Have you ever wondered what’s lurking in the cupboard beneath your kitchen sink? Are your cleaning products safe to use around you, your family – and even your pets? In this article, we’re revealing some of the dirtiest secrets that your household cleaners aren’t telling you.
We all need to keep our homes clean and organised. Regularly cleaning your house is important for your health. It helps to protect yourself and others from nasty germs and bacteria. Cleaning also improves the quality of air inside your home, reducing allergies and helping you to sleep better. Plus, keeping your home neat and tidy ensures a more comfortable and enjoyable living space.
However, it’s also important to know exactly what you’re wiping and scouring your home with. Many cleaning agents do more harm than good. Bleaches, bathroom cleaners or kitchen supplies, they often contain toxic chemicals that can be bad for your health.
You might be shocked to know that the average household cleaning product is made up of about 62 toxins! It’s these nasty chemicals that can irritate your skin and eyes, as well cause breathing problems, headaches, nausea, dizziness and trigger allergies.
We’ve listed just a few of these dangerous toxins below – and the damaging and long-lasting affects they can have on your health.
What harmful chemicals are hidden in household cleaners?
Ammonia
- Found in products used to polish surfaces
- It’s a powerful irritant when inhaled
- It can damage your lungs and the lining of your airways
- It’s dangerous for those suffering with asthma and elderly people
Phthalates
- Found in air fresheners, soap and often products that have a ‘fragrance’
- Phthalates are usually inhaled but can enter your system through skin exposure
- If absorbed by skin, the chemical goes straight to your organs, which can be a risk to your health
- They are also endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with your body’s hormones
Chlorine
- Found in toilet cleaners, scouring powders, laundry detergent
- Chlorine can be inhaled through fumes or enter the body through skin exposure
- It’s a respiratory irritant but can cause eye or skin irritation
- The severity of health effects depends on the route of exposure
Sodium Hydroxide
- Found in oven cleaners and drain unblockers
- It’s extremely corrosive and can cause severe burns if your skin is exposed to it or it gets in your eyes
- It can also cause a sore throat if inhaled
Butoxyethanol
- Found in window cleaners, kitchen cleaners and more
- It’s a powerful solvent that can have a damaging effect on your health if you’re exposed to high levels
- It can cause sore throat, as well as contribute to liver and kidney damage
What cleaning products are safe?
The good news, there are safer cleaning products you can use, which are just as (if not more!) effective as standard cleaners, like those found in the H2O range.
Take the H2O e3™ Multi Purpose Cleaning System, for example. It’s a green-cleaning product, which means it only uses natural ingredients to clean and sanitise your home.
It’s unique cleaning solution, S-WaterTM, is simply a mixture of the water you drink and the salt you eat. The H2O e3™ Multi Purpose Cleaning System‘s eActivator, emits low levels of electricity into the mixture, which causes a reaction and creates two new powerful oxidants.
The H2O e3™ Multi Purpose Cleaning System is not only an effective cleaner, sanitiser and deodoriser, it’s beneficial for your health too. You can protect yourself, and family and pets from being exposed to toxic fumes and dangerous substances. The H2O e3 even kills 99.9% of germs, bacteria & viruses, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), Influenza A H1N1, P. Aeruginosa, E. Coli, Salmonella & S. Aureus.
There are more eco-safe cleaning products in the H2O range, including the H2O HD 5-in-1 Advanced Steam Cleaner, which only uses tap water to deep clean your floors and carpets.
Learn more about the H2O range here.
