Why Is It Important to Choose Baby-safe Cleaning Products?
If you’re expecting a child or already have one, you’ll want to make your home as safe and secure as possible. Most parents have little trouble baby-proofing their home by getting rid of breakables and investing in locks and baby gates, but they often overlook one important section: the cleaning cabinet!
Both conventional and natural cleaning products pose numerous risks to human health and the environment. Unfortunately, babies are even more vulnerable to the health dangers linked with cleaning chemicals due to their sensitive skin and delicate immune systems.
Harmful Cleaning Products
A lot of conventional cleaning products are toxic if consumed, harmful if inhaled or touched, and contribute to indoor air pollution.
In 2010, more than 116,000 calls regarding Thornhill home cleaning incidents regarding children under the age of five were received by poison control centers in the United States. In addition, studies show that in 2006, poisoning with home cleaners resulted in the need for medical treatment for more than 10,000 children aged five and younger.
A lock on your cleaning cabinet can help decrease the possibility of your child getting in there. But what if you fail to lock the cabinet once, or your infant goes into it while you’re cleaning...
For that reason, it is advised to stay away from any cleaning products labeled ‘Danger,’ ‘Corrosive,’ or ‘Warning,’ as they may cause poisoning if consumed.
Toxic Residues
It is also worth noting that all cleaning products leave behind a residue. If the product is harmful to your child if consumed, it will also leave a poisonous residue on the surfaces.
It is recommended to use toxin-free and baby-safe cleaning products for everything from the all-purpose cleaner that wipes the toys your baby is chewing on to the kitchen cleaner that wipes the table your child is licking spilled food from. Moreover, don’t forget the floor cleaner if you have a crawling child in the house.
Dangerous when Touched
Other cleaning products pose a danger in ways other than eating. Many toilet bowls, drain, and oven cleaners are highly acidic or alkaline. When those cleansers come into contact with the skin, they can cause severe chemical burns that leave permanent scars or tissue damage.
It’s important to remember that skin is a living, breathing organism. Chemicals can be taken into the body through the skin, even more so by fragile newborn skin. So even if you wear gloves and keep all cleaning chemicals away from your children, you won’t be able to avoid every contact. So it’s better to avoid using corrosive cleaners in your home, especially around your children.
Toxic Fumes can harm the eyes
Some cleaning products, such as chlorine, emit fumes that can harm the eyes, lungs, and airways. If you mix chlorine with a cleaning product that contains ammonia, you’ll get chloramine gas, a severe irritant with the potential to cause major tissue damage. Apart from chlorine, research has indicated that the chemicals found in conventional cleaning products might aggravate asthma symptoms and raise the chance of developing asthma.
Allergic Reactions and Irritations
All cleaning agents that come into contact with the skin or are inhaled might cause irritation or even allergic reactions. In addition, some components in conventional and even ‘green’ cleaners have been discovered to worsen or even trigger allergic reactions in people who already have allergies. It is also essential to consider your laundry detergents, which might leave residue in blankets and clothing continually in contact with the skin.
All-Natural Cleaning Products
For a baby-safe home, opt for all-natural cleaning products. Choose all-natural cleaning products that are 100% plant and mineral-based and free of dangerous toxins if you’re looking for baby-safe cleaners.