Organic Cleaning Products
Should I change what cleaning products I use during pregnancy?
by the Babble Staff
March 1, 2008
Organic Cleaning Products
THE BABBLE TAKE
Cleaning is necessary to keep dirt and disease away, but many American homes routinely resort to chemical overkill. Most conventional cleaners contain chemicals, such as chlorine and formaldehyde, that are known to be hazardous and in some cases even carcinogenic. Besides the damage done by individual detergents, chemicals in different cleaners can react with each other to create new toxic substances; one of the more dramatic examples of this is the toxic gas that forms should you ever make the mistake of mixing bleach and ammonia. While such chemicals are bad for everyone, children are more sensitive than adults and pregnant women should also take special care to reduce their exposure to hazardous chemicals. Some suggest forgoing conventional cleaners and detergents for lemon, vinegar, baking soda and salt — pantry staples that can take care of most household cleaning. For those who'd rather use lemon in their food than on their sink, organic or biodegradable cleaners are available at the health food store.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION IN OUR MESSAGE BOARD
-
Yahoo — The Complete Organic Pregnancy
"We've noticed that it's hard to convince people that all those products lined up in bright bottles in the aisle of the supermarket might not be 100% okay for their health (or their growing baby's health, or their newborn, thin-skinned baby's health). The real deal is that the corporations who make the products that brighten your whites (and bring tears to your eyes) aren't required to list the ingredients they use to do so."
...read the full article
-
Healthy Child
"People have learned to keep their houses clean in order to ward off disease and infection. To help us do this, we have created a wide variety of cleaning products and disinfectants. The problem is that our zeal to be clean has gone too far. Today, the cleaner is frequently more dangerous than the things we are trying to clean up. Many common household products contain […] substances [that] are linked with neurological, liver and kidney damage, blindness, asthma, and cancer."
...read the full article
-
About.com
"One of my earliest memories is of my mother cleaning with what looked to me like cooking ingredients. She would be listening to the radio as she poured baking soda, lemon, and vinegar combinations on the surfaces of our home. Magically these natural cleaning products kept our home clean and smelling fresh."
...read the full article
-
New York Times
"Dusting, mopping and scrubbing with natural dirt-busters is going mainstream. More supermarkets are stocking them and more schools are switching to them, inspiring anxious parents to do the same. Whether the so-called green products, made with more plant-based ingredients, are entirely safe, and capable of creating the perfect haven that some parents struggle to create for their children, remains to be seen."
...read the full article
-
Environmental Protection Agency
"Toxic chemicals in the home can be eliminated simply by making thoughtful choices in the supermarket after educating oneself about where the hazards are in common consumer products. How can you determine what toxics you have in your home?"
...read the full article
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
-
National Institutes of Health and National Library of Medicine
-
JOIN THE DISCUSSION IN OUR MESSAGE BOARD
BACK TO ALL TOPICS
