You may be placing a high value on keeping your home or business clean. A clean household or workplace can lower the risk of sickness among your family members or employees, boost the overall interior environment, and even reduce stress. However, does the demand for a clean area require polluting the air with potentially hazardous chemicals? Or are there other solutions out there without the added risks? While chemical cleaners can sterilize and disinfect surfaces, decreasing the transmission of disease-causing germs and viruses, they can also cause allergic responses, skin irritations, respiratory disorders, and other health issues. The alternative can be a powerful natural cleaning product, which does not have the same after-effects as a chemical cleaner, but are they as effective? To compare, we will examine the advantages and disadvantages of both natural cleaners and chemical cleaners to see which one is better.
What are chemical cleaning products?
Chemical cleaning products have been in the market since the early 1900s with inventions that were promoted to stop the spread of the Spanish influenza epidemic. Soon after, chemical cleaning products were being mass-produced and readily available at any grocery or department store for anyone to purchase. Since chemical cleaning products have been around for so long and no other substitutes were available, they can be found in almost any home, business, or hospital. However, studies have found that chemical cleaning products can be doing more harm than good. Any products within your home or business that have warning symbols or signs that say “Avoid contact with skin” or “Do not inhale fumes”, it means that they contain chemicals that can be harmful to anyone that does not handle them properly. These types of products require extra care when they are used, which is why reading the labels of these cleaning agents are important. Chemical cleaning products have also been formulated to effectively clean varying surfaces which is also why many businesses that rely on their cleanliness use them. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of chemical cleaning products:
Advantages of chemical cleaning products
Despite being made from petrochemicals, many detergents can clean better than the combination of soap and hot water. Enzymes can remove protein stains, whereas bleaches whiten shirts and sinks. Scouring powders and oven cleansers remove crusty food stains while being unpleasant and caustic. These products are generally used for deep cleaning since they can easily remove settled dirt and mildew that may otherwise be difficult to remove with soap. Another benefit of chemical cleaners is how commonly available they are. You may buy a variety of chemical cleaners at practically any general store near your home. This accessibility is possibly the most important reason why people may pick this type of product rather than explore the other alternatives.
Disadvantages of chemical cleaning products
Most of us are exposed to chemical cleaning products and their residues on a regular basis because when we use such items to clean our homes or workplaces, the chemical residue stays in the air for a period of time and we inhale them. Chemical cleaners can be convenient and effective, however, a tiny sample of cleaning chemicals might include hundreds or more distinct harmful compounds, and rationalizing this sort of exposure has proven problematic. These chemical compounds can enter our bodies by intake through household air and dust particles, residues left on exposed surfaces, or skin absorption. All of which can have negative impacts on your health. Additionally, these impacts can also be transferred to the environment when flushed down the drain, severely changing aquatic ecosystems. Many of these chemicals may be found in laundry stain removers, carpet cleaners, glass cleaners, oven cleaners, and rust removers.
What are natural cleaning products?
Natural cleaning solutions are a suitable option for many of the market’s regular cleaning goods. Today, people are becoming more aware of their environmental footprint, both on a macro and micro level. Cleaning products can affect both your immediate area and external surroundings. This is why it is important to select products and dispose of waste with a green mindset. Natural cleaning solutions differ from typical cleaning products based on their ingredients, biodegradability, and safety. Standard cleaning products are safe when used properly and with the necessary safeguards. However, they can be more dangerous to pets and children who may come into touch with them by accident. In contrast, natural products can be a preferable choice for safety reasons alone, but there are other benefits such as improved effects on air quality and can be less harmful to those with allergies. However, natural cleaning solutions, like any other product, have drawbacks as well. Here are the pros and cons of natural cleaning products:
The pros of natural cleaning products
Safe for everyday use
A number of chemical cleaning products such as laundry and dishwashing detergents contain substances that can interfere with the body’s hormone functions. These products are considered somewhat safe because they give a very low risk that any exposure will result in negative health outcomes. However, with repeated exposure that risk can go up.
On the other hand, natural cleaning products in general, may not have that same risk. Natural cleaners that contain extracts from plants and bio-based wetting agents do not become harmful the more you use them, making them a great choice for an everyday cleaning solution. If you would prefer a safe all-purpose cleaner that is ideal for daily use and tackling any job, Natural All-Purpose Cleaner can be a great option. It is ideal for most non-porous surfaces like stainless steel, glass, sealed marble, plastic, and more.
Better for those with allergies or other sensitivities
Even if you wear gloves and operate in a well-ventilated area, many chemical cleaning agents can be hazardous to individuals who suffer from allergies, asthma, or other sensitivities. Ammonia, acetone, volatile organic chemicals, and other gaseous irritants are particularly harmful and commonly found in chemical cleaning products. When you use these cleaning products it is difficult to avoid breathing a gas when the source is a sponge or cloth in your hand.
The best natural cleaning solutions use vinegar, oils, and powerful plant based detergents and make their product ingredients known. These materials are not very hazardous to people, and the transparency of the product allows those with specific sensitivities to determine whether they should avoid them. The use of products like Natural All-Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser can be best for wiping away dirt and grease for a complete clean without the gaseous irritants that come with chemical-based cleaners. In addition, Natural All-Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser are also fragrance free which can be beneficial to those specific allergies while also giving the space a neutral scent.
Improved indoor air quality
Some cleaning products like glass cleaners dry up relatively quickly because their chemical compounds evaporate at room temperature. Due to their quick evaporation, they can lead to poor indoor air quality. As mentioned, those with sensitivities or allergies are heavily affected by these types of cleaners but additionally they can also contribute to eye, nose, and throat irritation, as well as headaches, nausea, or even damage to organs. Natural cleaners, on the other hand, do not have this issue because they use ingredients that are effective at cleaning but without the added health risks. As an example, Plant-Based Glass Cleaner can remove sticky residue, resin, grease, and calcium without any toxic fuming chemicals or odors. This makes the Plant-Based Glass Cleaner an ideal option when cleaning surfaces like glass, titanium, acrylic, and quartz.
The con of natural cleaning products
Even though natural cleaning products have made advancements in their cleaning effectiveness, cleaning dirt with natural products may require time and effort. This is due to the lack of strong chemicals that may swiftly break down grime, necessitating a bit more elbow grease to thoroughly clean the surface. As a result, the ideal approach is to clean frequently and fast. For example, instead of scrubbing your bath every two weeks, keep it clean by wiping it down with your natural cleaning solution on a weekly basis.
Which one is better?
Based on the benefits and drawbacks described so far, it may be best to choose natural cleaners for taking care of household chores and general business maintenance. Natural cleaners can be a safer choice to use that does not compromise anyone’s health. Generally, natural cleaners may take a bit more time to clean a surface but using them over chemical cleaners ensures a better household or business environment.
If you can not seem to fully make the switch to natural cleaners, you can opt to slowly transition to them. Keep in mind that not every problem necessitates the use of chlorine bleach. It may be best to first use natural cleaners gradually by applying them to smaller, simpler problems. You can decrease your exposure to higher-risk chemicals while still having more powerful options for harder stains. It does not matter if you are taking small steps if your objective is to create a safer, more environmentally friendly household or business, you are still progressing toward a more green environment.
