In this blog, we explore the most common harmful chemicals found in cleaning products and provide tips for safer cleaning practices. The best way to keep yourself and your home and family safe is to learn and educate yourself on the toxicity of chemicals. Avoid using these cleaning chemicals and replace them with safer solutions and practices to safeguard your home and family.
Here are ten of the most common harmful chemicals found in household cleaners that are often found on supermarket shelves and their potential health impacts.
Found in: Glass cleaners, bathroom cleaners and polishing agents.
Health Risks: Can irritate the skin, eyes, throat, and lungs. Prolonged exposure can lead to chronic respiratory issues and is particularly dangerous for individuals with asthma.
Found in: Disinfectants, toilet bowl cleaners and mould removers.
Health Risks: Can cause skin burns, eye damage and respiratory irritation. Mixing bleach with ammonia or acidic cleaners can produce toxic chloramine or chlorine gas, which can be fatal.
Found in: Scented products like air fresheners, dish soaps, and even toilet paper.
Health Risks: Linked to hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and developmental problems in children. Exposure is often through inhalation or skin contact.
Found in: Antibacterial soaps, detergents and hand sanitizers.
Health Risks: Can contribute to antibiotic resistance and is a suspected endocrine disruptor. It may also affect thyroid function and contribute to liver toxicity.
Found in: Disinfectant sprays, wipes and fabric softeners.
Health Risks: It can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and has been linked to asthma development. Overuse can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Found in: Window cleaners, kitchen cleaners and multipurpose cleaners.
Health Risks: Can cause sore throat, narcosis, pulmonary oedema and severe liver and kidney damage with prolonged exposure.
Found in: Some air fresheners, disinfectants and furniture polishes.
Health Risks: This is a known carcinogen that can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and has been linked to cancer with long-term exposure.
Found in: Bleach, mildew removers and toilet bowl cleaners.
Health Risks: It can cause skin and eye irritation, respiratory issues, and when mixed with other chemicals like ammonia, it releases toxic gases that can cause severe respiratory damage or death.
Found in: Oven cleaners, drain openers and industrial cleaners.
Health Risks: Highly corrosive and can cause severe burns to skin and eyes, respiratory issues if inhaled, and damage to the gastrointestinal tract if ingested.
Found in: Dry-cleaning solutions, spot removers and carpet cleaners.
Health Risks: Classified as a probable human carcinogen. Long-term exposure can affect the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.
5 Tips for Safer Cleaning
Cleaning your home is essential for maintaining a healthy and comfortable living environment. By making informed choices and adopting healthier cleaning habits, you can protect yourself and your loved ones while keeping your home spotless.
Always read product labels and be aware of the ingredients, especially if you are purchasing cleaning chemicals from supermarket shelves. The manufacturer won’t always have your best interest at heart.
Consider using natural cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and essential oils in your home. Bliss Home Care Services only uses GECA certified and approved green cleaning products. These products are also available for purchase, click here for more information.
Ensure good ventilation when using cleaning products to minimise inhalation of fumes. Opening windows and doors for 10 minutes each day also keeps your home fresh, eliminates bacteria and improves indoor air quality.
Always wear gloves when cleaning, and if necessary wear a mask to protect your skin and respiratory tract and glasses to protect your eyes. Prevention is always better than dealing with the after-effects of chemical burns or skin irritation. Ensure any cleaning products and chemicals are stored in a safe place, away from young children and pets.
Avoid mixing cleaning chemicals at all times, especially bleach and ammonia, to prevent the release of toxic gases. Seek medical attention if you feel unwell or dizzy if you have been around chemical cleaning products.
You may also like to read our article, Benefits of Green Cleaning for Your Health and Home and why it’s an essential practice for today's conscientious individual.
The Bliss Home Care Story
The origins of Bliss Home Care go back well before we moved into the house cleaning industry. It was during our careers in community service and health services that we understood the pleasure we get from nurturing and the importance of the ‘small stuff’ to improving people’s lives.
A clean house nurtures the soul. It creates an air of freedom. And of course it provides free time to spend with family and friends or doing activities we love. We have always chosen green cleaning products that are locally made and independently approved and certified by GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia). Read more about our brand story here.
Bliss Home Care Services is very excited to announce the launch of a range of natural cleaning products that are now available for purchase for our clients, friends and those who care about keeping their home clean with only natural cleaning products.
These natural cleaning products are ones that we and the Bliss team have been using for years when cleaning our and our client’s homes. We made a conscious decision when we started our business over 15 years ago that we would only use Australian made natural cleaning products. We conducted a lot of research and sourced this range that has been certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). GECA is an independent body who assess the products to ensure they meet environmental, human health, ethical impact criteria.
