How To Reduce Your Use Of Harmful Household Cleaning Products

By Laura Phillips


We all want to live healthier lives and to reduce the number of toxins in our homes. Harmful household cleaning products can be a major source of air pollution and may cause problems if they are absorbed through our skin. Replacing the products we use with more natural alternatives may take effort but it can be very worthwhile. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to have a more natural, toxin-free home.

There are a few ways that harmful chemicals can hurt us while we are cleaning. Some can be absorbed through the skin and enter our systems that way. Others emit fumes which we can breathe in. Some may harm our lungs and make us cough because of the fumes they put off while others may not cause coughing but may still be harmful to breathe in.

One way that you can avoid harmful effects from your cleaning products is to wear protective gear. Many people choose to wear rubber gloves while they clean so that they cannot absorb toxins through their skin. If you find that the cleaning products you use make you cough and seem to bother your breathing you might want to wear a mask instead.

You may want to ensure that you have enough ventilation if you are cleaning with chemical-based products. As some fumes are only harmful when they have had a chance to build up, opening windows or putting on exhaust fans may help reduce these harmful effects.

One thing that many people do not realize is that some products can be deadly if they are mixed. Chlorine gas is a potentially deadly gas that can be created if bathroom cleaner is combined with toilet bowl cleaner. If you are transferring products from one container to another it is very important to make sure that you are labeling your containers as clearly as possible.

While some individuals feel comfortable using masks or gloves when they clean, others may be more concerned or may be dealing with chemical sensitivities. In this case, you will need to make sure that you look for natural products that use ingredients such as vinegar or baking soda in order to be able to cut through grime and eliminate odors.

If you are not happy with the cleaning products that you have available to you, it may be worthwhile to look for recipes that you can make yourself. There are many places that you can get the base ingredients and websites that will help you combine them to make fantastic cleaning products for your home. You can always customize them in order to get the results you are looking for.

While it can be difficult to eliminate everything toxic from your home, using natural cleaning products is a great start. It may take longer or use a bit more elbow grease but the knowledge that you are protecting your health will make it all worthwhile.




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