Safety Guide: What’s in My Cleaning Solutions?

March 1st, 2019

As more people have begun to start thinking about the environment on both a large and small scale, they have started to consider what their individual impact on the planet is. This happens to be especially true in terms of the products they use on a regular basis, and there are only few instances where this type of behavior is more evident than in cleaning products.

People have finally started to ask questions about what kind of chemicals are in their cleaning solutions. For years, it was just assumed that what was in these chemicals was not harmful to ourselves or the environment, and in many instances, this was proven to be patently false at a later date. As a result, there is a fervent interest now in what kind of chemicals we are agreeing to expose ourselves to. With those parameters in mind, we’ll take a moment to provide you with a safety guidee on what is in these chemicals, and what other implements you might need to use them in a correct and safe manner.

Ammonia vs. Bleach

While many people think of ammonia and bleach as being closely related, the only thing the two actually have in common is that they are both chemicals which can be used to clean things. Ammonia is considered to be a base, albeit a weak one, while bleach is a strong oxidizing agent, due to its makeup of chlorine, caustic soda, and water.

Bleach is a much stronger disinfectant than ammonia, which is why it used so frequently in bathrooms, despite the fact that ammonia actually tends to be more effective as a cleaning solution when it comes to hard surfaces. By contrast, bleach is generally used on fabrics, however, it sometimes discolors things it comes into contact with, which ammonia does not do.

Protective Equipment

When using these kinds of chemicals, it is very important that you also keep the use of protective equipment in mind as well. While these chemicals may be great when it comes to cleaning various types of surfaces in your home, they are not meant to be consumed or touch your skin or eyes – if this happens, they can cause a great deal of pain.

That is why it is always a good idea to use protective equipment when using ammonia or bleach. This includes a sturdy pair of rubber gloves, a dependable set of safety eyewear, and knee pads if you end up spending a lot of time on the ground during your regular cleaning routine.

Kid Proofing Your Cabinets

One of the most important things you can possibly do, if you have children of your own or even have them over in your home to visit, is to make sure the cabinets that have these cleaning chemicals in them are thoroughly child proofed. There is no reason children need to have access to these agents.

As adults, we know firsthand how dangerous these chemicals are to consume, but small children are completely unaware of these dangers, and depending on how the bottle is labeled, they may mistake it for some type of juice or other drinkable substance. Make sure this does not happen by child proofing every cabinet that contains cleaning solution.

Pets? Eco Toilet Bowl Cleaner

If you have a pet in your home, it is no secret that certain animals enjoy drinking out of the toilet bowl, especially where larger dogs are concerned. That is why it is vitally important to only use eco-friendly toilet bowl cleaners, just incase your dog uses the toilet as a drinking bowl. These will not harm your pet because they do not contain any toxic or caustic chemicals, while regular toilet bowl cleaners often do.

First Aid in Case of Accidents

It is very important to know what first aid procedures to follow in the event of accidental ingestion of one of these chemicals. In the event that you or someone you care for has imbibed one of these chemicals on accident, you should immediately call 911 or the Center for Disease Control and ask them what the best course of action in this situation is.

In the event that a pet has swallowed some of these chemicals, immediately call your personal vet or an emergency vet and ask them what you need to do at that exact moment. Do not hesitate, as time will be of the essence in these situations.

Pay Attention to Labels and Store Item Accordingly

When finding a place to store these items in your home, make sure you pay attention to the labels. They will be an excellent indicator of the safest way to store the products and keep them out of the wrong hands.

Meta: While cleaning chemicals are important to keeping a home or apartment nice and clean, they can also be dangerous. Read our blog to learn how to use them safely.