There has been lots of research that proves toxic chemicals are harmful to our health and the wider environment. There is absolutely no reason to still be using any toxic cleaning products that are harmful to your and your family’s health. In our blog, 7 Reasons To Choose Green Cleaning, we discuss how you can switch to natural cleaning products in your home. It will not only save time and money but you will dramatically improve the lifestyle for yourself, your home, family, pets and the planet.
10 Reasons Why You Should Choose Our Natural Cleaning Products
The range of natural cleaning products currently available include:
Bio CleanerTM
The greatest multipurpose and ready to use cleaner you will ever need! A multipurpose agent formulated with beneficial bacteria that digest grease, grime, dirt, and soap scum, making cleaning quicker, easier and more effective. The citrus fragrance and odour neutraliser helps keeping everything fresh and free of unpleasant smells, and also repels flies and insects.
Shower BlitzTM
No more tough scrubbing and cleaning! You can use it all over the shower, tiles, sink, and toilet. It contains cultured bacteria that eats away and decomposes hard to remove soap scum and prevents the growth of mould. The bacteria bio-degrades matter rather than mask or bleach the problem.
Wee OffTM Stain & Odour Remover
A natural and revolutionary way of removing the cause of stains and odours from any hard and soft surfaces. Wee Off™ contains billions of specifically selected friendly bacteria that target and digest organic matter such as urine, vomit, faeces, blood, bodily fluids, wine, coffee, food, milk and sauce, eliminating the source of the problem rather than masking it.
The Household Cleaning Kit
An eco-friendly alternative to conventional and traditional household cleaning products. This kit contains all the essentials and must have environmentally cleaning products needed to keep your house clean, fresh and green. The kit includes:
1 x Wee Off™ 750ml
1 x Biological Cleaner Concentrate 1L
1 x 500ml Dilution Bottle
1 x Bio Wipes
Let’s take a closer look at why the technology behind these products is so effective and why the products work so effectively…
Bio Bacterial & Enzyme Technology
These biological cleaning products are made up of “good” living bacteria to break down and liquefy soils such as fat, proteins, carbohydrates and grease while simultaneously eliminating odours. When this type of bacteria cleaning product is applied, the microorganisms begin to digest the waste and the “good” bacteria in turn multiply. The soil is broken down and continues to break down the soil into smaller pieces, until there is nothing left.
Bacteria use the enzymes they produce to break down complex waste into simple compounds, which it then consumes, thereby completely eliminating grime, waste and odours.
The bio bacterial cleaner makes cleaning quicker and easier. The product keeps on working even after you have finished cleaning.
As always, nature provides the answers. For good health and a naturally clean home, look no further. To purchase or learn more about these products click here.
With so many choices for vacuum cleaners on the market the choice can be difficult, particularly if you are seeking an environmentally friendly vacuum cleaner. Here we have prepared a list of things to help you pinpoint what you need to look out for when making your next vacuum cleaner purchase.
The purpose of a high performance vacuum cleaner is to get as much dirt and soil out of carpets to ensure your home is clean and fresh. During this process we should take note of the toll this may be having on the wider environment, our home environment and our lives, particularly if you are an allergy or asthma suffer or have family members who are.
These sucking machines consume energy in the form of electricity to operate efficiently. It’s important to note that corded vacuum cleaners are deemed more energy efficient than cordless/battery powered vacuum cleaners. This is due to batteries that require recharging which in the long run, increases your energy consumption. The batteries also increase the presence of toxic particles in the environment. So opt for a corded vacuum cleaner.
Let’s face it vacuum cleaners are dirt and dust collectors. Essentially that’s their purpose, however there are many vacuum cleaners that leak dust because they don’t have strong quality seals. If you suffer from allergies or asthma or someone in your home does, it can also increase the likelihood of health concerns if dirt and dust are being moved around in your home, rather than being eliminated. It’s also important to choose a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter which will be the most effective at reducing particulate matter in the air.
Bagless vacuum cleaners create less waste and are most cost effective because you don’t have to replace the bags. They are also easier to clean however, it’s important to consider how and where you dispose of the waste that collects in the canister. We recommend you wear a mask when emptying the canister because of the dust that is released, particularly if you are an allergy or asthma sufferer. However there are pros and cons for both bag and bagless cleaners. You can read more about these at: https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/laundry-and-cleaning/vacuum-cleaners/articles/bag-versus-bagless
If you are using vacuum cleaners that have cloth bags, you may have noticed odours coming from the vacuum. This is due to improper maintenance or not servicing the vacuum cleaners. The odours are caused by bacteria or mould that grow inside the bag. It is important to empty the bags to keep the vacuum running efficiently, it is also important to keep it emptied to prevent bacteria and mould from growing and causing foul odour. It is also equally important to clean or replace the filters regularly. If you vacuum any food items, strongly recommended to empty or change the bag daily. You may also consider investing in vacuum cleaners that have sealed HEPA filtration system. This will keep odour-causing bacteria from escaping the bag.
