What’s in That Cleaner?

It’s Saturday morning, and it’s time to help clean. There’s a bin filled with an array of cleaners under the kitchen sink. One is used to clean the toilet bowl, while another spray bottle is used on the tile around the tub and shower. A lemon-scented spray is used to dust the furniture. And a bottle of blue liquid is used to clean the windows and mirrors.

One product’s label says it will disinfect and kill 99.9 percent of germs. It has a warning: “CAUTION: Keep out of reach of children.” Another label has “DANGER: Harmful if swallowed. Causes burns to skin and eyes.” What is in these cleaners that justifies these warnings? Are they safe? We can read the labels, but manufacturers are not required by law to list all the ingredients they put in their products. Even “green” products, which are supposed to be less harmful for people, aren’t necessarily safer.

According to the American Lung Association, many household cleaning products can irritate the eyes or the throat. They can cause headaches or other health problems. Some cleaners release dangerous chemicals. These can cause breathing problems and allergic reactions. If they get on the skin, they can cause burns.

Among harmful products are ammonia and bleach. These are two common household cleaning solutions, but these two chemicals should never be used at the same time in the same room. Mixed together, these chemicals will produce toxic vapors that are hazardous. For example, you may use a product that contains bleach to kill mold on the tile in the shower. Then you spray window cleaner on the shower door. This product contains ammonia. All of a sudden, there is a toxic gas cloud in your shower. So you turn on the hot water to wash it all away. But that makes things worse. You retreat from the bathroom coughing from the dangerous fumes you have just inhaled.

Studies have linked exposure to the chemicals in cleaners to illnesses that affect the lungs. The shower cleaning example shows how easy it can be for these chemicals to get into your lungs.

Researchers have found that even natural fragrances in products can form harmful pollutants when they react with air inside and outside the home. Some of these products are aerosol sprays, air fresheners, bleach, detergent and dishwashing soap, furniture polish, and oven cleaners.

So what can people do to keep from being harmed by cleaning products? Be sure to read all labels on the cleaning supplies before buying them. The American Lung Association says to choose products that have reduced amounts of dangerous chemicals, fragrances, irritants, and flammable ingredients. Experts say warm water and soap are better to use instead of harsh products. Baking soda is good for scrubbing, and a little vinegar in water can clean glass. And always open the doors and windows so fresh air can circulate in the room when cleaning.

You can also do it yourself. According to the Good Housekeeping Magazine website, it’s easy to make many cleaning products yourself from safe, nontoxic ingredients. One example is an all-purpose cleaner made from items you may already have in your home. To make this solution, all you need is a spray bottle, white vinegar, water, lemon, and rosemary. First, fill the spray bottle with half white vinegar and half water. Next, add two or three pieces of lemon peel and two or three sprigs of rosemary to the vinegar and water mixture. Then, close up the spray bottle and shake it. Finally, let the mixture sit for a week so the vinegar and water can soak up the properties of the lemon and rosemary. You can use this to clean walls, trash cans, and hard water stains. But don’t use it on counter tops or floors made of granite, marble, or stone. The acidic vinegar can eat into the natural stone.

To stay safe when making your own cleaning products, never mix products that have chlorine with any product that contains ammonia. This can create dangerous fumes. Also, be sure to write the ingredients on bottles of homemade cleaners. While these solutions are safer than products with toxic chemicals, you want to know what’s in them in case a child or pet gets into it.

So before cleaning, read the labels on the cleaners under the kitchen sink. Be aware of what you are using to fight dirt and germs. You may want to rethink what you use. Maybe something gentler and less toxic to you and your environment would be better. Maybe even something you make yourself.

In paragraphs 4 and 5 of “What’s in That Cleaner?” how does the author best support the point that it’s vital to know what chemicals are in cleaning products?

A. By listing health problems that prducts with toxic chemicals can cause.
B. By naming chemicals that are commonly found in household cleaners.
C. By providing an example that illustrates the dangerous results of mixing certain chemicals