Chemicals in Household Products Collection of information about risks and safer alternatives
Children can be sensitive to the chemicals in everyday cleaning products, especially if they have allergies or asthma. Because children spend 80% to 90% of their time indoors, cleaning products can pose health risks. Household cleaning products can add to indoor air pollution, leave residues on surfaces and gradually send toxins out into the home when they're stored. The strong chemicals in cleaning products often provide far more cleaning power than what is needed. Some of these products are strong poisons and others contain ingredients that may be toxic. Products that are poisonous or corrosive (can burn holes in clothes and eat away layers of skin) are marked with hazard symbols. But these warnings are only used for the most dangerous ingredients. However, many more chemicals are used that aren't as deadly but can still make you sick. Most haven't been fully tested for safety (for long-term, low-level, and multiple-exposures). Some may be harmful to babies in the womb. Some may be harmful to children at different stages of development. Safer alternatives are often available.