How To Deal With Cleaning Product Labels

Did you know that manufacturers are not required to list every ingredient that they place into their cleaning products onto the label?  Because of this lack of regulation, many of the cleaning products you use in your home could be extremely toxic and contain chemicals that could cause health problems for you, your family, or your pets down the road.  

In fact, the New York Poison Control Center did a study on cleaning products and found that 85 percent of the labels were inadequate when it came to stating what was actually contained in the products.  Start safe practices and learn how to read cleaning product labels so that you can keep toxins out of your home for good!

Heed the warning.  If a label contains the words "danger", "warning", or "poison" it is pretty obvious that it should be avoided at all costs.  You do not want to put poison where your dog or child might walk, eat, or even touch.  However, these warnings address only immediate health risks.  For products whose effects on our health take more time, there may be no warning on the label at all.

Know what could happen.  Toxic cleaning products can produce health risks in numerous ways.  Many are toxic to the respiratory and circulatory systems over time.  Others can cause damage to your mucous membranes, bone marrow, liver or kidney.  Still others can depress your nervous system, or are suspected to be carcinogens.  If it were your choice, would you ever keep these things in your household and willingly touch or inhale them?

Educate yourself.  So, you are ready to turn around, throw all of your cleaning products out and start fresh.  But, wait.  Do not think that by purchasing products that advertise their environmental friendliness that you are any closer to detoxifying your home.  These manufacturers still do not have to list every ingredient that is contained in their products, and so it is important to do your research.

The more, the better.  Manufacturers who provide the most amount of information on their label are generally the most trustworthy.  Check to see if there is a long list of ingredients on the bottle, and make sure that none of them include the words "petroleum-based surfactants", "chlorine" or "phosphates".  Look for the words "non-toxic" and "biodegradable" rather than "environmentally friendly" or environmentally sound".  

Suspect the sponge.  If you prefer to clean with sponges, be sure to purchase only pure cellulose sponges at a hardware store or natural-food store.  Sponges that boast about killing or resisting odors have probably been treated by a synthetic disinfectant which can actually cause bacteria to become resistant to it. Keep your sponges free of germs by boiling them for three to five minutes instead of using harmful disinfectants.