Indoor cleaning products have long interested public health policymakers and medical researchers as sources of irritation and even disease. The most concerning ingredients in common cleaning products are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are responsible for the most noticeable and drastic health effects caused by cleaning products, although they are not the only offending components. Products that can potentially harm you and your family include oven cleaners, air fresheners, detergents, dishwashing liquids, and polishes.
In addition to wreaking havoc on health, these same products also degrade the environment and contribute to climate change and air pollution, two huge problems that you can help address by switching to natural alternatives. Here are a few more reasons why you should use natural cleaners around your house and ditch the chemicals.
Harsh Chemicals Are Unhealthy
The unnatural chemicals popular in conventional cleaning products can cause respiratory problems, especially in children and the elderly. They can irritate the nose, throat, and eyes, and potentially cause cancer. Research continues into just how much these chemicals contribute to deadly diseases. Still, all the evidence so far confirms that they are definite contributors to health problems in people and pets. According to Diamond Injury Law, even household cleaners can lead to serious chemical burns. It’s possible that you could use these chemicals in your home and avoid any major health impacts, but why roll the dice when better alternatives are out there?They Smell Better
What the human nose finds aromatic is a product of millions of years of evolution. It is natural to find natural smells pleasant and to avoid chemical or unnatural smells. This is the reason why so many manufacturers attempt to make their products smell like elements of nature, like forest pine or a mountain waterfall, without ever achieving success. Consumer review after review confirms that people gravitate to natural-fragranced products free of harmful chemicals. And not only do they smell better—they also can often clean just as well as a mainstream chemical cleaning product. For example, according to Juniper, lemon juice can whiten laundry just as well as bleach.Natural Products Help the Environment
According to FacilitiesNet, the United States alone uses 6.2 billion pounds of cleaning chemicals every year, all of which end up back in the environment one way or the other. Some of the chemicals in cleaning supplies may be relatively harmless, but others absolutely destroy already delicate ecosystems and disrupt natural cycles. In addition to the chemical burden, many conventional cleaning supplies are packaged in plastic bottles that end up in landfills. Natural cleaning supply manufacturers, on the other hand, often use recycled products and less harmful packaging. Reward companies that take an active interest in protecting the well-being of their customers and the environment by purchasing their products.
Consider doing your health and the environment the favour of transitioning to natural products. Switching to natural products for cleaning your home may seem like a small step, but in the grand scheme of things, our collective health and the long-term sustainability of the planet we share will benefit from a mass-shift in consumer habits.
