Household cleaning agents are often used to clean household items such as the floor, furniture, windows, clothing, towels, etc. When we mindlessly stroll through the cleaning agent aisle of a grocery store, we often rush to find “the item” that does the job.
However, this would mean that our cleaning products might contain chemicals proven to cause cancer without us realizing the negative impact. Applying those cleaning products to our floors or clothes could create fumes containing dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.
What can we do to reduce our chances of getting exposed to dangerous chemicals in the cleaning products we use, and what other alternative cleaning products can we use instead?
This article will list top household cancer-causing cleaning products that contain cancer-causing chemicals and explain how natural household cleaning products such as baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide are great alternatives.
Household Cleaning Agents
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful chemicals in household cleaning products. Household cleaning products can emit hundreds of VOCs, which can lead to the development of lung cancer.
Volatile organic compounds are harmful gases released when cleaning products contain industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene fuel oxygenates such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) or chloroform.
VOCs are harmful to our human body when breathing in, causing health concerns, air pollution, and cancer.
Below, we list the top 4 product categories that contain cleaning agents that can cause cancer. Therefore, next time you shop for cleaning products or purchase them online, you can choose alternative products to clean your house without jeopardizing your health.
Aerosol cleaning product
Some may have experienced using cleaning products in a can with a pressure squeeze head, which can release chemicals in liquid or foam form.
Those products that you press and spread the chemicals on are called Aerosis cleaning products. Examples of those products are air freshener spray and air duster spray. It might be convenient to use those aerosol sprays, but they contain chemicals that can cause cancer.
Formaldehyde or xylene may be in xylene, which can cause leukemia and rare cancers, including cancers of the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and nasopharynx. It is best to avoid aerosol sprays and products.
To avoid air pollution and health damage, it is best to avoid using aerosol spray and replace it with water and vinegar mixed in a spray bottle.
Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine bleach is a common household cleaning product. Many use chlorine to desensitize heavily stained or dusty items such as aging carpets or car seat covers.
I had seen chlorine used to mod the floor at my grandmother’s house or at the restaurants I worked at night when everyone had gone to bed, or the restaurant had closed for the day.
However, with the wide use of chlorine bleach, there is also a significant concern with the chemical dioxin inside that is linked to cancer.
Chlorine bleach contains dioxin, which links to cancer. When mixed with other cleaning products, chlorine can also cause lung irritations.
The best thing is to replace chlorine bleach with hydrogen peroxide. However, when people use chlorine bleach, they must ensure the room is well-ventilated. That means opening the windows and venting the space to air out the chemicals.
Never mix bleach or any bleach-containing product with any cleaner containing ammonia. Avoid using chlorine bleach altogether, and consider hydrogen peroxide as an alternative.
Scented Household Cleaning Agents
When we shop for household cleaning products, we often prefer scented products over non-scented products to remove odors in the area we wish to clean. Scented household cleaning product packages often feature soothing images, including flowers and a blue breeze.
However, those products may not be as soothing and comforting as the packaging pictures depict. Scented cleaning agents may contain harmful chemicals that are hormonal disruptors, such as Galaxide or phthalates, that can cause cancer. Additionally, products labeled as “fragrance” instead of the actual chemical can raise concerns about the product’s harmful effects.
Air Fresheners are one example of scented household cleaning products that contain cancer-causing chemicals. Phthalates, aldehydes, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (a standard deodorizer) inside of the air fresheners can cause various cancer,
It is safer to use unscented household cleaning agents and products that do not have a simple fragrance as the label on the ingredient to avoid more exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. Better ways to select products that are unscented and safer to use is to find products that are “Safer Choice,” “Green Seal,“ or Ecologo“ certified.
Household Cleaning Agents Has the words “POISON,” “DANGER,“ or “WARNING“ on it
When we see “Poison,” “Danger,“ or “Warning“ on a household cleaning agent, it’s a good idea to avoid buying it altogether. Some examples of cleaning products that might contain those warning words are oven cleaners, drain openers, rust removers, and toilet bowl cleaners.
For the product to use those warning words, it must be toxic, ranging from lethal with a few drops in a teaspoon to moderately toxic with a tablespoon. That means a few drops can harm our body when we are exposed to it on our skin or ingest it by accident.
“Poison,” “Danger,“ or “Warning“ words can also mean the product can explode, and people and living things can seriously hurt at average or rising temperatures. Heat and combustion can cause severe skin and eye damage, and we should not store them anywhere outdoors without controlling the temperature or in places where flammable materials surround the building.
None of those words and situations sound safe for people. It is wise to avoid cleaning products with the words “POISON,” “DANGER,“ or “WARNING“ to prevent severe injuries and health and cancer-causing chemicals.
Alternative Cleaning Products to Eliminate Cancer Causing Chemicals
Household cleaning products such as aerosol spray, chlorine bleach, and scented household cleaning agents, as well as cleaning products that have the words “poison,” “danger,“ or “warning“ labels on them, pose many risks to our health and can elevate our chances of getting cancer.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde or xylene, dioxin, chlorine, phthalates labeled as “fragrance,“ and galactoside are majorly concerning chemicals in cleaning products to watch out for.
When we shop for cleaning products outside those top categories, we can check for cancer-causing chemicals. We should replace our cleaning products with natural ingredients or safer alternatives.
Baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide are great alternatives to cleaning products for washing dishes or cleaning the counter surface. I used Coca-Cola as a cleaning agent for my sinktop, which worked wonders.
Products without fragrances and labeled “Safe Choices, Green Seal or EcoLogo“ emitted the lowest levels of VOCs by Lung.org, and low or zero VOC products are better alternatives. Buying products certified as safer by EPA and other groups is wise.
Most importantly, wear gloves when working with cleaning products. Consider using elbow-length or long-sleeve gloves that protect your hands and your wrists.
Final Thoughts
I always use gloves when I clean, whether washing dishes with dish soap or wiping the counter with cleaning products applied to a towel. I also wear long sleeves to reduce my exposure to chemical products when I clean large areas.
I also use natural cleaning products like water, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, and hand soap for dishes and bathroom cleaning.
What other natural or safer cleaning products do you use to clean around the house? We would love to learn more about safer cleaning products that protect our health and the environment.
Other Posts You May Like
- 8 Cancer-Causing Products We Use Everyday: Identifying Hidden Risks
- 10 Ways to Prevent Cancer: Actionable Strategies for Health
- Pesticides in Food That Cause Cancer
- Top Food Additives and Ultra-Process Foods Linked to Cancer
Top 4 Household Cleaning Products that are Causing Cancer
