We are killing ourselves and our loved ones in our own homes without even knowing it. Mopping your floors clean for your crawling baby, or for your birthday party guests  is a noble deed but not when you are pouring dangerous chemicals and toxins into your cleaning bucket. Forget about worrying about car seats and savings accounts, look what is in your cleaning products as you are likely using products that are potentially hazardous daily to you, your family and your pets.

Just take a peek below at all of the TOXINS that are allowed to be in household products….and we wonder why we are so sick! The biggest problem is that cleaning companies have no obligation to list all ingredients so you have to call them or go to their website. But, a good rule is that if it doesn’t say what is in it, the chances are pretty high that it does have toxins as an ingredient. Just so you know, most popular well known cleaners ARE toxic unless otherwise stated.

But don’t worry, there are healthy solutions. For Green Clean Options go to the tab on this site. So read on. Then go to your cupboards, dump the junk and get some healthy products in your home that can clean and are green.

Common Hazardous Ingredients in Cleaning Products

(sources: www.lesstoxicguide.ca; www.preventcancer.com)

Acetone – Acetone is a  neurotoxin which may cause liver and kidney damage, and has the potential to cause damage to the developing fetus.  It can also irritate the skin and eyes.

Commonly found in:  spot and scuff treatment cleaners.

Aerosol products- Aerosol products may contain a number of toxic ingredients including: propane, formaldehyde, methylene chloride and nitrous oxide. Even worse? Because aerosal sprays break down the ingredients into small tiny  particles,  these are more easily and more deeply inhaled thereby increasing their toxic effect.

Ammonia – Ammonia is a severe eye and respiratory irritant that when undiluted can cause severe burning pain, chemical burns, cataracts, corneal damage, kidney damage and liver damage. Long  exposure to vapours can result in bronchitis and pneumonia. Ammonia mixed with bleach forms poisonous chlorine gas.

Commonly found in: glass cleaners and other cleaning products.

Bleach: (sodium hypochlorite) – Bleach is a corrosive chemical and is an eye, skin and respiratory irritant.  It is especially hazardous to people with heart conditions or asthma, and can be fatal if swallowed.  It may be a neurotoxin and toxic to the liver.

Found in a wide range of household cleaners.

Diethanolamine (DEA) - A suspected, this chemical is a skin and respiratory toxicant and a severe eye irritant.  DEA by itself is not harmful but while sitting on the stores shelves or in your cabinet at home, DEA can react with other ingredients in the to form an extremely potent carcinogen called nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA). NDEA is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked with stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder cancers. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), “There is sufficient evidence of a carcinogenic effect of N-nitrosodiethanolamine”.

Commonly found in: household cleaning products and as a wetting agent in shampoos, lotions, creams and other cosmetics.

D-limonene – (citrus oil and orange oil) – This chemical is produced by cold-pressing orange peels of which 90%  is d-limonene. It is a neurotoxin, a moderate eye and skin irritant, and can trigger respiratory distress with some evidence of carcinogenicity.

Commonly found in: insecticides and citrus/lemon all-purpose cleaning products.

Ethoxylated nonyl phenol -  Nonyl phenols are hormone disruptors and may contain traces of the carcinogen ethylene oxide.  They are eye and skin irritants.

Commonly found in: laundry detergents and other cleaning products.

Formaldehyde – Research indicates that formaldehyde can cause cancer and damaged DNA and acts as a central nervous system depressant. Exposure  may result in  joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep.

Commonly found in: cleaning products and furniture polishes

Fragrance – Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients, most of which are synthetic. A common fragrance ingredient is toluene, which can cause liver, kidney and brain damage as well as damage to a developing fetus. Symptoms of fragrance exposure have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, asthma attacks and skin irritation.

Commonly found in: laundry detergents and other cleaning products.

Methylene chloride – Methylene chloride is a carcinogen, a neurotoxin and a reproductive toxin. On inhalation, it can cause liver and brain damage, irregular heartbeat, and even heart attack. It is a severe skin and moderate eye irritant.

Commonly found in:  stain removers.

Monoethanolamine – This chemical may cause liver, kidney and reproductive damage, as well as depression of the central nervous system. It can cause skin and eye irritation, and inhalation can cause dizziness.

Commonly found in: cleaning products,  oven cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, laundry pre-soaks, floor strippers and carpet cleaners.

Morpholine – This is corrosive and can severely irritate and burn skin/eyes, cause liver and kidney damage, and long-term exposure can result in bronchitis. When mixed with nitrites (added as a preservative in some products) to form known carcinogenic nitrosomines.  Commonly found in: cleaning products, furniture polishes and abrasive cleansers.

Naphthalene – This is a registered pesticide and is a suspected carcinogen in California. It is dangerous for pregnant women as it can pass through the placenta and result in blood damage to the fetus.  It is known to cause liver and kidney damage, and corneal damage and cataracts.  Keep it away from pets and children (i.e mothballs) as it can kill them if they consume it or cause extreme skin irritation if touched.

Commonly found in: mothballs, pest repellants and deodorizers.

Parabens – Parabens are hormone disruptors meaning they effect our natural hormones that are required for homeostasis, reproduction, development and behaviour. Parabens are also known to cause contact dermatitis in some. Paraben is usually preceded by the prefixes methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, or propyl.

Commonly found in: cleaning products as a preservatives and in most cosmetic products. (check out how many parabens are in BABY lotions, shampoos and soaps….and we wonder why there is an increase in children with ADD).

Paradichlorobenzene – This highly volatile registered pesticide is in the same chemical class as DDT.  It is a suspected carcinogen, and may cause lung, liver and kidney damage.  It is used in mothballs and some washroom deodorizers and urinal blocks.

Phosphoric acid – Extremely corrosive, it can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes.  Breathing vapours can make the lungs ache, and it may be toxic to the central nervous system.  Found in some liquid dishwasher detergents, metal polishes, some disinfectants, and bathroom cleaners, especially those that remove lime and mildew.

Sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate – This corrosive chemical is a severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant. It may cause liver and gastrointestinal damage, and may be toxic to the central nervous system.  It will react with bleach to form poisonous chlorine gas that can cause burning and watering of eyes, as well as burning of the nose and mouth. It is found in some toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers, as well as industrial detergents and some institutional dishwashing detergents.

Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is used as a lathering agent.  This chemical is a known skin irritant. It also enhances the allergic response to other toxins and allergens. The U.S. government has warned manufacturers of unacceptable levels of dioxin formation in some products containing this ingredient.  SLS can react with other ingredients to form cancer-causing nitrosamines

Toluene – Exposure to toluene may cause liver, kidney and brain damage. It is also a reproductive toxin which can damage a developing fetus.

Turpentine – This chemical can cause allergic sensitization, and kidney, bladder and central nervous system damage. It is an eye irritant.  Found in specialty solvent cleaners, furniture polish and shoe products.

Xylene – Xylene has significant neurotoxic effects, including loss of memory.  High exposure can lead to loss of consciousness and even death.  It may damage liver, kidneys and the developing fetus. It is a severe eye and moderate skin irritant.  Used in some spot removers, floor polishes, ironing aids and other products.

Good reads and resources:
The Safe Shoppers Bible, David Steinman & Samuel Epstein

Home Safe Home, Debra Lynn Dadd, Tarcher Inc, 1997 includes hundreds of “make your own” recipes.

Non-toxic, Natural and Earth Wise, Debra Lynn Dadd, Tarcher Inc, 1990, includes many “make your own” recipes.

Less Toxic Alternatives, Carolyn Gorman with Marie Hyde, Optimum Publishing,  2002.