From ClevelandClinic.org a leading research and education site: "Potentially dangerous chemicals can be found in every room in your home. If not properly stored or used, these products could end up in you or your child’s body or on you or your child’s skin and cause minor to serious and even life-threatening health problems. What are these every day household chemicals? Let’s take a tour of the rooms of your home and discover what some of these chemicals are and what health harms they may cause." The site goes on to list common ingredients such as bleach and ammonia as well as those we are not as aware of such as Butopyronoxyl, a common ingredient in insect repellents and Formaldehyde a common ingredients in air-fresheners. Most of the chemicals listed give the dangers in ingesting them but the majority of those listed can also be absorbed through contact with the skin. Reading the list of over 50 chemicals found in virtually every household is enough to send you running! [Cleveland Clinic Website] [2nd Cleveland Clinic Site]
But the website also has the following statement: "Keep in mind that most household cleaning products and pesticides are reasonably safe when used as directed, and that the level of toxicity of a product is dependent on the dose of the product used (never use more than the amount listed on the label) and the length of exposure to the product." (Underlining and italicizing of "most" and "reasonably safe" are by me!) What is the definition of "most"? Mathematically that means at least 51%. So are 49% of the household cleaning products and pesticides safe? I'm going to assume that the numbers are lower than that.... maybe 10%???? But then are you happy with being "reasonably" safe? And what is the safety factor of "reasonably"? Does that mean only 10% of people using them according to their instructions will be adversely affected? Do you see my problem?
And check out Environmental Working Group's Hall of Shame for cleaners and household products! Quite a few of these used to be in my cleaning cabinet! UGH! [EWG]
So what can we do about it? There is an easier, cheaper and "greener" way to clean! But I'm out of space and will have to save that for another post!
P.S. Leave me a comment below about how you're cleaning methods have changed due to the number of chemicals now found in many of our common supplies.