We hope this guide helps you when it’s time to make your next vacuum cleaner purchase. Look for environmentally friendly factors that give the best results whilst also caring form our future and our health.
This month we get into the nitty gritty of mopping and which method is best for your home.
What is the safest and cleanest way to clean our homes? We are often inundated with conflicting information via clever marketing tactics in retail outlets so we’d like to provide you with some clarity and provide you with some tips on the best environmentally friendly cleaning solution for your home.
While mopping is a chore many people don’t like, it’s necessary to mop our floors to keep things hygienic for our personal environment. This is probably even more important to you if you have young children who are in the crawling or floor play phase. The benefits of using a microfiber flat mop far outweigh traditional mopping options.
Microfiber fabric is a manufactured man-made product using two fibres – polyester and polyamide. The microfibers are incredibly thin and are wedge shaped allowing them to grab, trap and hold dust soil. Microfiber is tough and durable yet gentle on surfaces because they are non-abrasive. They are also lint free so this eliminates streaky results and can be easily laundered and reused hundreds of times.
So if you’re looking for an easy, effective and eco-friendly way to keep your floors healthy and clean be sure to choose a microfiber mopping system. They are ideal for use on tiled surfaces as well as polished timber floors. The simple fact that you don’t need to use any toxic chemicals in your home by far outweighs any other mopping options.
We all want our homes to be sparkly clean and want to do what’s best for ourselves, our family, our pets and the environment. Choosing environmentally friendly cleaning products can be a challenging task. Many off-the-shelf household cleaning products claim to be eco-friendly, however there are many hidden chemicals in these. Often many of these are toxic and can do harm to your health and that of your family.
Through a number of studies and research we know that household cleaning products can be linked to health conditions such as asthma, cancer, reproductive issues, lung damage, burns and more. The manufacturers claim that in small amounts toxic chemicals are not likely to pose any health problems, but when you are routinely using these it’s difficult to measure the risk to your health.
You may use an array of products including scents, soaps, detergents, bleaching agents, softeners, glass cleaners, bathroom and drain cleaners just to name a few. Let’s take a closer look at these and what their warning labels state: corrosive, may produce burns, vapour may be harmful, avoid contact with skin, contents can be harmful or fatal. So why do consumers continue to use these products?
Being aware of what’s in your cleaning products may help you understand why they can be so harmful used over a long period of time. Here are four common chemicals that are used in commercial cleaning products and how it may affect your health:
• Phthalates
Often found in fragranced household products such as air fresheners, dishwashing soap, scented soaps and event toilet paper. Phthalates are known to affect the reproductive system of men and women.
• 2-Butoxyethanol
Often found in glass cleaners, laundry stain removers and carpet cleaners. Sometimes also known as 2-BE or butyl cellosolve is known to be associated with blood disorders and may even cause liver and kidney damage.
• Ammonia
Often found in window cleaners, toilet cleaners, bathroom cleaners and all-purpose
cleaners. Vapours from ammonia can irritate the skin, eyes, throat and lungs. Asthmatics are particularly sensitive to the effects of breathing ammonia.
• Sodium Hydroxide
Often found in oven or drain cleaners. This product is extremely corrosive and can cause severe burns. When inhaled it can also affect your throat and respiratory system.
Replacing your cleaning products with a few simple ingredients such as water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and clean sponges can be as effective as the toxic commercial chemical products. You may want to visit our Clean Home Pinterest board for inspiration on natural cleaning tips: https://au.pinterest.com/blisshomecare/clean-home/
Make wise choices and eliminate environmental toxins that are harmful to your health. Reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals by choosing safer, healthier options that also minimise the impact on our environment and keep you healthier, for longer.
Earth Friendly Cleaning - Easier Than You ThinkAs consumers, we are constantly bombarded with new cleaning products that will save time and get things done better or faster. Using natural products and resources for earth friendly cleaning is not as difficult as it may seem.
With a spike in the number of adults and children suffering from allergies, asthma, sinusitis or bronchitis it's imperative for us to avoid using synthetic chemicals in our home environment. Using commercial products that are filled with chemicals, even when they claim to be 'natural' is introducing allergens and poisons into our homes.
By making a conscious decision to switch to earth friendly cleaning products and practices in your home, you will be saving money as well as improving the lifestyle for your home, family and pets. There are many inexpensive and easy to use alternatives that can used safely to replace chemical laden cleaning products.
