Are Your Cleaning Supplies

Making You Sick?

Perhaps you aren’t concerned about ordinary cleaning supplies. After all, you've been using your favorite the dish detergent and laundry soap for years - and you are not sick.  Me, too. I understand. But, many of these products have chemicals that are absorbed and build up slowly, in the fatty tissues of your body.  The organ with the most fatty tissue is your BRAIN. Is it any wonder there is so much Alzheimer's disease and cancer?

So, DON’T quit reading just because you don’t feel sick! Read on.

What you are about to read is shocking. It was to me. Perhaps you may believe like I did: that “anything that is sold in stores to the public must be safe - or it wouldn’t be approved.” Well, I have learned in my research that simply isn’t true!

For instance, have you read the ingredients on your favorite room spray, toilet bowl cleaner, or furniture polish lately? Don’t be surprised if the label is difficult to read. Even if it has a warning, you may not know how dangerous it is.

Labeling laws protect Big Business - not the consumer. Manufacturers of cleaning products are not required to list the exact ingredients on the label!   For instance, a certain furniture polish contains nitrobenzene - an ingredient that could be fatal if swallowed - yet, it doesn’t have to be listed! D.L.Dadd, p.73   Some ingredients are trade secrets, so diligently protected - even the government or poison control centers can’t get them.

Labels

The New York Poison Control Center reports that 85% of product warning labels were either inadequate or incorrect in identifying a poison! Debra L. Dadd, "Home Safe Home," p.74; Dr. Joyce M.Woods, "Create a Safe and Healthy Home."

Here are examples of products in my home, before I knew all this:

Dish Soap/Detergents:

Dawn Ultra Dish Detergent - “Do not add bleach. Dawn contains biodegradable surfactants (anionic and nonionic). Contains no phosphate. Keep Out of reach of children. If Dawn gets in eyes, rinse thoroughly with water. If swallowed, drink a glass of water to dilute.” Questions: call 1-800-725-3296, Distributed by Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

See anything listed that sounded dangerous? No? Surprise: Chlorine!

In the USA the #1 cause of accidental poisoning is Dawn Dishwashing Detergent. Why? Because it is the #1 best seller. Dr. Joyce M.Woods, speech, “Create a Safe and Healthy Home: Know Your ABC’s.”

Sunlight Dishwashing Detergent - “State Right-to-know Data: Water; Dodecylbenzene Sulfonic Acid; Sodium Hydroxide; Surfactant blend; Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate.” Diversey Lever, Cincinnati OH 45241. 24-hour Emergency Telephone: Medical: (call collect) 303-592-1024. Transportation: (CHEMTREC) 800-424-3000.

Sodium Hydroxcide is Lye, a strong irritant to skin and eyes, can inhibit reflexes. Ingestion can cause severe tissue damage. No Warnings on the label, but there is a 24-hr emergency number. That should tell you something!

Orange CLEAN Liquid Dish Soap - “CAUTION: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS. In case of eye contact, flush with water. If irritation persists,contact physician.” Compared to Orange Clean Dish Liquid formula. Made in Canada for: Orange Glo International, Inc./Littleton, CO. Call: 1-800-781-7529. No ingredients listed.

Dishwasher/Detergents:

Cascade - “CONTAINS CHLORINE BLEACH. WARNING: Don’t let small children use bottle or touch product in dishwasher. Screw on protective top tightly after use.  Ingredients include chlorine bleach and silicate salts. Not for hand dishwashing. Don’t mix with hand dishwashing liquids, other cleaning products or ammonia as irritating fumes may result. Don’t reuse bottle. EMERGENCY FIRST AID TREATMENT:

* If swallowed or gets in mouth - Rinse mouth, give a glass of water or milk and call a poison control center or physician.

* Eye contact - flush eye thoroughly with water.

* Spilled on skin - rinse with water.

PHOSPHORUS CONTENT: Cascade gel averages 4.4% phosphorus in the form of phosphates … the equivalent to 0.9 grams per tablespoon. Questions: call 1-800-725-3296, Distributed by Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Dishwasher Rinse Aid:

Cascade - “AVOID ACCIDENTS: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. In case if eye contact, rinse eye thoroughly with water. If swallowed, drink a glassfull of water to dilute.”  Ingredients: Rinsing aid (nonionic wetting agents), dispensing aids (propylene glycol, ethanol) water, and colorant. Questions: Call 1-800-765-5516. Distributed by Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

I've read about rinse aids and they are a hazard. Also, that propylene glycol is antifreeze! I've even seen that listed in night creams - imagine that. Gotta read labels. 

Ethanol can cause double vision, nausea, vomiting, coma, dilated pupils and possible death. Whew! D.L.Dadd, Home Safe Home,p.374.

