The whole purpose of cleaning the house is to maintain a safe environment for you and your family. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, wiping down surfaces—especially in the bathroom and kitchen—removes bacteria and viruses, which helps prevent common illnesses such as colds and the flu. Dusting and vacuuming are important too. Otherwise, dirt and dander can accumulate, which can lead to breathing issues or triggering allergies.
But it’s not just the act of cleaning that’s important; the products you choose to clean with matter too. Certain cleaning products contain active ingredients that can irritate or burn the skin. Some ingredients also release harmful fumes into the air. According to the American Lung Foundation, even cleaning products labeled “green” or “natural” can be harmful to health.
How can you choose cleaning products for your home that are safe? We took this very question to a toxicologist. Here, he shares what he keeps in mind when buying cleaning products. Plus, see which active ingredients it’s best to avoid.
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How a Toxicologist Shops for Cleaning Products
Dr. Alex LeBeau, PhD, MPH, CIH, is an exposure scientist, toxicologist and environmental health expert at Exposure Consulting. It’s literally his job to educate the public about what type of products are safe, and which ones aren’t.
Dr. LeBeau shares that when he’s shopping for cleaning products, he pays careful attention to the label to see if the product aligns with guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has a mission to protect human health and the environment.
“The EPA has specific definitions for what is a cleaning product and what is a disinfectant,” Dr. LeBeau tells Parade, explaining that the EPA defines a cleaner as a soap or detergent to remove surface dirt and defines a disinfectant as a chemical that kills bacteria and viruses. “While a product can be both a cleaner and disinfectant, only disinfectants are EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticidal products.”
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To know if a cleaning product has been approved by the EPA, look on the back or bottom of the product for a number labeled “EPA Reg. No.” Usually, this number contains two or three parts, separated by dashes. Having this number ensures that a cleaning product matches the definitions of either a cleaner or disinfectant that Dr. LeBeau previously explained.
He explains that when he’s shopping for cleaning products, he considers what he wants to use them for and then decides accordingly, based on the EPA-approved definitions. For example, if he’s going to clean the kitchen (somewhere bacteria from raw meat can be found), he uses a disinfectant. The same goes for when he’s choosing a product for cleaning the toilet, another place where bacteria can lurk. But a regular cleaner is typically enough for wiping down everyday surfaces, such as coffee tables, desks and bookshelves.
Want to go the extra mile in terms of safety? Look for an EPA Safer Choice Label, which is a separate certification that ensures every ingredient has been reviewed for human health and environmental safety.
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Ingredients To Avoid
Dr. LeBeau explains there isn’t a hard line between ingredients in cleaning products that are safe versus unsafe. “Safe is a relative term in the eyes of the user,” he says. For general safety, he recommends following the directions on the label. “This may include keeping away from children or using with the appropriate surface contact time,” he adds.
If you or anyone in your household has any underlying respiratory health conditions, the American Lung Association says to be cautious of products with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that can vaporize at room temperature and can contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions and headaches.
Common VOCs found in cleaning products include acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, xylene and toluene. These ingredients can be found in cleaning products such as air fresheners, chlorine bleach, dishwashing detergent, dishwashing liquid, rug and upholstery cleaners, furniture or floor polish and oven cleaners.
According to HouseFresh, an independent company dedicated to educating people about air quality, not all VOCs are harmful. But if using a cleaning product is causing you to experience itchy eyes, shortness of breath, painful sinuses, headaches, nausea or confusion, that’s a sign that it’s impacting you negatively and it’s best to find an alternative.
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Other Safety Precautions To Take While Cleaning
In addition to reading product labels when shopping for cleaning products, Dr. LeBeau says that, sometimes, it’s important to wear protective gear such as rubber gloves or eye protection when cleaning. This, he explains, will be indicated on the product’s label with its instructions.
For example, if you’re cleaning with products that contain any harsh chemicals or scrubbing areas known to have lots of germs (like the bathroom), slapping on a pair of gloves before you start scrubbing is a good idea.
If you know that certain chemicals make your eyes sting, that’s a sign to wear protective goggles (or to swap the cleaning product out for one that’s not as harsh). For many people, this means wearing goggles when using bleach, ammonia or oven cleaner.
N95 face masks can also come in handy when you’re cleaning confined spaces and don’t want to breathe in strong fumes, like bleach and ammonia.
Dr. LeBeau’s biggest piece of advice is to check that the cleaning product you’re considering buying has an EPA number and use it according to how it’s defined. Beyond that, deciding what specific active ingredients to avoid will vary from person to person, based on how sensitive they are, any underlying health conditions they may have or simply what ingredients they want to avoid. But if a cleaning product is negatively impacting you in any way, that’s a sure sign to stop using it and switch it out for something gentler.
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Sources
When and How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cleaning Products and Household Chemicals. American Lung Association. Dr. Alex LeBeau, PhD, MPH, CIH, an exposure scientist, toxicologist and environmental health expert at Exposure Consulting. Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Learn About the Safer Choice Label. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and where they are found in the home. HouseFresh.Hence then, the article about i m a toxicologist and this is how i choose safe cleaning products for my home was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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