Benefits of Natural Cleaning Products

Benefits of Switching to Natural Cleaning Products

January 2023

Everyone would agree that having a clean living and working environment promotes good health. Household cleaners contain a harsh cocktail of toxic chemicals, and these toxic chemicals may expose you and your family to the invisible dangers associated with cleaning with them. One of the most effective ways to avoid the many risks associated with using harmful cleaning products is by switching to using cleaning products that are made with natural ingredients that are just as effective and generate the desired results. There are many benefits when you switch to using natural and eco-friendly cleaning products that go way beyond having spotless surfaces. Here are 5 of our favourites:

1: Better Quality Air Indoor

In general, we assume that the air inside our homes is less polluted than the air outside. The US Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that, on average, indoor air quality is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Unlike the USA, Australia currently has no specific controls on indoor air quality, apart from workplace situations. However, the risk of health effects from inhaling polluted indoor air depends on how many toxic chemicals are in the air and how often a person breathes them in. It is impossible to completely prevent chemical emissions indoors, but it is possible to limit exposure and improve indoor air quality by keeping the room well ventilated and reducing pollution sources like smoking, cooking practices, heating, renovation materials, household cleaning products, etc.

One of the most common causes of poor indoor air quality which also happens to be the easiest to remove are the products we use in our home. Many of the chemicals within household cleaning products contain inorganic compounds like ammonia and volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, perchloroethylene, benzene, naphthalene, or nitrogen dioxide. All the above chemicals are listed by The Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) as indoor pollutants of concern because of their adverse health effects. These compounds are known or suspected to be carcinogenic which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and allergies depending on the level and time of exposure. Each of these chemicals has its own toxicity and potential for causing different health issues, and the major exposure route for these substances is inhalation. The moment the chemical is sprayed it starts to circulate in the air and might cause acute eye, nose, throat irritation, fatigue, headache, dizziness, or worsening of asthma symptoms. If your goal is to create a safer and healthier household, it is highly recommended to switch to natural cleaning solutions.

2: Safer for Your Children & Pets

Toxic cleaning chemicals are not only absorbed via inhalation but also through ingestion and skin absorption. Every parent keeps hazardous cleaning products out of reach of their children, yet the most common poisoning in children aged 5 years or less were personal care products and household cleaning substances as reported by the American Association of Poison Control. It cannot be emphasised enough about the importance of using natural products around children, but it must be remembered that most often natural products contain pure essential oils which might cause lighter side effects than conventional products if swallowed in large quantities. Therefore, all cleaning products should always be kept out of reach of children.

In addition to babies and small children, pets are also susceptible to household cleaners that contain harmful chemicals because they are walking and sitting on floor surfaces more and may lick these surfaces. The good news is that natural cleaning products, in general, don’t have this risk.

3: Protect Your Belongings

One of the most beneficial benefits of making the switch to natural cleaning products is their long-lasting effects. Traditional cleaning products generally fail to be sustainable as harsh chemicals tend to negatively affect the life and texture of your belongings. Some examples are:

Abrasive cleaners may remove stains and build-up in sinks but over time, the surfaces may appear stained or discoloured as the abrasiveness of the cleaners can permanently damage or scratch the surface. The same applies to highly acidic cleaning products which will bleach the colour out of clothes or carpets if accidentally spilled on them.

By mixing and combining different cleaning products, you may create a chemical reaction which can further affect your health but can also increase the risk of damage to surfaces when used.

Many people use products found around the house, like vinegar, when they decide to go chemical-free instead of buying natural cleaners. Initially, it appears that vinegar cleans well but this is because its acidity is high. Over time, however, the acid can damage the surfaces you are cleaning. For example, if you use it on hardwood, at first it will appear clean, but eventually, you will start to notice it damages the finish of the timber. Other examples are natural stones like marble, granite, and travertine where the acid in the vinegar will etch the surface and the damage will become apparent over time. Because natural ingredients are used in diluted solutions, natural cleaning products do not cause such damage.

4: Cruelty-free & Vegan-friendly

Most all-natural cleaning companies strive to create sustainable products that have taken a stand against animal testing, although there have been no proven scientific studies that cruelty-free products are better for us. There are many companies that continue to support animal testing or use ingredients derived from animals in the manufacture of their products. The biggest misconception around cruelty-free products is that you should be vegan or vegetarian to support such products. The truth is, it’s far beyond a matter of diet.

Some governments around the world have already banned animal testing but there are many countries that have laws stating that specific groups of laboratory animals aren’t protected under existing animal abuse laws. The poor animals used in experiments are confined to small cages and inhumane conditions and are being tortured, maimed, and ultimately killed. The excuse given is that the tests are being performed on animals to ensure the products are safe enough for humans however technology is increasingly being developed and we have many cruelty-free alternatives to animal testing such as in vitro testing, cultured cell tissues testing as well as computer models. The reason why some companies still choose animal testing over alternatives is because animal testing has the advantage of being low-cost. Therefore, animals are only being used because they’re a more affordable option for these companies.

Choosing cruelty-free products opens the door to a healthier life. Mainstream products often contain harsh or toxic chemicals that do nothing for you and harm your health. Our body absorbs everything we feed it, so why not choose to feed it with ingredients from nature? Why not choose 100% natural, plant-based and cruelty-free products?

5: Better for the Environment

Choosing natural products is better for the environment. Toxic cleaning products are potentially hazardous to the environment as well. These products are released into the environment during normal use when rinsing down the drain or through the evaporation of volatile organic compounds. Furthermore, the process of creating cleaning products affects the environment if a particular company is not taking proper care of the toxic waste they create.

Even though standard sewage treatment effectively reduces or removes most cleaning product constituents in wastewater, certain ingredients in cleaning products are not effectively treated. It has been found that alkylphenol ethoxylates, which is a common surfactant ingredient in cleaners have been shown to cause health effects in wildlife that is exposed to it in polluted waters through disruption of the endocrine system. This example is one of many surfactants used in conventional products that are threatening aquatic life and these chemicals either biodegrade slowly or biodegrade into more toxic chemicals.

In conclusion. By using our natural Euclove® Cleaning Products you can ensure that you are keeping your family safe and contributing to a better world. Even though we put so much effort to make our products gentle with your surfaces and health, you should make sure to pay attention to the manufacturer directions given on the label on all our cleaning products. If in doubt, please contact us – we are more than happy to help you. One extra tip we have for you is to always use the correct dilution ratios to prevent damage.