COMMON HAZARDS IN CLEANING SUPPLIES
WARNING MANY OF TODAYS CLEANERS LOOK AND SMELL LIKE COMMON BEVERAGES AND CAN EASILY TEMPT CHILDREN INTO ACCIDENTLY DRINKING THEM
 
Although most cleaners don't list ingredients, you can learn something about a product's hazards by reading its label. Most labels bear a signal word, such as Danger, Warning or Caution, that provides some indication of a product's toxicity. Products labeled Danger or Poison are typically most hazardous; those bearing a Warning label are moderately hazardous, and formulas with a Caution label are considered slightly toxic. If you find them, choose products that are nontoxic enough that they require none of the signal words above on their label. Beside the signal word is usually a phrase that describes the nature of the hazard, such as "may cause skin irritation," "flammable," "vapors harmful," or "may cause burns on contact." Look for instructions on how to use the product, which may help you avoid injury. Some labels do list active ingredients, which may assist you in detecting caustic or irritating ingredients you may wish to avoid, such as ammonia or sodium hypochlorite. A few manufacturers voluntarily list all ingredients.
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Other facts to help you determine what is safe to use
AIR FRESHENERS: can coat your nasal passages with an oil film and/or reduce your ability to smell odors. These products often contain Formaldehyde-a highly toxic material that can irritate eyes, nose, throat, and skin. High exposure can cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath. Other chemicals include Phenol, a skin irritant that can cause swelling, burning, and peeling. High doses of Phenol can also cause cold sweats, convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma, and even death.
AMMONIA: a volatile chemical that can damage your eyes, as well as respiratory tract and cause skin irritation.
BLEACH: a strong corrosive with fumes that can irritate or burn the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. If ingested, bleach can cause pulmonary edema or vomiting. Extremely dangerous when mixed with ammonia, as the resulting fumes can be deadly.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER: often contains Propylene Glycol, a chemical that can cause nausea, convulsions, slurred speech, disorientation, and heart and kidney problems when ingested. Other all-purpose cleaners may contain Sodium Hydroxide, also found in drain cleaners, stain removers, and bathroom cleaners. A highly reactive chemical, Sodium Hydroxide can react violently with water and other materials, sometimes generating enough heat to ignite nearby combustible materials. Other health hazards can include blindness, scarring, and even death when inhaled in large amounts. Aerosol sprays containing this chemical can also lead to lung injury.
CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO: designed to overpower stains, these products often use highly toxic materials to get the job done. Ingredients include Perchlorethylene, a carcinogen that can damage the liver, kidneys, and nervous system, and Ammonium Hydroxide, which is extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: often contain highly concentrated amounts of chlorine. A leading cause of child poisonings.
DRAIN CLEANER: often contains lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane. Lye can burn skin and eyes and can damage the esophagus and stomach if ingested. Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive element that can irritate skin, and damage kidneys, liver and digestive tracts. Trichloroethane is an eye and skin irritant that can depress the nervous system and damage liver and kidneys.
FURNITURE POLISH: many include Petroleum Distillates, a highly flammable skin irritant, and Phenol (see Air Fresheners). Some also include Nitrobenzene, a toxic material easily absorbed through the skin, or Methyl Chloroform, which can cause skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, headache, drowsiness, symptoms of drunkenness, kidney damage, liver damage, convulsions, and even coma. Other products contain Hydrocarbon Solvent, which can result in mucous membrane irritation. Higher concentrations of this chemical can cause headache, dizziness, and nausea.
MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANERS: ingredients often include Sodium Hypochlorite, a corrosive material that can irritate or burn skin and eyes. In cases of high exposure, can cause fluid to collect in the lungs, which can lead to coma or death. Many such cleaners also contain Formaldehyde (see Air Fresheners).
OVEN CLEANER: contains Sodium Hydroxide (Lye), a strong irritant to skin and eyes; can also inhibit reflexes. Ingestion can cause severe tissue damage.
ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain Triclosan, a chemical that, if absorbed through the skin, may contribute to liver damage.
LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: many contain Sodium or Calcium Hypocrite, highly corrosive materials that can irritate or burn skin, eyes or respiratory tract. Other chemicals include Linear Alkylate Sulfonate, which can be absorbed through the skin and may cause liver damage, and Sodium Tripolyphosphate, a skin and mucous membrane irritant that can cause vomiting. Liquid detergents may also contain Ethyl Alcohol, which can cause coughing, drowsiness, fatigue, and headaches. Stain Removers: Often contain Petroleum Naphtha, a petroleum distillate and an aspiration hazard that can damage lungs and cause lung inflammation.
TOILET BOWL CLEANERS: may contain Hydrochloric Acid, a highly corrosive irritant to both skin and eyes that can also lead to kidney and liver damage. May also include Hypochlorite Bleach, another corrosive irritant that can burn eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Ingestion can lead to pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma. If combined with other chemicals may result in potentially fatal chlorine fumes. Other chemicals found in these products can include Phosphoric Acid, an extremely corrosive material that can cause severe irritation and burns to skin.
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