If we had as many forints as we've read or heard the phrase "smoking is seriously damaging to your health, quit!"... But have you ever heard that you shouldn't clean because it can be harmful to your health? According to a recent study, cleaning your home can have the same effect on your lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day. And that's a high price to pay for a clean home.
Of course, we are not suggesting for a minute that you stop cleaning once and for all. However, we are more than willing to choose how and with what you do! And World Health Day is a great opportunity to take a look at the health-damaging effects of the traditional cleaning routine - and of course, to show you much better alternatives for effective cleaning instead.
Today is all about health.
We celebrate World Health Day so that people can learn to live a little more consciously and pay more attention to preventing diseases and reducing risk factors. However, there are aspects of this that are rarely talked about, but still pose a significant risk in your everyday life. For example, many people don't even think about what harmful substances they are putting into their bodies when cleaning - which is a fairly regular activity.
Have you ever had a headache, felt a little dizzy, or started coughing while cleaning your home? It's not your fault, that's exactly what we're talking about!
"A recent study involving cleaners and those who regularly clean their homes has highlighted the health risks. The results showed that cleaning significantly affected the lung capacity of these individuals," concluded Dr. Julianne Barry, of London Doctor Clinics.
What is the price of a clean home? Don't pay for it with your health!
Many of the cleaning products you use regularly - probably even you - can cause irritation of the mucous membranes and deterioration of lung capacity. Similarly, contact with the skin can be risky, as certain ingredients are skin irritants and can easily cause dermatitis in those with sensitive skin.
How to take care of your health while cleaning?
The key lies in awareness: both when shopping and when cleaning. Follow our simple tips and you can do a lot for your health and a clean home!
Always check the ingredients!
It's a good idea to be suspicious if a product you buy for general cleaning says "not for human consumption" or "do not come into contact with skin," not to mention a bunch of cautionary pictograms. We know that when it comes to home disinfection, you're looking for the strongest products, but that shouldn't mean toxic.
Source 1: Living Consciously
Ammonia, chlorine, VOSs, parabens, SLS – just a few ingredients you should stay away from. We previously wrote in detail about toxic compounds in cleaning products , if you missed our article, catch up by clicking on the link.
In the future, follow the principle of chemical-free products: only use products that you would feel comfortable applying to your skin! For example, it's a good sign if you see bio, organic, or baby-friendly labels on the product, as the manufacturer must meet stricter standards for these.
If you still use traditional cleaning products, take protective measures!
Regardless, it is still recommended to let fresh air into your home several times a day, but when cleaning, pay even more attention to ensuring that the room is well ventilated. On the other hand, it is also important to inhale cleaning products containing chemicals as little as possible.
After all of the above, it goes without saying that you should wear gloves. If you have sensitive skin anyway, there is no doubt that you need to take extra care to protect it, but many traditional cleaning products also contain allergens. These can cause problems even if you don't have sensitive skin.
The best advice is: switch to environmentally friendly cleaning products!
These contain only natural ingredients, so they are safe for your health. Unfortunately, many people have the – mistaken – belief that natural cleaning products are not as effective as chemicals. Of course, this is not the case at all! According to research, vinegar, for example, has a fungicidal effect in just one minute and a bactericidal effect after 5 minutes. So, using it, you can create a clean home just like with strong cleaning products available in stores – but without their toxic, harmful effects. Of course, its diverse uses are not new, it is not for nothing that your grandmother and great-grandmother also used vinegar cleaning with pleasure.
CYCLE's innovative, chemical-free cleaning products contain exactly these ingredients, and with their help you can create a sparkling clean home. What's more, you don't have to worry about your health, as these products pose no risk to your skin or lungs.
