The "crystal clear little salt particles" are disinfectant toilet cleaners, the lemon-yellow plastic bottles contain lemon-scented dishwashing liquid, and there's always a faint jasmine fragrance in the air, which is actually the work of an air freshener... Indeed, household cleaning agents have become indispensable items in modern homes. They clean our lives, but besides that, what else do they bring us?
Gentle harm
Xiaoling is widely recognized as a virtuous wife and good mother. Just after her honeymoon, she rolled up her sleeves and tied on an apron to immerse herself in endless washing and scrubbing. As a fashion-conscious housewife, she also designated cleaning product storage areas in the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, and almost purchased all kinds of household cleaning agents - for mopping floors, wiping furniture, polishing stainless steel, brightening ceramics... The cleanliness of her home reflected her love for life. However, not long after, Xiaoling found that her originally tender hands were becoming increasingly rough, her fingers started peeling for no apparent reason, and even developed small blisters in some places. The doctor diagnosed her with "housewife's hand" due to excessive use of cleaning agents.
It turns out that the surfactants, builders, and other chemical additives in detergents can destroy the oily protective layer on the skin surface, thereby causing corrosion and damage. Acidic substances, including toilet cleaners, absorb moisture from the skin tissue, causing protein coagulation; while alkaline substances in laundry detergent, especially powerful stain removers and range hood cleaners, not only absorb moisture but also destroy cell membranes, causing denaturation of tissue proteins, which is more harmful than acidic substances. Xiaoling's rough hands are due to this very reason. In addition to the skin, the chemical components in detergents also cause varying degrees of harm to hair and other parts of the body.
Maintain a safe distance from cleaning agents:
Using cleaning agents does not necessarily mean you must come into close contact with them. When doing household cleaning, it’s advisable to take appropriate protective measures, such as wearing rubber gloves when washing dishes, clothes, or mopping the floor, and wearing a mask when cleaning the bathroom or the range hood. After coming into contact with chemicals, rinse thoroughly with water and use hand cream regularly. Fresh air doesn't need air fresheners.
Liangliang likes to spray air fresheners in her living room, especially sweet vanilla aerosols. But her husband, who studied chemistry, doesn't think much of it. Liangliang doesn't understand: "Can't air fresheners keep the air fresh and clean?"
In fact, many brands of air fresheners on the market contain aromatic compounds such as dichlorobenzene, ketones, and aldehydes, mostly derived from petroleum gas extracts. These substances neither purify the air nor kill bacteria in the air. Their main function is to mask any unpleasant odors that may exist in the air and help people feel refreshed. According to experts, over-inhaling these aromatic air fresheners can adversely affect respiratory mucosa, skin, and the nervous system. Infants and pregnant women are more sensitive to air fresheners. Data from the International Conference on Indoor Air Pollution in Edinburgh shows that infants under six months old who are frequently exposed to air fresheners have a 30% higher chance of developing ear infections and a 22% higher chance of diarrhea. In short, from a chemical perspective, artificially synthesized aerosols or air fresheners exacerbate indoor air pollution to varying degrees. Secrets to fresh air: Use a humidifier to maintain suitable air humidity and reduce dust; open windows frequently for ventilation; regularly use air disinfection products to purify the air; use plant essential oils to add fragrance to your home.
Stay away from harmful insecticides
It's time to change seasons again. Xiaoli has neatly packed away the cool-season quilts, light blankets, summer clothes, and thin skirts, ready to store them in boxes. Careful Xiaoli also placed a few mothballs and desiccants in the box. Her neighbor Aunt Zhang reminded her: "Mothballs containing naphthalene should not be used." Are there any secrets about mothballs? Although camphor balls and naphthalene balls both belong to the category of mothballs and have insect-proof, mildew-proof, and mold-proof functions, the effective component of camphor balls comes from camphor wood and is harmless to humans, while the main component of naphthalene balls is naphthalene gas volatilized from coal tar. Long-term inhalation can cause chronic poisoning and even induce malignant tumors. The state has already explicitly banned its production, but counterfeit products still appear from time to time. Besides naphthalene mothballs, agents used to eliminate cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes, termites, etc., may also cause allergic reactions in humans and lead to cellular mutations when entering the body.
Preventive measures: Choose insecticides with clear product ingredients and production marks, and reliable reputation; ensure adequate ventilation after using insecticides; use more window screens and reduce the frequency of using aerosol insecticides; distinguish between high-quality and inferior insecticides. For naphthalene and camphor balls, naphthalene-containing mothballs are pure white, while genuine harmless camphor balls are colorless or white crystals, resembling glass balls. Camphor balls float on water due to their low density, while naphthalene balls sink to the bottom.
Tragedy in the bathroom
According to online reports, a housewife in Guangzhou collapsed suddenly while cleaning the family bathroom. She was rushed to the hospital by her family, but half an hour later, she stopped breathing. After testing her blood and gastric fluid, the forensic pathologist confirmed chlorine poisoning. It turned out that in order to achieve stronger cleaning power, this unfortunate housewife mixed five different cleaning products, possibly containing bleach components, leftover bath gel, and toilet cleaner, causing a chemical reaction that produced chlorine gas, water, and salt. Since chlorine gas is heavier than air, it accumulated at the bottom of the small, poorly ventilated bathroom, leading to the tragedy. Similar domestic tragedies have been reported in Japan, the UK, and the US. Further research by British scientists has found that ammonia gas or ammonia water may be produced when using toilet cleaner to remove stains, and toxic chloramine gas may form when ammonia water is mixed with bleach-containing cleaning agents. Over-inhaling these gases can lead to severe lung inflammation and pulmonary edema.
Exit the danger zone of cleaning: Most household cleaning agents are artificially synthesized compounds, some acidic, some alkaline, some need to be stored out of light, and others should avoid heating and exposure to sunlight. There are even more possible chemical reactions when mixed. Therefore, various cleaning agents must be stored separately and used separately according to the instructions, and never mix them.
We have long since bid farewell to the era where one packet of laundry powder could wash everything. With the advancement of science and technology, new, green, and environmentally friendly household cleaning products will undoubtedly become more and more abundant each day. The variety of cleaning agents is making our lives easier and more convenient. We certainly won’t stop using them because of temporary misuse. However, the knowledge involved in household cleaning agents is increasing, and we cannot ignore learning about them.