So What's The Big Deal About Chemical Cleaners?

• Blog Post

  When you get a cold, what do you reach for? Lysol. When the kids spill grape juice on the tile floor, who do you call? Swiffer. When you want your woodfurniture to last for generations, what do you use? Pledge.

  We all have grown up with certain brand names that are synonemous with clean, but you will probably be surprised, as I was, that reaching for that can of cleaner may actually be risking you and your family more than you bargained for. I remember my grandmother using only household products like vinegar and baking soda to clean, and I have often wondered, why we are so enamored with commercial cleaning products. According to the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia:

  Prior to WWII most household cleaning tasks were accomplished using relatively safe ingredients commonly found in most homes. With the proliferation of petroleum-based chemicals after the war, corporations began to manufacture ready-made cleaning products. Today, most people are accustomed to buying a wide range of products custom-designed for the many surfaces, materials and rooms in their homes.

  That's all well and good, until you start to read the labels. Then you start reading words like: Chlorine, Ammonia, Formaldehyde, Petrochemicals, Phosphates, Benzene, and 1,4-Dioxane. What the heck is 1,4 Dioxane???? Turns out, a chemical that is quickly absorbed into the skin that is carcinogenic.

• Related Content
   Related Content

  We encourage you to take advantage of this related Wellness content on our website.

  

  So, Who Needs Chemicals to Clean?

  You don't you need harsh chemicals to clean your home! Simple oils and items you can get at the grocery store will do the trick!

  ---

  

  Watch For This When Choosing Your Cleaners!

  Did you know that cleaning supplies do not have regulations in the way they list ingredients? It's true! Companies do not have to give a full ingredient list on their labels, so buyer- beware!

  ---

  

  What's Really in my Cleaning Caddy?

  Ever wonder what all those chemicals in your household cleaners really do? You will be shocked at just how dangerous they can be.

  ---

• Discussion Forum
  Are you human? Enter Code Incorrect Captcha Code

  ×

  ×

  Questions or Feedback?

  Ask questions. Share your thoughts.  Note that we cannot answer questions relating to specific medical conditions - please refer those to your qualified healthcare provider.

  Post a new Comment or Reply to an existing one. Help for using the Discussion Forum.

  Post Comment

  Comment is required

  
  Post

  Discussion Forum Help

  ---

  Comments are displayed in order of the last one posted so the most recent one is at the top and the oldest one at the bottom.

  Replies within a Comment are displayed in reverse order with the oldest one at the top and the most recent one at the bottom.

  Each post identifies who made the post and the date and time the post was made.

  Mouse over the icons for tooltips that explain what they mean.

   

  If you see this icon you can attach an Audio file to your post.

  ---

   

  If you see this icon you can attach a Document file to your post.

  ---

   

  If you see this icon you can attach an Image file to your post.

  ---

   

  If you see this icon you can attach a Video file to your post.

  You will see the Ban icon (Report Post as SPAM) immediately following the Timestamp of the post. Click this icon if you feel strongly that the content posted is not appropriate and should be reviewed by the Forum Moderator. You will be provided with a confirmation dialog to be sure you wish to submit this post for review. If submitted, the Forum Moderator will be notified to review the post and will determine what type of action to take.

  Click in the upper right corner of this Help modal or anywhere on the web page outside of the modal to exit Help.

  ×

You are idle for seconds.