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Are Your Household Cleaning Products Toxic? 8 Ways to Know

Are Your Household Cleaning Products Toxic? 8 Ways to Know

While many commercial cleaning products will do their jobs in cleaning our homes, the convenience can come at a cost. Many of these cleaners can be harmful if consumed, touched, or inhaled, and they can contribute to environmental pollution.

In 2016, almost 8% of toxic exposure calls received by the American Association of Poison Control Centers were due to cleaning products with 11% involving children under the age of five.

It’s scary to think about how these products are meant to keep our homes clean, yet they can also make us sick and possibly contribute to disease. Thankfully, there are better alternatives. But first, let’s look at some of the most common ways we’re exposed to toxic substances through common cleaning products.

8 Signs of Toxic Household Cleaning Products

Here are eight toxic ingredients to watch out for in many standard household cleaners:

1. Corrosive Chemicals like Chlorine and Ammonia

The most dangerous cleaning products are those with corrosive cleaners like oven cleaners, drain cleaners, and some toilet bowl cleaners. The chemicals used in these products can cause severe burns to the skin, eyes, and are toxic if accidentally consumed.

Chlorine bleach and ammonia are especially toxic, as they make fumes that irritate the nose, eyes, lungs, and throat. Sodium hydroxide is another ingredient often used in these products that is extremely corrosive and dangerous to skin, eyes, and the throat if inhaled.

People with heart or lung problems like asthma should especially steer clear of these products.

2. Fragrances with Phthalates

You wouldn’t think fragrances are that worrying, but those added to many traditional cleaners—including fabric softeners and laundry detergents—may cause headaches, watery eyes, sneezing, or lung irritation in people sensitive to them or those with allergies or asthma.

The biggest problem with identifying harmful fragrances is that companies don’t have to list the actual ingredients—just that there is added “fragrance.” But there’s a good chance the fragrance involves phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors, especially if inhaled. A 2003 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health found men who had higher phthalates compounds in their blood also had reduced sperm counts [1].

Phthalates are often used to scent dish soaps, air fresheners, and other household products like toilet paper.

3. Sudsing Agents: TEA and DEA

The ingredients that cause some all-purpose cleaners to get sudsy as they clean can include diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), two agents that may contribute to long-term health effects.

4. 1, 4-Dioxane

Certain all-purpose cleaners with ethoxylated alcohols may also contain something called 1,4-dioxane, which has been determined as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

5. Butyl Cellosolve (Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether)

Another common ingredient in some all-purpose cleaners is butyl cellosolve, also known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, which might disrupt the nervous system and brain.

Environmental Dangers of Cleaning Products

Besides the possible physical health dangers of common household cleaning products brands, there are environmental concerns as well. Here are some ingredients that are harmful to the earth, air, and water around us.

6. Phosphates

Phosphates are common water-softening mineral additives that are also water pollutants.

Once in water, they act as fertilizers for plant life like algae. This creates overgrowth that uses up the water’s oxygen supply, killing fish and other important water organisms.

In the past, phosphates were often used in laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, and other every-day cleaners. Thankfully, many states have banned the use of phosphates in some cleaners, but they are still present in many automatic dishwasher detergents.

7. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC #3) Plastic

Most people don’t think about where plastic bottles and packaging go after disposal. But the truth is plastic packaging, including for cleaning products, poses a big threat to the environment.

Most cleaners today are bottled in ingredients that are becoming more accepted for recycling (including PETE #1 and HDPE #2), but some use polyvinyl chloride (or PVC plastic #3), which is made from vinyl chloride, an odorless gas.

Vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of brain and lung cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, and a rare type of liver cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

During production and incineration, PVC an emit dioxin, a byproduct that is carcinogenic to humans.

Not only is PVC harmful to the environment, it’s also usually not accepted for recycling.

8. Detergent Metabolites like Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEs)

Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) are added to some laundry detergents and cleaners like laundry stain removers, disinfectants, and degreasers. APEs are known as “surface active agents” that make detergents work so well.

Besides APEs being known hormone disruptors that been shown to mimic estrogen [2], some APEs also break down into octylphenol and nonylphenol, compounds that aren’t readily biodegradable in water or soil and may threaten the survival and reproduction of fish like salmon.

In a May 2002 study of stream water contaminants like APEs in the U.S. from 1999-2000, the U.S. Geological Survey found at least one organic wastewater contaminant was detected in 80% of the streams sampled [3].

What to Look for Instead: Using the Best Natural Cleaning Products

Now that you know what’s unsafe about common household cleaners, the question becomes, what are the alternatives? And thankfully, there are quite a few.

For most household cleaning needs, simple is best. Soap, water, vinegar, lemon juice, borax, and baking soda are all safe items that can get the job done most of the time. Just use a coarse enough sponge and be prepared to scrub a little more.

You can find some good DIY cleaner recipes too. (Try these.)

And here are some tips for using and finding the best cleaning alternatives:

  • Choose soaps and detergents with short ingredient lists.
  • As much as possible, choose organic, all-natural cleaning products that are fragrance-free.
  • Instead of plug-in air fresheners or aerosol sprays, use essential oils, get some more plants for your home (they’re natural air detoxifiers!), or leave your windows open more to freshen the air.
  • Using vinegar in your laundry to soften clothes and reduce static instead of fabric softeners.
  • Instead of normal disinfectants, use tea tree oil, a great natural antifungal and antibacterial option. Just be sure to dilute it to make a cleaner.
  • To scrub tough areas like ovens, use baking soda or Bon Ami cleaning powder.
  • Use vinegar for cleaning toilet bowls or cleaners with Borax and vinegar for whitening clothes.
  • Use a mechanical snake instead of chemicals to unclog drains.
  • If you have clothes, drapes, or curtains that need to be dry cleaned, take them to a “wet cleaner” who uses water-based technology instead of chemical solvents.

Choose household cleaner brands that follow these rules and only use all-natural ingredients. Here are some of the best:


For products from these brands and many others, check out Nature’s Ideal’s wide selection of natural and clean household products here.

Nov 30th 2023 Nature's Ideal

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