Chances are many of you are avid label-readers when it comes to food products. I also suggest that you begin reading labels on cleaning products as well.
Most likely you have cleaners and disinfectants in you cupboard that, according to the Merck Index, are hazardous to your health. The Merck index is a one-volume encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and biologicals that has become a standard reference for chemists, biochemists, pharmacologists, pharmacists, and related professionals. All of the information below has been documented by Merck.
Common chemicals under your sink are:
Phenol – absorption of small amounts can cause nausea, circulatory and respiratory problems. The average fatal dose is 15 grams, but death from as little as 1 gram has been reported.
Ethyl Sulphate – is highly irritating to skin and mucous membranes found in the digestive and respiratory tracts.
Isopropanyl or Isopropyl Alcohol – causes headaches, nausea, vomiting and depression.
Pine Oil – is irritating to the skin and mucous membranes, in large doses can cause central nervous system depression.
Sodium Hypochlorite – causes corrosion of mucous membranes, perforations in the esophagus, swelling of the larynx and bronchial irritation.
Silica – found in powdered cleansers, causes fibrosis of the lungs.
Benzene – causes irritation to the lungs and depression.
Here are some safe cleaning alternatives that won’t harm you or the environment. All you need is white vinegar to disinfect, baking soda for scouring and Borax for heavy duty cleaning jobs.
Mix a solution of half white vinegar and half water in a squirt bottle and use anywhere you want to kill germs. The area might smell like a salad for a while, but the odor doesn’t last long.
For scouring, sprinkle baking soda around your sink and tub, and rub with a sponge. Don’t use too much water or the soda will lose its scour-power.
To clean grease and cooked-on food, sprinkle baking soda in a bowl and dab it with a damp sponge. Use a little elbow grease and your stove will shine.
For big jobs like floors and walls, Borax has long been known for its deodorizing and disinfecting properties.
To make your home smell fresh, get some potpourri and put some in each room.
Christy Baker is a long time local environmentalist and co-owner of Baker Galleries in Idyllwild. She can be reached at (951) 659-2597.
