Cleanliness has always been an important factor in health and safety. But the greater emphasis has been given to it these past years. Household cleaning products have become an essential part of grocery lists. Nowadays, you shouldn’t run out of alcohol, sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, and more. However, aside from ensuring that you have sufficient supplies, you also have to choose non-toxic cleaning products to keep you and your loved ones away from potential health and safety risks.

One way to ensure that you will be using non-toxic cleaning products for your home is by checking the ingredients. It matters to read labels. To make sure that you’ll be able to spot red flags when they’re present, you have to know the ingredients to avoid. To help you, here’s a list of harmful ingredients that you won’t find in non-toxic cleaning products.

Harmful Cleaning Ingredients You Need to Avoid

1. Fragrances

Contrary to what manufacturers try to tell, cleanliness doesn’t have a scent. You might be lured into buying scented cleaning products but keep in mind that they don’t impact its efficacy. In fact, fragrances are on top of the list of ingredients to avoid because of their health risks.

• They are classified as carcinogens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins and irritants.
• They use chemicals that can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream.
• The ingredients used in fragrances are not disclosed as they are considered as trade secrets.

2. Phthalates

This ingredient is an endocrine disruptor and is commonly found in fragranced products. Phthalates cause a range of health risks. While there are cleaning products that use this chemical, it is actually from a family of industrial chemicals intended to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. They are also classified as solvents  which can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system.

3. Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)

Quats may be found on product labels and are among the most common substances used in disinfectants. While they may be common, they are also often associated with respiratory issues such as allergies and asthma, as well as reproductive problems such as fertility issues & birth defects. 

4. Bleach 

Sodium Hypochlorite or bleach is toxic to the lungs. Did you know that getting exposed to cleaning products with this ingredient could lead to damages similar to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day? The effect is more harmful when children are the ones exposed. Aside from that, it can trigger asthma attacks. Long term use is also linked to the development of COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

5. SLS and SLES

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are ingredients that have been associated to a range of disorders including:

• Eye and skin irritation
• Organ toxicity
• Reproductive toxicity
• Neurotoxicity
• Endocrine disruption
• Ecotoxicology

6. DEA, MEA, TEA

These chemicals are known as Ethanolamine compounds and are commonly used as emulsifiers, fragrance additives, & pH adjusters. As common as they are, these chemicals are also associated with health issues including hormonal disruption, cancer and organ toxicity.

ALSO READ: Important Tips in Using Antigen Test Kits

The list of harmful ingredients is long and if you won’t be cautious, you may bring the wrong cleaning product into your home and accidentally expose your loved ones to hazardous chemicals. Be careful. Know the ingredients that you must avoid to avoid the hazards. Best Lab offers safe, natural, and non-toxic cleaning products that can help disinfect and sanitize your surroundings without the damaging effects.

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