Mohamed Salah
In the precautionary environment imposed by the outbreak of the Coronavirus, every woman cleanses the house in order to keep the danger away from her family.
But it is ironic to discover that the materials we use to clean our homes and disinfect them from microbes may be more harmful than the microbes themselves, if we do not use them properly.
The results of studies on the use of household detergents and their effect on the lungs showed that "the use of toxic detergents in your home only once a week can put you in danger."
The researchers compared the lungs of those who used common household cleaners, and those of those who smoked cigarettes for a long time, and found that "lung damage in both cases was close."
A study conducted in 2005 also revealed that "there are more than 300 chemical pollutants in the cord blood of newborns."
The chemicals stacked in our cabinets have frightening side effects on our health when we breathe their vapors or spray their nebulizer, or our skin absorbs them by touch, which increases the importance of identifying the types of toxins that are hidden in the form of detergents and how to deal with them, and trying to replace natural or safe materials with them.
10 toxic household cleaners
According to the “Cleveland Clinic”, we can find toxic chemicals in any corner of the house, here are 10 of them:
Laundry detergents intended to remove stains, and nausea, vomiting, and spasms, if swallowed. The regular detergents, including irritation of the skin and eyes in the event of exposure to a lot.
- "All-purpose" cleaners, which can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, and need good ventilation and wear rubber gloves when used.
Chlorine or bleaching fluid whose vapors cause the same symptoms as previously, and ingestion may cause esophageal injury, stomach irritation, nausea and vomiting.
Insecticides cause nausea, headache and dizziness, and it requires washing hands with lots of water and soap after using them, and making sure they do not reach food, dining towels or tableware.
Automatic or manual dishwashing detergents cause irritation and burns to the skin because they contain phosphates, and they may be toxic if swallowed, so latex gloves should be worn when using them.
- oven cleaners that contain lye, whose fumes may harm the skin and eyes, so you should wear bibs, gloves, and protective goggles, ensure ventilation, and try to purchase a type that does not contain lye.
Glass and window cleaner, wooden furniture polishing materials and ammonia that irritate the eyes, skin, nose and throat, which requires good ventilation and wearing gloves to use.
- Disinfectant detergents for bathrooms contain chemicals that cause the same previous symptoms, so you must leave the door open and ensure ventilation and wearing latex gloves when cleaning the bathrooms.
Air fresheners containing formaldehyde, petroleum and chemical substances can cause cancer and brain damage, and irritate the eyes, skin and throat, so they should be used in good ventilation.
Household pesticides harm eyes and skin and cause breathing problems, spraying requires evacuation of the place, closing windows and doors, and not leaving toys, dishes, cups, and cooking utensils exposed. All table surfaces must be cleaned before use, and windows open to ventilate the place.
Detergents that should not be mixed We
may tend to mix chemicals to get a more powerful product, but the British "Devon Life" website warns that mixing detergents of different types together can lead to catastrophic results.
Chlorine with ammonia, for example, produces toxic chloramine which burns the eyes and the respiratory system, and may be fatal if inhaled in large quantities. They also produce toxic hydrazine, which is likely to become an explosive.
Likewise, chlorine, with the cleaning alcohol, releases toxic chloroform gas, from which breathing can further paralyze the movement and prevent the transfer to fresh air and then to death.
And chlorine with vinegar or any other household acids, such as lemon juice, gives us toxic chlorine gas that attacks the skin, mucous membranes and the respiratory system, and can be fatal in the absence of fresh air.
As for peroxide with vinegar, they produce a disinfectant chemical that is most effective. It is paracetic acid, but it is a corrosive substance that can irritate the eyes and nose and may cause chemical burn.
The interaction of peroxide with the henna hair dye also leads to burning of the skin and hair loss, and removes the existing color from the remaining hair, leaving it dry, damaged and strange hair.
Safer alternatives
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends limiting the survival of hazardous waste at home, reducing the purchase of products containing harmful ingredients, and searching for environmentally friendly products or safer alternative methods, such as cleaning the glass by mixing a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice In one liter of water, wipe it with newsprint or a cloth to dry.
Furniture can also be polished by mixing a teaspoon of lemon juice in a pint of vegetable oil, or removing carpet stains by applying baking soda for at least 15 minutes.
Vinegar can also be used to clean the toilet, alcohol for surfaces of electronic devices, and sodium bicarbonate with vinegar to remove grease. With the possibility of preparing a natural sterilizer by adding drops of tea tree oil and a spoonful of vinegar to the water and putting it in a spray, while adding a little lavender oil to add a pleasant aroma to it.