Chemicals In Your Home Cleaners And Why You Need To Avoid Them

Here’s your checklist for some of the most common chemicals found in home cleaners

Home cleaners

– whether it is detergents to wash your clothes, dishwashing liquids, floor cleaners, toilet cleaners, multi-purpose cleaners etc – are all an integral part of our daily lives. But if you are using conventional cleaners, have you ever thought about the chemicals you are exposing your family and yourself to on an everyday basis? And the chemicals that get back into the groundwater and soil via the cleaners? Pick up your home cleaner and look at the ingredients label. Chances are you will see a whole list of chemicals – sulfates, ammonia, optical brighteners, phthalates, artificial fragrances and more. We have listed out some of the most common chemicals found in home cleaners and the reasons why you need to avoid them and switch to plan-based cleaners like Osh that use 99% natural and plant-derived ingredients and are free of harmful toxins.

Phthalates

Phthalates comprise a huge family of chemicals that are used across a wide variety of household cleaners. They are essentially chemicals that act as a binding agent. They are also known to make plastics more flexible. You will see them in a range of household cleaners like laundry detergents, cleaning products etc. Studies have suggested that our exposure to phthalates is increasing at a rapid rate and that they could possibly have a wide range of adverse health effects – like adversely affect the endocrine system and affect the reproductive system. When they seep into the groundwater and make their way to our streams and rivers, they will likely have a negative impact on marine life as well.

Optical Brighteners

Optical brighteners are used in laundry detergents. As the name suggests they help make your clothes look whiter. They help in absorbing the UV rays from the sun and then radiate the same to our eyes. In other words, they help create an illusion of brightness. However, some studies have suggested that could have adverse health impacts. Optical brighteners are not biodegradable. This means that when they go into our streams and rivers via waste water, they could adversely affect marine life etc. Some studies have suggested that could lead to skin allergies in humans.

Sulphates

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate or SLES or Sodium Laureth Sulphate or SLS are found in a wide variety of home cleaners like laundry detergents, liquid detergents etc. Their mean use is as a cleansing agent and help to create the lather or foam for cleaning. As sulphates are produced from petroleum, when they go back into the water, they could have an adverse effect on marine life. In humans, studies have suggested that they could cause skin & eye irritation and also be possibly carcinogenic in the long term. Ammonia: Ammonia is one of the most common ingredients used in household cleaning agents. It is used primarily for its disinfectant properties. However, it is extremely harsh in nature. Glass cleaners, floor cleaners, surface cleaners etc often contain ammonia. When the concentration of ammonia is very high it can be harmful if one is exposed to that cleaner. Some of the most common side effects of include a burning sensation in the throat, eyes, skin. Plant-based cleaners are made with ingredients that are derived from plants. They are completely safe for humans. Plant-based cleaners like Osh also use only allergen-free fragrances. No synthetic fragrances are used. This makes plant-based cleaners like Osh safe for humans as well as the environment.