Why We All Need To Stop Cleaning With Bleach

. It is most infamously known for it’s ability to keep clothes white, to assist in removing mold and mildew from a shower or tub and it’s disinfectant properties. For these specific purposes chlorine bleach certainly can be classified as effective, but for quite sometime now the negative side effects and potential dangers to using this cleaning product have been discussed in the public spotlight. The most obvious danger of Chlorine Bleach is printed clearly on the label. It is a heavily corrosive material capable of irritating the eyes, skin and respiratory tract often by simply inhaling the gases its use emits. This inhalation has been noted to deteriorate the lungs and esophagus lining in addition to the scarring of the respiratory tract that I previously mentioned.

These side effects may not occur to a visibly notable extent with each exposure to bleach, but the chemicals impact is never favourable, especially over a long period of time. It is important to note that there is no FDA-type organization that regulates the cleaning products that are brought into your home. Instead groups such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) make warnings of the use of Chlorine Bleach publicly available. Under the assumption that consumers will continue to use Chlorine Bleach within their households, the following safety precautions are widely recommended: The fourth and final recommendation is particularly worth noting because mixed with common ingredients -such as ammonia -found in many other household cleaners the fumes produced can become even more lethal and potentially fatal. Nose bleeds, neurological disorders, headaches, shortness of breath and chest pain, are just a small number of the potential side effects that can be experienced. As helpful as these safety precautions can be, why not just stop using bleach altogether? Thankfully there are healthy alternatives to not only chlorine bleach but pretty well every toxic cleaning product out there. I can’t possibly share every alternative within this article but I would like to share a couple that I have come across and I invite you all to contribute your own findings through the comment section of the article. Bleach Alternative (Source: Grit.com) Mix 12 cups water, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide. Add 2 cups per wash load or put in spray bottle and use as a household cleaner. Whitening Scouring Powder (Source: Gaiam Life) Combine 1 cup baking soda, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1/8 cup borax, 1/4 cup grated lemon, orange or grapefruit peel and mix well. Scrub using a damp sponge. Natural Orange All-Purpose Cleaner As a part of the March Issue of CE Magazine, Alanna from the CE Team shared with readers a great all-purpose cleaner that is safe and easy to make at home. The Power of Baking Soda, White Vinegar Lemon These simple and non-corrosive or hazardous ingredients are true powerhouses when it comes to cleaning around the house. Baking soda is great for removing odors and freshening fabrics, lemon juice is fantastic for cutting through grease and white vinegar mixed with water is an awesome ammonia-free glass cleaner. Just as we have discovered with chlorine bleach, there are always alternatives. Be sure to conduct your own research and make informed decisions about the things that you bring into your house and expose you and your loved ones to. Keep in mind that your understanding should always go beyond the label! Even cleaning products that are labelled as “natural,” “healthy,” or “organic” should always be looked into and thanks to the internet that information is most often readily available. I’d like to finish off by sharing a brief list of particular chemicals that numerous sources within my research have posted as being important to look out for: Diethylene Glycol, Nonylphenol Ethoxylate, Ammonia, Perchloroethylene, Butyl Cellosolve, Formaldehyde, Methoxychlor, Naphthalene, Sulfuric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Chloroform, Nitrobenzene, Dried Chlorine. SOURCES Gaiam Life: http://life.gaiam.com/article/8-household-cleaning-agents-avoid Organic Consumers: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_279.cfm eHow: http://www.ehow.com/about_5376626_side-effects-inhaling-bleach.html Educating Wellness: http://www.educatingwellness.com/natural-health/dangers-of-bleach/ US EPA: http://www.epa.gov/kidshometour/products/bleach.htm Grit: http://www.grit.com/tools/safer-bleach-alternative.aspx .

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References:

• http://life.gaiam.com/article/8-household-cleaning-agents-avoid
• http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_279.cfm
• http://www.ehow.com/about_5376626_side-effects-inhaling-bleach.html
• http://www.educatingwellness.com/natural-health/dangers-of-bleach/
• http://www.epa.gov/kidshometour/products/bleach.htm
• http://www.grit.com/tools/safer-bleach-alternative.aspx