What Are Toxic Cleaners Doing to Our Families?

Over 90% of poison exposures are at home.

Organic pollutants, found in many common cleaners and air fresheners, have levels 2 to 5 times higher inside your home than out.

Common cleaners give off fumes that can potentially increase the risk of kids developing asthma, the most common chronic childhood disease.

1 in 13 school-aged children has asthma. Rates in children under five have increased more than 160% from 1980-1994.

If your home is anything like the average U.S. home, you generate more than 20 lbs of household hazardous waste each year. (the EPA designates toilet cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, oven cleaners, and bleach as hazardous waste)

Women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside the home.

Those are some scary statistics! They sure have a way of opening our eyes to some of the dangerous chemicals that are lurking in our bathrooms, kitchens and in the air we breathe in our homes.

No one wants their son getting asthma from breathing in these dangerous toxins. No one wants their daughter to have rashes on her skin because of harsh laundry detergents. No one wants to suffer with allergies for years because their immune system has been compromised from an overload of toxins. Unfortunately, it happens to millions of people every day.

I want to give you four simple steps to take to make your home the safest, cleanest, healthiest place it can be.

1. Get the information about what is in your cleaners and lurking in your home. Go to www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/products.htm to find out more about the chemicals in the products you use.

2. Get rid of the icky stuff. Put on gloves and get rid of the nasty cleaners. Now, you have to be responsible with this, because these things are actually hazardous waste products. So check your local waste collection service for guidelines on how to dispose of it.

3. Welcome safe, natural cleaners into your home. My favorite cleaners are nontoxic, natural, biodegradable, concentrated to save you money, and hypoallergenic. I use Get Clean products for all my cleaning needs.

4. Consider other sources of toxic chemicals. Replace air fresheners with essential oils. Open your windows to reduce indoor air pollution. Get some beautiful plants that will help clean the air.

Have fun getting the icky stuff out and bringing in safe healthy alternatives! If you know of anyone who is still using toxic cleaners, please beg them to at least wear gloves and a face mask every time they use them!