We have come accustomed to, and tend to be drawn to, the items that advertise 'Kills 99% of germs!' or 'Industrial strength'. Seems like a great deal, right? Killing as many germs as possible, super powerful, and at a decent price. But buyer beware, these are the worst purchases you can make! Have you ever actually read the back of the label and looked at what are in these so called 'super products'? The truth is that a lot of these products contain ingredients that are more detrimental to your children's health.
Now you have all probably seen the warning label on these products. The one that say keep out of reach of your children. Now if they want you to keep it out of reach, what is the difference if you spray it on the surface they eat food on (food then picks up the particles from the surface, then ought oh! It is in their mouth!) or the toys your child is playing with? Also, what about exposure to the lungs and skin by particles left in the air after spraying such chemicals? Things you may not even ever have thought of; cleaning your kitchen floor, then your child crawls on it, 5 minutes later they are chewing on their hand. Infants and toddlers are especially at risk from these sorts of products. Not only do they have weaker immune systems, but their smaller size make for higher exposure levels. Now you are probably thinking that we are all exposed to the same amount. This is true but because they are smaller, in both weight and size, so their body concentrates the chemicals more.
Now that all of this is settling in you are probably wondering what the dangers of these chemicals are. There are two main risks that come directly from the exposure of these harsh chemicals. The first being carcinogens. Carcinogens are known for causing cancer and cancer growth. The second risk is neurotoxins. Neurotoxins alter the neurons in your brain. This can lead to affecting one's brain activity which can cause a problem as simple as a headache to as severe as loss of major brain function. Pretty scary, right?
So, what can you do? You can stick to the brands you normally do but use some caution or try an alternate, safer brand (beware these can be more expensive but well worth the money). So if you are on a tight budget and want to stick to the brands you are used to (Lysol, Clorox, etc.) use some of these tips:
1. Try to stay away with products that use 'harsh' words. If it has a warning label with words stronger than "Caution" it is generally a no go.
2. Try to stay away from products that have fragrances. Something smelling like apple cinnamon should have no bearing on if your house will be cleaner or not (honestly it shouldn't be there at all! A clean house should really not smell like anything at all).
3. Try to stay away from cleaning products that have styrene, formaldehyde, phthalates, and organochlorines.
As a mom, there are a few companies/products that I would recommend switching to. One would be Seventh Generation. They have everything from cleaning solutions, to baby wipes, to hand soap! They are a brand that really tries to have as little harmful toxins as possible. Their products are plant derived and bio based. Another line of great products is from the company Eco Me. They have a variety of cleaning products that are free from synthetic fragrances and toxic preservatives. I am sure there may be other products/companies out there but these are best that I have and get the job done!
Sources:
householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov
checnet.org/healtheHouse/chemicals
lowimpactliving.com
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