Those ‘fresh’ scents are really a witches’ brew of toxins

It’s one of the best-kept secrets out there — what exactly is in that cleaning product that makes it smell so good?

One thing is for sure, it isn’t the actual “essence” of pine, lemons, oranges, or any other natural ingredients!

Those “fresh” scents come from a witches’ brew of toxic chemicals, ones that the industry can hide from the public under the guise of “proprietary information.”

But that may all be changing — because somehow (considering what they were up against!), California has managed to pass a “Cleaning Product Right to Know Act.”

The legislation will force companies who add nasty fragrance chemicals (including ones that can cause cancer), to sprays, foams, and wipes to “come clean” about what you’re exposing yourself to when you use them.

Some crazy things may come out of California — but sometimes, that hippie state hits the nail right on the head!

While this is a major achievement, it’s going to take some time to put into effect — around three years.

That means that you need to know some tricks of the trade right now, so you can start purging these toxins from your home.

Smells like 2-butoxyethanol!
The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act was authored by California State Senator Ricardo Lara, who recalled how his mother would often come home sick and dizzy after using these products to clean houses.

“She never questioned that there might be a link,” he said.

Well, now we know there is.

Some of these toxins include 2-butoxyethanol, which is commonly added to glass and multipurpose cleaners to give them a “sweet” fragrance. Just inhaling it for a short time can give you a sore throat, while high exposure can cause liver and kidney damage.

While the EPA sets a “safe” level for this compound in the workplace, no such safeguard exists when you use a product containing it in your home. And if that bathroom, for example, isn’t well ventilated, you could wind up being exposed to amounts that exceed allowable workplace levels.

Plus that, phthalates, used to scent items such as air fresheners, soaps, and even toilet paper, have been linked to asthma, ADHD, diabetes, and even breast cancer — to name just a few.

The fact that the chemicals used to make products smell good have been allowed to remain industry “trade secrets” shows just how much power these companies have.

But this new act will finally force the hand of some big-name manufacturers to disclose well over 2,000 compounds used to add fragrance to products. And it can’t come soon enough.

Although it will only apply in California to start, its effects will most likely ripple across the entire U.S., as companies are unlikely to make special labels just for one state.

Even if they do, however, the law also calls for online disclosure to go into effect before product labels are updated.

But that doesn’t help you right now, does it? After all, that bathroom isn’t going to clean itself!

So, in the meantime, here are some ways to make your home a safer place:

• As with food labels, look for detergents and soaps with as few ingredients as possible. Opt for “natural” or organic products that even big companies are making these days.
• Ditch the air fresheners and room sprays. For cooking odors, open a window or turn on your range fan. If you have a dog whose area needs a little odor control, look for sprays made from essential oils, such as peppermint, made for that purpose (although that’s not a good option for homes with cats).
• Use alternative methods to clean glass, such as a spray made from vinegar and water. One expert even suggests using straight vodka to shine up metal or glass!

Environmental experts say that the average home contains over 60 toxic chemicals — and probably most of them are right under your kitchen sink.

So, why not make it a New Year’s resolution to start eliminating them… one by one… so that by this time next year, your home will truly be a much healthier place for you and your family.

“‘Cleaning Product Right to Know Act’ becomes law in California” National Safety Council, November 7, 2017, workerscompensation.com