Household Cleaning Products: What Every Woman Should Know

Nowadays people around the world are becoming more and more concerned about their exposure to germs and the ailments they may cause. While we are bombard with advertisements telling us of new and enhanced cleaning products which will protect our family's health by killing germs found on our household, the truth is, the majority of these cleaning products mentioned on advertisements, contain chemicals that can actually be harmful to our health.

Of course those do not include sponges, mops, brooms, cloths, which are actually the right home cleaning products for you to use in order to obtain a clean and germ-free home. When combined with natural cleaning products alternatives such as baking soda, white vinegar and lemon, there is no germ that can survive them.

Studies have reported that certain chemicals present in some cleaning products can actually cause reproductive and asthma harm. That means that women trying to get pregnant, pregnant women, children and those with asthma are especially vulnerable to these chemicals.

You may be asking yourself: but, aren't cleaning products regulated for safety? Well, many chemicals still being used by the government in cleaning products with very little information about potential consequences for human health. Unfortunately, no legal requirements exist for ingredient labeling on cleaning products, which makes knowing with product to avoid difficult.

How to choose the right home cleaning products and what you can do to protect your family from exposure to chemicals in households cleaning:

• If a list of the ingredients is not provided on the product label call the manufacture. Ask them for the list and encourage them to provide this information.

• Although the presence of a chemical of concern in a product does not necessarily means that the product will cause harm, possible health risks associated with exposure to them should be kept in mind. As precaution, avoid cleaning products that contain these chemicals.

• As mentioned above, give preference for natural cleaning products. You can make you own using cheap ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

1. Baking soda – use it to clean, deodorize, soften water and scours.
2. Soap – unscented soap in any form is biodegradable and can clean just about anything.
3. Lemon – this strong food acid is effective against most household bacteria.
4. White Vinegar – use it to remove mildew, odors, some stains, wax build-up and to cut grease.
5. Isopropyl Alcohol – an amazing disinfectant.
6. Cornstarch – use it to clean windows, shampoo carpets and rugs and to polish furniture.

• Purchase only from companies that list all ingredients on the package.