The first household product that I use is Windex Original Glass Cleaner, Pump Spray. According to the Household Products Database, it does not contain any hazardous chemicals at or above a reportable level. There is no special requirements if there is eye, skin, inhalation, or ingestion. The health rating is slight and it has a moderate flammability rating. You should always avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. Overall, the rating for this product is safe and is good to use in the household. I was not surprised that this was a safe product to use since I have been using it in my household for quite some time. I would recommend using this product in all households and still knowing the normal risks is important.
The second household product that I reviewed on the Household Products Database was Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover & Color Booster. I use this product in my household to remove stains from my clothing and any cloth material. The chemical is considered hazardous as it does cause eye irritation. If it does get in the eyes, it needs to be rinsed out immediately and for several minutes; if irritation persists, medical advice and attention is needed immediately. To keep myself safe from this product, I use gloves whenever handling and refrain from rubbing my eyes until I have washed my hands thoroughly after use. It has a health rating of moderate, but still needs to be handled with care since it is a hazardous product. I am not surprised that this is an unsafe product to use and always handle it with care whenever I am using it around my household.
Hi Snay! I will admit that I was a bit skeptical when I read in your blog that Windex was safe, so I did some digging on my end and actually found that it has a score of a D in the EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning Database (https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/1466-WindexCommercialLinePowerizedOriginal#.W5FlUs5Ki70). I personally stopped using Windex for this reason. The product has ammonium hydroxide, ethanolamine, and hexoxyethanol, all which can be damaging to our organs and nervous system. If you think of switching, I highly suggest homemade products, which are just as effective and safer within our homes. I use the recipe located on this website to make my own cleaner and it includes vinegar, which is really great and doesn't leave smudges on glass ( https://www.theseasonedmom.com/diy-purpose-cleaner/). I hope this is helpful!
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the Clorox 2 product, I also thought I'd share the EWG rating (https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/1861-Clorox2StainFighterColorBoosterLiquidOriginal?formulation=6774#.W5Fm9s5Ki70). Some of the major ingredients in this product have nervous system, effects and can damage DNA (Nonionic Surfactants). I'd definitely suggest switching to plant-based cleaners with limited fragrance. The Honest Company has a fragrance-free stain remover that I've used in the past and loved.
Hi Snay,
ReplyDeleteDuring my pregnancy I became extremely cautious with the household products I used because I was worried about the chemical effects it could have on my baby. Windex was actually one of the first products I stopped using and have been using vinegar (the smell isn't pleasant, so I add a little bit of lemon or grapefruit, it really does a great job cleaning.