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Household chemicals are a great helper in caring for your home, but sometimes they contain harmful components. They can cause allergies or even burns; it is not recommended to use them in homes with children or allergic animals. So what substances do you need to be careful with and why? Let's figure it out together with YokoSun
Hazardous components in household chemicals
- Chlorine and chlorine-containing compounds
Everyone has known chlorine since childhood - it is widely used for cleaning swimming pools or in hospitals for disinfection. The product does an excellent job for this purpose, but can be dangerous for home care.
In which products it is found: bleaches, plumbing cleaners
What can be dangerous: Chlorine is produced on the basis of calcium hypochlorite. Contrary to popular myth, no toxic gas is released when used at home - only when mixing products. But when used at home, the likelihood of direct contact of the substance with the skin increases - for example, if you wash the floors with a chlorine-containing product in a house where there are children. If it gets on mucous membranes, bleach can even cause a chemical burn. For allergy sufferers or those suffering from dermatitis, such cleaning should be avoided altogether.
- Phosphates
Phosphates are salts of phosphoric acids that are widely used in the production of fertilizers and household chemicals. They are especially harmful to the environment: when phosphates get into water bodies, they provoke water pollution. Therefore, some countries impose restrictions on the use of phosphates in the production of washing powders.
In which products it is found: washing powders, dishwasher detergents.
How they can be dangerous: First of all, phosphates are harmful to environmental systems. Getting into the water, they provoke its “blooming”, which ultimately leads to the death of fish and more. In addition, phosphates linger on tissues for a long time, and if they get on the surface of the skin they can cause allergies or dermatitis.
- Anionic surfactants
Mysterious surfactants - what are they? In simple words, surfactants are surfactants that are used to break down dirt in almost all detergents. However, surfactants are different: anionic and nonionic. The latter are less aggressive and better soluble in water; they are the safest and therefore are used in children's dishwashing detergents. But anionic surfactants cannot boast of such properties.
In which products it is found: dishwashing detergents, washing powders, floor cleaners.
How they can be dangerous:Often anionic surfactants are “set” with phosphates, which enhance their effects. Therefore, the risk of allergic reactions and dermatitis increases, especially for people prone to such diseases. You should be wary of products with a high concentration of anionic surfactants - from 5%.
Do products without chlorine, phosphates and anionic surfactants cope with dirt worse?
No, that's not true. They are effective for home care, although you may notice the difference. For example, products with non-ionic surfactants foam a little worse, and gels without chlorine smell differently. However, this does not mean they are less effective, sometimes even the opposite.
Research has shown that dishwashing gels with a high content of anionic surfactants cope worse with grease, while products with non-ionic surfactants deal with stains. And phosphate-free washing gels are effective even at low temperatures, which is important for delicate fabrics.
Products with nonionic surfactants and without phosphates are more versatile - for example, YokoSun dish gel can be used not only for caring for children's dishes, but even for washing vegetables and fruit. This is because the nonionic surfactants used in the product dissolve better and faster in water.
How to choose products that will not cause harm in homes with children, animals or allergy sufferers?
- Study the composition
Avoid chlorine (calcium hypochlorite), phosphates and anionic surfactants, especially high levels.
- Pay attention to the markings
Eco-friendly and hypoallergenic labels indicate that the product contains no aggressive substances. For example, on washing gels or for dishwashing and other products from YokoSun you will see a sign: “Safe from the first days of life.” This is how we indicate that the product does not contain aggressive components and has been tested by specialists.
Not all household chemicals are scary and hazardous to health. However, if there are children, pets or those prone to allergies or dermatitis in the house, it is worth taking care of the well-being of your loved ones. It is enough to choose means that will not harm, which you can trust with the most valuable.
Follow the rules for using and storing household chemicals. We talked about them in more detail in this article.