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Cleaning products are in our homes, around our families, children and pets; knowing the hazards that these products can cause is the best way to keep your family safe. Government regulations are becoming more stringent about the chemicals that are in household cleaning products, but that does not make them safe. There is no cleaning product on the market that can guarantee the safety of the consumer, just because it says that it is safe to use does not mean it will cause you no harm. The results of improperly using a cleaning product could be a minor discomfort or it could mean imminent death depending on the chemical combination within the product and how your body reacts to it.
Many cleaners are clearly labeled with warnings that state they should not be used around children, that they are dangerous, that they are flammable and that the contents are under pressure. Always read the warning labels on products and follow the instructions for use very carefully to avoid any major health risks. If a cleaner is labeled with the word poison or dangerous it should be used with extreme caution, but if it is labeled with caution or warning then it is considered a medium risk by the government and potentially less harmful.
Many cleaning products are corrosive which means they can cause serious burns if they make contact with your skin or eyes. Most of the chemicals in cleaning products are possible carcinogens and should be avoided if possible. Vapors and gases released by sprays and other cleaners are known to cause asthma as well as other upper respiratory irritation and infections especially in children and the elderly. These toxins and gases build up in your home and have been known to cause many serious aliments over time; unfortunately, the reason for the aliments cannot always be traced to one specific cleaner making them all hazardous. Because solvents and corrosive cleaning products are especially toxic, they are considered deadly if swallowed.
Cleaning products also pose a risk to the environment. Phosphates, which are contained in most automatic dishwashing detergents, are highly pollutant to natural water sources. Once they are washed down the drain they start a reaction in the water that causes algae to grow, polluting the water source that they eventually end up in. Surfactants that are petroleum-based are also hazardous to the environment. During the manufacturing process of petroleum-based surfactants, they are known to release pollution into the atmosphere. The plants, animals and people then ingest these pollutants as they breathe. Many of the factors that make up the pollution released by cleaners are toxic and can cause cancer.
Because of all the major health hazards related to the chemicals used in common cleaning products care should be taken whenever they are in use. Making sure that the house is properly ventilated during and after the use of a chemical cleaner will help clear out some of the toxic pollution that could build up in your home. Always use a facemask and gloves when cleaning with a hazardous cleaner; goggles should be used if there is a potential for splashing. All pets and children should be removed from the area that the cleaner is being used in until all traces of the cleaner itself are gone.
Make sure that all cleaners are properly stored in an area of the house that is out of reach to any children or pets. Never store cleaners that should not be mixed such as ammonia and bleach in the same room. When the cleaning product has been used up follow proper disposal instructions for that product. The hazardous chemicals that are contained within the cleaner can fuse to the container making it harmful as well. Consider switching to nontoxic cleaners because this is the only way you can eliminate the hazards of keeping a clean house from your home.
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