Spring is in the air, and Earth Day is here………
With Spring in the air and Earth Day here, what a time than now to take this opportunity to give you some information about household cleaning products, and the serious health effects they have on people, and the environment.
Cleaning products are supposed to help us feel safe by getting rid of the germs on the kitchen counters and the grime and dirt from our bathrooms. However, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that exposure to many popular household cleaning substances can be serious enough to require treatment in a medical health facility. Yet millions of households keep these dangerous household products where children and pets might accidentally get into them.
Look on the labels of your cleaning products. Do they contain words on their packaging warning that the products are dangerous, poisonous, or flammable? Why do we think that it is okay to use these products in our homes and around our loved ones?
Chlorine, found in bleach, is highly corrosive and extremely reactive. Ammonia, another chemical commonly found in many household products, can be highly irritating to the lungs and aggravate asthma. Fragranced products such as laundry detergents can contain several synthetic chemicals that are usually derived from petroleum products. California has banned many of the air fresheners, in spray or hanging form, because they contain diclorbenzene, a carcinogenic and extremely toxic chemical which can depress the central nervous system and poison the kidneys and liver. And disinfectants that contain a label stating “kill germs”, usually contain an ingredient known as triclosan. This ingredient is more hazardous than many other chemicals in government ranking systems!
When left-over cleaning products are discarded, they can add toxic and poisonous chemicals to the earth. Storing partially used chemicals can cause the toxins to seep out and pollute the air indoors, posing serious risks to those in the home. The Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that “of chemicals commonly found ingredients in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities.”
With virtually every cleaning product available in the super market containing toxic, harmful, and potentially deadly ingredients how is it possible to keep a clean home while being as safe as possible and taking care of the Earth? There is hope! For over 50 years, Shaklee has been at the forefront of health and safety. The “Get Clean” household cleaning line contains everything you need to keep your home clean and safe, while protecting the environment at the same time.
Sonia’s Sense