Clean is good. A clean home is desirable and lovely. Stores are stocked to the brim with commercial cleaning products. They are so heavily advertised and such a part of our culture and daily experience that most shoppers – homeowners and apartment dwellers in particular – don’t really think twice before buying them.
These are products we keep under our kitchen sinks, in our utility closets, in our bathrooms, in our basements, garages, and sheds. But many people are simply unaware of the very real health hazards that can and do result from using these products.
The real question is: are you really cleaning your home or are you spreading toxic chemicals?
We may think we are cleaning our eating utensils, dishes, pots and pans, ovens, sinks, refrigerators and so on, but the sad reality is that when we clean with toxic cleaners, we are just spreading poison around. For example, your refrigerator may appear to be absolutely spotless, but the reality is that the toxic cleaning chemicals on the sponge are eventually absorbed by the very food we eat.
The toxins become airborne within the refrigerator and the microbes actually attach to and contaminate the food. Though they may be tiny particles and unseen by the naked eye, they are indeed there. And even though you wash your apple or berries, the contaminants may remain. We eat them. Over time, they build up and may cause or contribute to cancer.
In an online CBS News story, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) details numerous dangerous common household cleaning products. According to the report, some of the ingredients are known to cause extremely serious results, including, but not limited to cancer, blindness, fetal harm, and reproductive disorders.A partial list of the products includes the following:
Healthy, safe, non-toxic cleaning products are available pretty much everywhere you normally shop, including most grocery stores. In fact, you probably have a few of these products in your cupboards right now.Many people are simply unaware of their disinfecting and cleaning power, for example:
Every person leaves a footprint. Are we helping ourselves and the planet or are we actually doing harm? Thankfully, in what may be called a “green movement,” more and more individuals are becoming aware of their choices. We are a health-conscious society. It is up to us to make the best choices possible.
Raphaelson & Levine, New York City Toxic Exposure Attorneys, is committed to a cleaner, greener world. If you feel your health has been compromised by the use of a toxic cleanser, please contact us or call 212-268-3222 for a complimentary consultation.