Furniture Polish/Conditioners: Pledge - (front) CAUTION: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE, FLAMMABLE. (back) CAUTION: Do not use near fire, flame, or pilot light. Do not set on stove or radiator … Do not puncture or incinerate … Keep out of reach of children.” Questions? Call: 800-558-5252. S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, WI 53403-2236. No ingredients listed.

KLEEN GUARD - (front) “CAUTION: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE (back) THIS PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN TESTED ON ANIMALS. CAUTION: Contents Under Pressure. Do not puncture, incinerate or crush. Do not expose to heat or store at temperatures above 120F as can may burst. Do not use if spray button is missing or defective. Keep out of reach of children. Use only as directed.” Distributed by: Household/Grocery Products Division, Alberto-Culver USA, Melrose Park, IL 60160.   No ingredients listed.

Many Furniture polishes contain Petroleum Distillates (highly flammable). Some include Nitrobenzene, a toxin that is absorbed in the skin. (Benzene is a carcinogenic which cause disorientation, fatigue and loss of appetite). Ibid, p.371  

Air Fresheners:

Glade - (front) CAUTION: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. (back) CAUTION: Do not use near fire, flame or pilot light. Do not set on stove or radiator … Do not puncture or incinerate. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. WARNING: Use only as directed. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and in haling the contents can be harmful or fatal. Help stop inhalation abuse. For information visit www.inhalant.org. Questions? Call: 800-558-5252. S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, WI 53403-2236. No ingredients listed.

Air fresheners can reduce your ability to smell odors. The spray is absorbed in the skin. Formaldehyde is often one of the ingredients in these products. Phenol is another chemical often used. High doses of Phenol can cause convulsions, coma and even death. Dr.Joyce Woods, "Create a Safe and Healthy Home."  

Air Wick “Odor Stop” - (front) KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. CAUTION: EYE IRRITANT. CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. (back) CAUTION: DO NOT spray towards face. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. CONTAINER MAY EXPLODE IF HEATED. DO NOT Do not puncture or incinerate… Contains: Triethylene glycol. FIRST AID:

If in eyes, IMMEDIATELY rinse with plenty of water. Remove contact lenses and continue to rinse for at least 15 minutes. If irritation persists, get medical attention.

If on skin, wash area with soap and water. If irritation persists or reaction develops, get medical attention. Product contains fragrance oil. NOTE TO PARENTS: Use only as directed. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents can be harmful or fatal. (emphasis mine) Visit: www.inhalant.org Questions: Call: 1-800-228-4722. Distributed by Reckitt Benckiser, Inc. Parsippany, NJ 07054-0224

Bleach Cleansers:

Ajax with Bleach - (front) “CAUTION: EYE IRRITANT.” (back) “CAUTION: In case of eye contact, flush with water. To avoid harmful fumes, do not mix with ammonia or other household cleaning products. Keep Out of Reach of Children.” Ingredients: Cleaning agents (calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, anionic surfactants), bleach, quality control agents, fragrance, color.” Ajax cleanser formula contains no phosphates. Questions? Call Consumer Affairs: 1- 800-338-8388. Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, NY 10022.

Multi-Purpose Cleaner with Bleach - (front) “CAUTION: EYE IRRITANT.” (back) “WARNING: Contains Bleach. Do not mix this product with ammonia, cleaning products, or any other chemicals as dangerous vapors may result. CAUTION: Eye and skin irritant. For sensitive skin or prolonged use, wear rubber gloves. If vapor irritates, discontinue use. Keep Out of Reach of Children.”    First Aid:

Eyes - Flush with water for 15 minutes.

If swallowed - Drink plenty of water and call a physician. Ingredients: Bleach. Dollar General, Sun-Pine Corp., Brandon, MS 39042.

Household Products Included in federal Hazardous Substances Regulations

Under the 1960 Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act, household cleaning products were included in hazardous products regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.   D.L.Dadd, Home Safe Home, 1997, p.71

This tells us that products in our homes are among the most hazardous products around!   The hazardous chemical the law, mentioned above, requires identifying the hazard. For example:

Toxic/Highly Toxic: Toxic/Highly Toxic: poisonous if swallowed, if you breathe the fumes, or if it is absorbed through your skin.

Extremely Flammable/Flammable/Combustible: can catch fire if exposed to a flame or an electric spark.

Corrosive: will eat away your skin or cause inflammation of mucous membranes.

Strong Sensitizer: may provoke an allergic reaction.

Additionally, products that are hazardous must prominently display the degree of toxicity with one of the following words:

Danger (or Poison, with skull and crossbones): would kill an adult if only a tiny pinch is ingested.

Warning: Could kill an adult if about a teaspoon is ingested.

Caution: will not kill until an amount from 2 tablespoons to 2 cups is ingested. Ibid, p.72

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