Healthy Alternatives for Cleaning Up Big Messes around the House
If you’ve ever used a strong cleaning agent to clean up a mess around your home, you know of the strong scents associated with the use of certain products. However, while everyone wants a sparkling bathroom and sanitized surfaces, not everyone wants some of the potential health hazards that come along with using certain cleaning products. But just what are those hazards? And what can you do to get your home clean without risking the health and safety of your family?
The Dangers of Toxic Cleaners
While commercial cleaning products do a great job at getting rid of unwanted messes, some can also pose a large health risk if not used appropriately. According to Janice Hughes of ShareGuide.com, toxic chemicals found in many common household cleaners can result in damage not only to the environment but also to our bodies. Issues like allergies, birth defects, cancer, headaches, asthma, dizziness and more can be inflicted on the body after coming in contact with some household cleaners. For this reason, it’s good to know what you should be using at home and what you should avoid using as well.
What Not to Use
When making a list of cleaning agents not to use in your home, it’s worth knowing that all toxic chemicals don’t become harmful to your health in the same way. While some toxins must be ingested to hurt, others simply have to touch your skin or be breathed in.
The Environmental Working Group did a study on some of the most dangerous cleaning agents and found that even some cleaners that claim to be safe actually can be extremely toxic to your body. This study also included a full list of the specific products they found to be the most harmful to human health, with the abilities to cause blindness, cancer and more. But if you want a clean home, what are your other options besides using these potentially deadly chemicals?
What to Use Instead
According to Melissa Lewis, a contributor to SFGate.com, there is plenty of natural, do-it-yourself cleaning solutions that can likely already be found right in your own home. Some of these natural cleaning agents include vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and more. By using these ingredients in the right way, you can have just as much success cleaning your home as when you use commercial cleaners without the risk of harming your own health or the environment.
So the next time you have a large or heavy-duty mess around your home that you need to clean up, consider reaching for a more natural solution rather than a toxic chemical that could cause you and your family more harm than good in the long run. Try the items mentioned above to see just how clean your home can be simply by using more natural solutions.