8 Common Household Cleaners and Their Safer Alternatives
Let’s take a gentle walk through the cleaning aisle and look at some products that might be worth replacing. For each one, we’ll explore the concerns and suggest simple, effective, and kinder alternatives for you and your home.
1. Chlorine Bleach
The Concern: Chlorine bleach is a powerful disinfectant, but its fumes are notoriously harsh. Inhaling them can irritate the entire respiratory tract, causing coughing, shortness of breath, and watering eyes. For anyone with a pre-existing respiratory condition, the effects can be even more pronounced. Furthermore, accidental splashes can cause serious burns to the skin and eyes.
The Safer Alternative: For whitening laundry, try adding a half-cup of baking soda or hydrogen peroxide (the 3% solution from the drugstore) to your wash cycle. For disinfecting surfaces like countertops and sinks, a simple solution of white vinegar and water is remarkably effective. Mix equal parts in a spray bottle. The vinegar scent disappears as it dries, leaving behind a clean surface without the lung-irritating fumes.
2. Ammonia-Based Glass Cleaners
The Concern: That signature streak-free shine from many blue glass cleaners often comes from ammonia. Like bleach, ammonia is a potent lung irritant. The fumes can be especially overwhelming in small, poorly ventilated spaces like bathrooms. It is also one of the most dangerous cleaning products harmful to seniors if it is ever, ever accidentally mixed with bleach, as this creates toxic chloramine gas.
The Safer Alternative: You can make a fantastic, cheap, and safe glass cleaner yourself! Mix equal parts white vinegar and distilled water in a spray bottle. For a little extra cleaning power, you can add a tiny drop of dish soap, but be careful not to add too much or it will streak. Use a microfiber cloth for a perfect, lint-free finish on windows and mirrors.
3. Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners
The Concern: Clogged drains are a nuisance, and it’s tempting to reach for a powerful liquid cleaner. However, these products often contain lye (sodium hydroxide), a highly caustic chemical that can cause severe burns if it touches your skin or splashes into your eyes. The fumes are also hazardous to inhale, and these chemicals are terrible for your plumbing and the environment.
The Safer Alternative: Prevention is the best medicine! Use drain catchers to stop hair and debris from going down the drain in the first place. For a minor clog, pour a half-cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a half-cup of white vinegar. Let it fizz and work its magic for 30 minutes, then flush with hot water. For tougher clogs, a simple mechanical tool called a drain snake is a much safer and more effective option.
4. Abrasive Scouring Powders with Bleach
The Concern: These gritty powders are great at scrubbing away tough stains in sinks and tubs, but many contain chlorine bleach. When you sprinkle the powder and add water, you release bleach fumes right where you are leaning over and scrubbing. The fine powder can also be easily inhaled, carrying those harsh chemicals directly into your lungs.
The Safer Alternative: Baking soda is a fantastic, gentle abrasive. Sprinkle it generously on surfaces, add a little water to make a paste, and scrub with a sponge or brush. It cleans effectively without the dangerous fumes. For extra tough stains, you can add a few drops of dish soap to your baking soda paste. It provides the scrubbing power you need without the risk.
5. Aerosol Oven Cleaners
The Concern: Cleaning the oven is nobody’s favorite chore, and aerosol sprays seem like an easy solution. Unfortunately, they are among the most hazardous of household cleaners. They contain harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide and ethers that can cause extreme respiratory distress and skin burns. The aerosol can disperses these chemicals into the air, making them easy to inhale in the enclosed space of a kitchen.
The Safer Alternative: A simple baking soda paste is your best friend here. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and spread it all over the inside of your cool oven (avoiding the heating elements). Let it sit overnight. The next day, just spray the dried paste with a little vinegar and water, and wipe it all away with a damp cloth. It takes a little more time, but it is completely fume-free and safe.
6. Synthetic Air Fresheners and Deodorizers
The Concern: We all want our homes to smell pleasant, but plug-in, spray, and gel air fresheners often mask odors with a cocktail of synthetic chemicals, including phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals can trigger allergies, asthma, and headaches. They don’t clean the air; they simply pollute it with potentially harmful substances.
The Safer Alternative: The best way to freshen a room is to open a window and let in some actual fresh air! To absorb odors, place a small bowl of baking soda or white vinegar in the room. For a pleasant, natural scent, simmer a pot of water on the stove with a cinnamon stick and some orange peels, or use a diffuser with a few drops of pure essential oil like lavender or lemon.
7. Heavy-Duty Degreasers
The Concern: The grease that builds up on stove hoods and backsplashes can be stubborn. Many commercial degreasers use powerful solvents to cut through it. These solvents can be harsh on the skin and emit strong fumes that are not good for your lungs or nervous system. These are some of the most overlooked toxic chemicals in the home.
The Safer Alternative: A simple, soapy solution often does the trick. Use a few drops of a good quality dish soap (many are formulated to cut grease) in a bowl of hot water. A sponge or cloth soaked in this solution will cut through a surprising amount of grease. For very tough, baked-on grease, a paste of baking soda and a little dish soap can be applied and allowed to sit before scrubbing gently.
8. Furniture Polish with Solvents
The Concern: The rich shine of a well-polished piece of wooden furniture is a beautiful sight. However, many aerosol and liquid polishes contain flammable solvents like petroleum distillates. These ingredients can irritate the skin and lungs, and their fumes contribute to poor indoor air quality.
The Safer Alternative: You can easily make your own effective and nourishing wood polish. Mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice in a small bowl. Apply a small amount to a soft, clean cloth and rub it into the wood, moving with the grain. Buff it to a shine with another clean cloth. It cleans, shines, and smells wonderfully fresh without any harsh chemicals.
