While many of us are at home practicing social distancing due to the quarantine order, we are cleaning our homes like never before.
The shelves in the cleaning aisle at many stores are empty and Clorox wipes are nowhere to be found.
However, cleaning products often include harmful chemicals. Even products advertised as "green" or "natural" may contain ingredients that can cause health problems.
Fumes from some cleaning products may induce asthma in otherwise healthy individuals. A large and growing body of evidence links frequent use of many ordinary cleaning supplies with the development of asthma and other respiratory problems. It is already known that cleaning product fumes may trigger attacks in persons previously diagnosed with asthma.
Asthmagens: ingredients that can cause or worsen asthma
- *2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
- Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride
- Alkyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride
- Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride
- Diethanolamine
- Dioctyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride
- Distearyldimonium Chloride
- *DMDM Hydantoin
- Ethanolamine
- Formaldehyde
- Glutaral
- Monoethanolamine Citrate
- Quaternium-15
- Quaternium-24
- Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach)
- Sulfuric Acid
- Triethanolamine
* While not asthmagens themselves, these ingredients release formaldehyde, which is a recognized asthmagen.
Ordinary cleaners can cause some people to suffer mild to severe allergic reactions of the skin, eyes and lungs. In rare cases, these reactions can require hospitalization. Some cleaning products contain chemicals that can trigger an allergy by themselves.
As a safer cleaning alternative, warm water and soap often will do the trick, especially at home. Baking soda is good for scrubbing. A mix of vinegar and water can clean glass.
Below is one or our favorite all purpose cleaner recipes.
Happy Spring Cleaning to ya!
Kirsten & Mack
P.S. People swear by bleach for cleaning and we want to let you know why you may reconsider that choice. We know you, your mama and grandmama have used bleach for years. You have even put in your dishwater but that does not make it safe. Learn more about why you may want to be cautious using bleach to clean here