Whether you do it yourself or employ a service, house cleaning is a part of life. You want to provide a clean and safe environment for your family, but traditional chemical cleaners can be more harmful than they seem. Learn more in the guide below.

3 Ways Chemical Cleansers Are Harmful

1. Health 

Many traditional cleaning products contain chemicals, solvents, and harsh artificial fragrances. These substances are known to cause irritation to skin and mucous membranes in your eyes, nose, and throat. The irritants in many chemical house cleaning products are volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which have been linked to allergies, asthma, headaches, chronic fatigue, and even cancer. Other chemicals in these cleaners contain endocrine disruptors, which can mimic or block the function of vital hormones. They’ve also been linked to cancer, infertility, and birth defects.

To avoid these potentially harmful effects, find natural alternatives to oven cleaners, aerosol cleansers and air fresheners, chlorine bleach, floor polish, and products with ammonia. Try a mixture of baking soda, white vinegar, and water, or a Castile soap made from natural products as a non-toxic alternative for your house cleaning tasks.

2. Environment

Chemical cleansers affect air and water quality and are part of the overall toxification of soil, water, and the atmosphere. Humans, plants, and wildlife are affected by the residues of chemicals and detergents found in up to 70% of rivers and streams. Endocrine disruptors also affect the reproductive capacity and viability of fish and wildlife, while VOCs negatively impact air quality, contributing to smog and acid rain. The chemicals that are sprayed into the air and washed down the drain don’t just disappear. They can combine with other chemicals to form toxic compounds, or accumulate in soil or the water supply, contaminating our food and drinking water. The packaging of cleaning products impacts the environment as well, especially since most packaging isn’t recyclable and ends up in landfills, rivers, and the ocean.

3. Home

While chemical cleaners are designed to be used on household surfaces such as wood, fabric, stone, or tile, these surfaces can be damaged by harsh chemicals as well. Finding natural alternatives can help. Try cleaning wood floors with a simple solution of white distilled vinegar and water and clearing out tile grout with baking soda and water. 

You don’t have to handle or ingest toxic chemicals during house cleaning. Choose to make your own products, buy from trusted manufacturers, or employ a cleaning service that uses environmentally safe products. Eco-Friendly Maid Service serves Hall County, GA, with completely safe and natural cleaning services. They offer affordable bi-weekly, weekly, or monthly cleaning plans, and are available for move-in and -out services and deep-cleaning projects. They hand-make most of their cleaning products from eco-friendly materials and ensure that all their products are safe for the whole family. Call (800) 935-6139 to set up a cleaning or visit the website to see their list of services.