10/05/2022 / By Zoey Sky
Homeowners use different cleaning products to clean and sanitize their homes regularly. But did you know that many of the store-bought products that you use to clean your home daily may be bad for your health?
Studies have shown that many store-bought products contain harmful ingredients that are bad for both humans and pets. Protect your family by making DIY cleaning solutions from safe and non-toxic ingredients like baking soda, essential oils and white vinegar.
Many studies have already been conducted on the adverse effects of toxic household cleaners, but the issue is gaining more traction as research reveals just how hazardous these products are.
According to a study published by researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway, the long-term use of cleaning products could have the same effect on the human body as smoking 20 cigarettes a day over a 10- to 20-year period.
The scientists believe that this damage could occur due to the irritation of the mucous membranes that line the lungs caused by exposure to the toxic chemicals in the cleaning products. Inhaling these chemicals frequently, at least once a week over a long period of time such as twenty years, can result in airway changes that are extremely harmful.
This isn’t surprising since the particles in many store-bought cleaning products are intended to clean surfaces, not enter the human body or be inhaled into your lungs. The containers of these products often have strong warnings about not ingesting the products and your mucous membranes aren’t the only things at risk.
These harmful ingredients can also affect your eyes and skin, two significant conduits by which toxins can enter your body.
The study also highlighted the danger of exposure to toxins during the application or use and any airborne contamination lingering after the product has been used. This also endangers people who may not have had direct contact with the products due to use, but are present in the living environment.
This means other family members who touch the surfaces or breathe in the fumes may suffer adverse effects long after the product was used in your home.
The scientists concluded that household cleaning products create just as much air pollution as cars.
Chronic or long-term exposure to household disinfectants, cleaners and sanitizers has been linked to different serious health conditions such as:
Products that top the list as most hazardous include those made with corrosive chemicals like drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and oven cleaners. Ammonia and chlorine are two harmful chemicals that many cleaning products often advertise right on their labels.
Dryer sheets, fragrance products and laundry detergents are also full of harmful chemicals. Many fragrances added to cleaning solutions are also linked to severe health problems.
Cleaning your home should get rid of harmful toxins in your living environment, not introduce more of them. While the harsh chemicals in store-bought cleaning products may remove dirt and germs from surfaces, the damage they do to the human body isn’t worth sparkling clean floors.
Unfortunately, even products that carry an “organic” or “natural” label or certification can still emit air pollutants that are harmful.
The most effective way to reduce your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals while also keeping your home healthy and clean is to use non-toxic and DIY natural cleaners made with these ingredients you may already have in your pantry:
Baking soda
Castile soap
Coconut oil
Essential oils
Hydrogen peroxide
Lemons (peel and juice)
Rubbing alcohol or vodka
White vinegar
Here are some recipes for some DIY homemade cleaners that you can make using some of the ingredients listed above:
DIY all-purpose cleaner
What you’ll need:
Steps:
DIY kitchen cleaner
What you’ll need:
Steps:
DIY grease cleaner
What you’ll need:
Steps:
Keep your home clean and chemical-free using non-toxic cleaning ingredients like baking soda, essential oils and white vinegar.
Go to Homesteading.news to read more articles about natural homemade cleaners.
Watch the video below to learn about five DIY cleaners you can make at home.
This video is from the Back Roads Living channel on Brighteon.com.
No muss, no fuss: 6 Natural ways to remove mold.
Here’s a quick and easy guide to making your own cleaning products.
Home cleaning hacks: Non-toxic DIY carpet cleaner recipe.
Sources include:
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cleaning products, DIY, environment, essential oils, green living, homesteading, how-to, ingredients, Natural, off grid, preparedness, sanitation, sustainable living, tips, toxic chemicals
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