So many cleaning products involve chemicals that are dangerous to the environment and even human health. Certain chemicals that are commonly found in name brand cleaning products can negatively impact skin, internal organs, biological functions, and even DNA.
Many cleaning products don’t even tell you what chemicals are in them, so it requires research to know what products are safe and which to avoid. In general, it’s best to stick with brands that are sourced from plant-based materials, but even then, certain companies label their products as plant-based while still including some of the most dangerous chemicals. In order to help you make smart decisions as a consumer, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common dangerous cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals. These findings come from the Environmental Working Group.
Simple Green
This product can be misleading because it’s labeled as green, but it’s anything other than green. Simple Green contains 2-butoxyethanol, which is known to damage red blood cells and cause irritation to the skin and eyes. Simple Green is labeled as an all purpose cleaner. It’s also labeled as non-toxic and biodegradable, but the 2-butoxyethanol solvent makes it dangerous. Some of these chemical types have even been banned by the European Union.
Spic and Span
This cleaner was found to contain nonylphenol ethoxylate, which can disrupt the hormone system. It’s also been found to be dangerous to aquatic life, which means when it enters the water ways it can do some serious damage. This substance is banned in the European Union and in California as of 2012.
Scrubbing Bubbles Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner
This product contains butoxydiglycol, which is a solvent that can irritate and inflame the lungs. This chemical is particularly dangerous for anyone with asthma or another respiratory disease. In the European Union, it is banned in concentrations above 3%, but this product contains more than that.
