly — those that cause acute symptoms and those that have long term effects. Acute symptoms include immediate burns, respiratory irritation, watery eyes, etc. Long-term symptoms can include hormonal disbalance, immune deficiencies and even cancer. According to a research stay-at-home wives and mothers are at 54% higher risk of developing cancer at some point in their lives simply because the air at home is 200% more polluted than the air outdoors. This pollution comes from lack of adequate ventilation and the use of artificial fragrances and toxic chemicals that linger in the air.
In addition, in commercially-bought cleaners you can find a few chemicals that are so-called “hormone disruptors” and are known to interfere with the body’s natural chemical messages. These chemicals do so either by blocking or mimicking the actions of certain hormones. Possible health effects include increased rates of male birth defects, decreased sperm counts and increased rates of some kinds of cancers (such as breast cancer). According to the OCA (Organic Consumers Association) the alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) used in some detergents and cleaning solutions have been associated with mimicing the hormone estrogen; one APE, p-nonylphenol, has caused estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells to multiply in a test tube study. Women who have lower progesterone levels already struggle to get pregnant and get everything in the right balance know that it is important to keep their estrogen levels low. Needless to say such cleaners don’t help much.
Some of the most dangerous cleaners to keep an eye for are corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners and acidic toilet bowl cleaners. Additionally, you should never mix them and never, ever mix ammonia and bleach. This can result in toxic chlorine gas which is highly poisonous and potentially deadly. It’s a fact that a similar gas was used in WWI.
Solution:
A few safe, simple ingredients like soap, water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and borax, aided by a little elbow grease and a coarse sponge for scrubbing, can take care of most household cleaning needs. And they can save you lots of money wasted on unnecessary, specialized cleaners! Read the labels carefully and always double check since a merely written “Safe” “Eco-Friendly” and “Family” don’t mean much.
Featured Image Credits: Pixabay