These Could Be Making Smog in Your Home
Many people unknowingly put themselves in danger when they tackle household chores, especially if they’re using citrus-based solvents or bleach. It turns out that when you mix some cleaning supplies or use them too close together, they produce nearly as much smog as an automobile. Preserve your home’s air quality when you clean by avoiding these dangerous habits. Let's look at why smog occurs with some household products, as well as which combos to avoid.
Don’t Combine Bleach and Citrus Cleaners
Bleach can create respiratory issues on its own, but it becomes even more dangerous when it joins forces with citrus solvents. Many citrus cleaners contain limonene, a compound that becomes toxic in large quantities. When you combine limonene with bleach, the products unleash toxic fumes. These gases often linger in the air rather than evaporating quickly, and they can even condense on household items.If you can’t resist the tempting aroma of citrus solvents, use them sparingly—and make sure bleach is nowhere in sight. This helps reduce the risk of filling the air with volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs.
Watch Out for Petroleum-Based Products
People often associate petroleum with a trip to the gas station, and it’s true that a whopping 95% of raw oil ends up in vehicle engines. However, that remaining 5% may find its way into the home via cleaning products, soaps and paints. This is bad news for lungs because petroleum-based household products are typically 10 times more concentrated indoors than they are outside—which means you’re probably inhaling some major smog.
Petroleum typically lurks in commercial dish soaps, but you can also find it in some furniture polishes and metal cleaners. When reading ingredient labels, keep an eye out for other variations of petroleum, such as petrolatum. You may also want to avoid products with mineral oil, also called paraffin oil, as this is often derived from petroleum.
Go Easy on Scented Cleaners
The smell of fresh florals or tart apples can create an inviting vibe in a home, but it can also damage lungs. Cleaning products with fragrances often contain secondary pollutants, including toxic VOCs that combine with other compounds to create fine particles.
Like vehicles, these particles pollute the air, which can damage the respiratory system. Play it safe and avoid synthetic scents whenever possible—opt for essential oils or fragrance-free cleaners instead.
Household cleaners make dirt and debris disappear, but a clean home doesn’t necessarily equal clean air. Control air quality by nixing toxic cleaning supplies and taking care not to mix chemical compounds when you tackle chores.
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