Cleaners & Disinfectants

Everyone uses some form of kitchen or bathroon cleanser. Some are harsh chemicals that break up grease and kill germs on contact. Others are milder, simply using soap or chemical surfactants to clean and disinfect. And unfortunately, there are still some cleaners on the market that use industrial solvents to remove stains and grease.

Do you use BLEACH or AMMONIA? If so, you should take note of these risks. These chemicals could cause:

  • 1) Damage to skin and clothing
  • 2) Eye and lung irritation
  • 3) Worsening of asthma
  • 4) Chemical reactions from chlorine gas

These cleaner/disinfectants are harsh chemicals that can be toxic on their own but even lethal when mixed.
Refer to this chart for use:

BLEACH and AMMONIA
PRECAUTIONS		  BLEACH and AMMONIA
ALTERNATIVES
 Never mix bleach with ammonia. Plain soap and water works fine for routine cleanup jobs. 
Only use with good ventilation Choose milder cleansers with less toxic ingredients like ‘glycol ethers’ and ‘quarternary amines’
Do not use in the presence of
asthmatic children or adults 		 Go to NIH site to view a variety of cleansers, complete with brand names and ingredients lists 
Watch out for products that have ammonia or bleach combined in small amounts. They can still interact.  Find out about Green Products and the Green Seal program for alternatives to conventional cleaners. 

 

Do you use industrial cleaning solvents? You may not know that you do. You can even still buy degreasers and all purpose cleaners that are 90% trichloroethylene (TCE) or perchloroethylene (PCE) - sever toxics.

Spot removers used to commonly contain TCE or PCE and some still do. Many industrial cleaners that are readily available can be a risk for: CANCER, REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS or acute effects like dizziness or loss of coordination. Be aware!

Industrial Solvent
PRECAUTIONS 		  Industrial Solvent
ALTERNATIVES
Do not buy products with
TCE or PCE on the label.		 Many multipurpose cleaners and carpet/clothing spot removers use a combination of
surfactants and ‘glycol ethers’ and ‘quarternary amines’ which are much safer. 
If you have these products in the house, stop using them, store safely in a garage or shed and dispose of them at your town’s next hazardous materials day. Go to NIH site to view a variety of cleansers, complete with brand names and ingredients lists