Here are 3 powerful natural items, which you may already have in your pantry, that can easily be incorporated into your cleaning regime for safe and effective earth friendly cleaning:
This is a versatile product which can deodorise, soften water and scour away grease. It's safe to use in your kitchen so simply mix it with a little water to clean bench tops, stainless steel sinks, microwaves, range hoods, cooking utensils, the list is endless. You can also use it to wash fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables safely removing unwanted chemicals and wax on the outer layer. It is a great odour eater - simply place a small bowl in your fridge or sprinkle it into smelly shoes. It's also wonderful to have a relaxing bath in and leaves your skin clean and smooth.
Lemons are high in citric acid so it makes them one of the best natural cleaners due to its low pH and antibacterial properties. You can even use lemon juice in your laundry to replace bleach - it does a great job of whitening while leaving a fresh lemon scent.It's a great cleaner for bathrooms including taps, shower doors and build up of hard water deposits. And don't just throw away the peels once you've used your lemon! Use these in your spray bottles to create a citrus smelling cleaning spray.
White vinegar is an effective cleaner and is able to cut grease, remove mildew and odours. If you have persistent odours in your home, leave a little bowl of vinegar out overnight. You can also use it as a hand rinse to remove strong scents such as garlic and onion from your hands. You can also create an effective window cleaner by diluting vinegar with water and using this in a spray bottle and you can even use this spray along doorways, windowsills and bench tops to keep ants at bay.
Making small changes in your immediate surroundings and cleaning practices will help with the long term goals of protecting not only your home but our environment.
NOTE: do not use vinegar and lemon on natural stone e.g. marble.
If you're cleaning bathrooms the traditional way, you're probably using disinfectant cleaners, glass cleaners, and acid bowl cleaners. Although these products do a good job of cleaning, they can be toxic to the environment and to the people who use them. In addition, some cleaners are made from petroleum products, which is not a renewable resource, so using a product that is water based would be a "greener" alternative.
Many residential companies or home owners who clean in the traditional way also use white cotton cloths for cleaning surfaces. When using cotton cloths, you take a chance that you will cross-contaminate surfaces as they move from one area to the next.
Cleaning bathroom floors in the traditional way may include sweeping with a broom or dust mop, and then using a cotton mop, sponge mop, or cotton rag to clean the floors.
When you clean bathrooms using environmentally friendly products, tools and methods, you use safer cleaning products, and more efficient tools and cleaning systems. First, consider switching to products that are safer for the environment, aquatic life and human life. Check with your local distributor, as they should carry at least one environmentally friendly product line. Ideally, cleaning product is eco-friendly, non-hazardous and certified.
Bathroom cleaning involves disinfecting a number of different surfaces, so you want to avoid cross-contaminating surfaces. The best way to do this is to use color-coded microfiber cloths. Each color is used for a particular task. For example:
Cleaning floors using green cleaning equipment and methods means you'll use a good quality approved vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter to vacuum the floor, rather than sweeping, which spreads soil around and causes dust to become airborne.
Mopping floors using green cleaning equipment and methods means you'll use a microfiber mop instead of the traditional mop and bucket. Microfiber mops are lighter weight, use less water, and are able to trap more soil in the fibers than traditional mops. In medical facilities, you can quickly switch mop heads from room to room to avoid cross contamination.
As you can see, making a few simple changes in chemicals, equipment and cleaning methods can make a big impact. Not only will you be making a contribution to protecting the environment, but you'll also be protecting your family, pets and employees from toxic chemicals and outdated equipment that can cause unnecessary injuries.
In the world of cleaning, it is our responsibility as business owners to educate our employees on how to clean and sanitize the surfaces we care for. Bacteria growth is a big concern for our clients because they want to protect their families from unhealthy environments.
Understanding bacteria and how it grows and moves is one of the starting points in learning how to keep the environments we care for, clean.
Hand germs disease spread and the dangers of spreading illness in public as a health care risk concept to not wash your hands as dirty infected fingers and palm with microscopic viruses and bacteria.
Bacteria don't spread on their own. Here are some ways bacteria find their way to other surfaces.
By having an understanding of bacteria and how it spreads, you can make more informed choices on the products you choose to use and what areas may be at higher risk of bacteria growth.
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Until recently and even at present time, most cleaning companies cleaned for appearance which is what their clients were looking for. However, more and more home owners are concerned with the chemicals that are used in their homes and are looking for better alternatives. Green cleaning is not only cost effective, but it is better for a home’s indoor air quality and making it better environment for families.
But with so many products on the market these days, how do you know which ones are truly "Green"? Here are some suggestions on what to look for when choosing green cleaning products:
Once you've decided to make the switch to green cleaning products, use this as your guide for making the right choices.
