Top Ten Most Toxic Household Cleaners
An increasing number of studies have convinced experts that standard household cleaning products pose serious health and environmental risks.
- Dishwashing Detergents – significant source of toxic fumes in your home
- Oven Cleaners – contain lye, ammonia, & other dangerous chemicals. Can cause severe damage to eyes, skin, mouth, and throat.
- Laundry Detergent
- Floor and Furniture Polishes
- Air Fresheners – A recent government report targeted these fragrances as one of six categories of chemicals that should be given the highest priority for neurotoxicity. 80% of the ingredients used in fragrances have never been tested for human toxicity. These chemicals cause neurological damage, multiple chemical sensitivity, allergic reactions, and increased immune response
- Hard Surface Cleaners
- Antibacterial Cleansers and Soaps – Not only kill bad bacteria, but also many good bacteria with which we live in harmony to keep germs and other bad bacteria at bay.
- Dry Cleaning – 95% of dry cleaning facilities use the toxic chemical Perchloroethylene (PERC) as their primary cleaning solvent. PERC is a known carcinogen and exposure can cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches, sweating, liver and kidney damage
- Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners
- Toilet Bowl Cleaners
- Formaldehyde – found in furniture polishes, car cleaners, disinfectants, rug and upholstery cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners – recognized carcinogen
- Ethyl benzene – found in bathroom tub and toilet cleaners, floor and furniture polish, laundry starch preparations, and rug upholstery cleaners – recognized carcinogen
- Petrochemicals – found in furniture polish and cleaners, lubricating oils, pet flea and tick products and collars, floor and furniture polish, dishwasher cleaners, aerosol sprays, and laundry detergent
- Chlorine – found in dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, kitchen and all purpose cleaners – recognized carcinogen
- Benzene – Produced in high volume – used as optical brighteners (in surface cleaners, laundry and dishwashing detergents, surface polishes) scatter rugs, bathmats, and bath sets. – recognized carcinogen, known to cause leukemia
- Butyl Cellosolve – found in window cleaners and other all purpose cleaning products – shown to have toxic effects on kidney and liver, classified as neurotoxin.
- Phenol – Found in disinfectants, antibacterial, antiseptics, hard surface cleaners, paint and varnish removers, rubber adhesives – cardiovascular and blood toxicant.