House Hold Cleaners...Cleaning What?

A number of chemicals used in almost all cleaning products are thought to pose health risks upon inhalation or contact. There is alarming evidence that these cause malfunction to important organ systems in the body, such as the liver, kidney and nervous system.
Of these, phenols are continually cited as a major concern. Phenols are predominantly used to give that chemically clean smell and are thought to contribute to conditions affecting the central nervous system, cardiovcascular system, renal system and the liver.
Other health risks include chlorine, ammonia, ethanol, and cresol. Diethylene glycol, a component of window cleaner, compromises nervous system function specifically. Perchloroethylene, used in spot removers, has been linked to liver and kidney damage while butyl cellosolve, a constituent in most all-purpose cleaners, is damaging to bone marrow, the nervous system, kidney and liver function.
Apart from their individual actions, these chemicals also tend to react when mixed or used together, like bleach and ammonia. Any product containing calcium or sodium hypochlorite should not be used in conjunction with ammonias, drain cleaners, or other acids. When combined, these chemicals form chloramines which cause reactions such as coughing, wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and mucous membrane irritation. Exposure to chlorine gas (produced when chlorine and acids are mixed) will cause this reaction, even in very small quantities.

So when looking at house hold cleaners, if it smells clean and sterile it most probably will contain a number of these chemical, most notably phenols. Cleaners that contain natural fragrance such as Myrtle, Lavender, or Citrus are recommended as safe alternatives.
We have a large range of natural cleaning products that are free from nasty chemicals and are environmentally friendly, such as Natural Instinct, Eco, Ecover, Ecologic, and Enviroclean. These products are particularly useful with grey water systems, where waste water is applied to our gardens.

Happy Cleaning