Cleanliness is a factor that increases the value of anything, regardless of its price. Imagine a person who wears expensive designer clothes that are not properly cleaned. On the other hand, consider a person who wears normal but neat and clean clothes. Which one seems better? Of course, the former is something you would just shrug off as soon as you hear it. The effects of cleaning do not end only in our clothes. Properly clean rooms and buildings also play an important role in increasing curb appeal. Even the smallest areas, like bathrooms, need to be cleaned properly so that the building appears to be well-maintained as a whole. That is why there is a high demand for cleaning supplies. Most of the products included in the cleaning supply are hygienic and less harmful. However, most products used for this purpose are not as safe as they claim to be.
Most household detergents and cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that aren’t even listed on the label. One of the main toxic agents in most detergents is phosphate. Phosphates can act as silent killers for both humans and aquatic life. When water containing phosphates enters the ocean through the water cycle, it causes algae to bloom. The algae become slimy in a dense form that can easily suffocate other marine life. Although EDTA is used as an alternative to phosphates, it is also not readily biodegradable. They cause toxic heavy metals to re-dissolve in the environment.
These products often contain chemicals that go by other names, such as buffering agents, stabilizers, brightening agents, and fragrances. The actual chemicals hiding behind these names include highly hazardous chemicals such as linear alkyl sodium sulfonates (LAS), petroleum distillates, phenols, optical brighteners, phosphates, sodium hypochlorite, and EDTA.
All of these chemicals are considered highly toxic agents for the atmosphere in general. However, the effect they can have inside our homes can be up to 70% more dangerous. Most of these agents are not biodegradable and release toxins such as benzene. Gasoline or petroleum distillates are possible causes of cancer and lung damage.
Phenols are very common in household cleaning products. They can be highly toxic and people can easily develop allergies. Hypersensitivity to phenols can cause serious and fatal effects with even minimal exposure. Many countries have already banned this ingredient as it eventually biodegrades into even more toxic compounds.
There are many laundry products that guarantee an ultra-brilliant clean. They use synthetic chemicals that convert the wavelength of ultraviolet light into visible light. So that doesn’t make the clothes whiter, it just makes them look whiter. These agents can cause bacterial mutations.
Also, the pleasant fragrance used in these products comes primarily from petroleum. Petroleum products do not biodegrade easily in the environment and are one of the main contributors to allergies and irritations.
Considering all these harmful ingredients and their negative impacts, great care must be taken in choosing the right brand of cleaning products.
