In recent years the popularity of natural products has grown exponentially, resulting in many of the products of our day-to-day that we would usually buy from a supermarket or a store. We begin to make them ourselves in our homes in a totally artisanal way.
This custom also extends to household cleaning products, increasing the risk of possible household accidents or the appearance of health problems due to the improper handling of chemicals necessary for cleaning.
In fact, the real danger lies in their mistaken belief that if an ingredient is of natural origin it cannot be toxic. This idea has no validity, much less when it comes to the combination of chemical agents that can lead to serious poisoning.
Below we will explain those mixtures that under no circumstances should you carry out in your home.
Bleach and Ammonia
In household hygiene the two cleaning products that cannot be missing are bleach and ammonia, however these two should always be used separately.
Experts strongly prohibit the mixing of these two products, since they give rise to toxic gases called Chloramines.
This type of breathing gas could cause different symptoms: shortness of breath, irritation of the mucous membranes in the nose and eyes, burning in the throat, chest pain and nausea.
In cases of prolonged exposure, they may cause cancer, pneumonia, and fluid build-up in the lungs.
Bleach and Vinegar
Another possible combination for creating a home-made cleaning product includes bleach and vinegar. Vinegar alone is a quite harmless product, I feel very useful for cleaning wooden floors if we previously dilute it in water.
The problem arises when we mix the vinegar with a whitening agent such as bleach. Vinegar is an acid, while bleach has a high amount of sodium hypochlorite. By combining both products we will generate what is called "Chlorine Gas".
This gas is toxic and if inhaled we could begin to develop different symptoms, such as: pneumonia, shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and eye, nose and throat irritations.
If such exposure is proposed over time, the effects could worsen, even becoming fatal and irremediable.
Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach
The combination of alcohol and bleach gives rise to a well-known product, although without any cleaning use: chloroform.
Chloroform is well known as the solution most commonly used by thieves or murderers to lull their victims to sleep. If it comes to that, and you suddenly feel like being a secret agent, and you yourself, the factories, you need to know what's very dangerous.
Because if you inhale it long enough you may experience drowsiness, eye irritation, nervous system disorder, lung damage and skin irritations.
This last symptom may sound strange to you, as it is a gas that is inhaled and not touched. But the truth is that chloroform is a layer of being absorbed by our skin, something that many are unaware of.
Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide
This unusual combination is often used as a hospital disinfectant because it has a strong bactericidal action.
However, just as in the mixture of vinegar and bleach, the solution resulting from the mixture of these two components is highly toxic, especially if done manually and without using the appropriate dosage.
The product of this combination is called Peracetic Acid, which if inhaled can cause irritation of the mucous membranes and airways. If exposure is constant, permanent lung damage could occur, leading to cancer and death.
The conclusion to all this is simple: the handling of cleaning products must always be done under the supervision of a professional, with the appropriate protective equipment and following the relevant protocols established for its correct elaboration.
Therefore, since all this equipment is very unlikely to be available in households, we will have to settle for using basic products or simply mixing bleach with water.
The rest of the experiments will be better left to professionals in the sector, for our own safety.
Dashing Maids can help you with your natural cleaning needs. Give us a call today to schedule your next cleaning.
Customer Testimonials
I was extremely pleased with Ashley’s team and they left my house extra-sparkling, making me look good for my in-laws’ visit. All traces of puppy fur and hard-to-remove gunk removed, and the house smelled clean, like lavender (not harsh chemicals). This is thorough, professional, fairly priced, and courteous service. All the stars!”
“We are very pleased with the service we received with Dashing Maids. Their communication and customer service is superb! Ashley is professional and has great attention to detail. She took the time to take notes on all the areas in our house that I wanted to have cleaned during our first walk through, which I really appreciated. In the past, I’ve done walk throughs with other cleaning companies, explained what I wanted cleaned, they nod “yes” and then didn’t follow through. When Dashing Maids came to clean on our scheduled date, they were very efficient. Everything looked great when they were finished and I’m looking forward to having Dashing Maids return on a regular basis.”
“I have never had a cleaning service, but considered it often. Dashing Maids put a flyer on my door which intrigued me enough to call them. I was impressed with their initiative and enthusiasm that I hired them after our initial meeting. Now every other week I get to come home to a wonderfully clean house with their charming additions that make me smile. I’m not sure they are trying to turn my “black thumb” into a greenish one, but I haven’t killed the lucky bamboo they left as a surprise yet. I’d fully endorse them as a cleaning, Dashing Maids service.”
“It’s so nice to come home to a sparkling clean house! I’ve worked with other cleaning companies in the past and Dashing Maids always provides a more thorough clean than I’ve found with other companies for a very reasonable price. Plus, they’re great with my dog and don’t mind that he’s at home when they come to clean. I highly recommend Dashing Maids!”
“There is no one that cleans our house as well as Katie does! She is meticulous and genuinely loves to clean, and it absolutely shows. We love it when it is our cleaning day. I could not be happier with the services provided by her and the Dashing Maids company. They are responsive, timely, and have overall been a pleasure to work with. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable cleaning company.”
“I have been using Dashing Maids for several years now, and appreciate the communication and consistency with which our home is cleaned. The cleaner that always treats our home as if it were hers is Katie. Thanks Katie for your hard work!”
“Hannah G was great! She even left a nice note on my countertop that said, “Have a great weekend!” I love personal touches like that.”
“Thank you Talon! It was great to walk into my office today to have it sparkly clean and ready for a week of patients!”
"We have been dashing maids customers for a couple of years now and the service is always impeccable. Most recently our cleaning team has included Katie and Hannah, and I always get excited when I see them arrive. I know my house will be clean and I’ll get the pleasure of their company while they clean it. They do a great job and give me such peace of mind!”
“Ashley and her crew are the best house cleaning service I have ever employed. So friendly and so fast, yet so thorough. My house feels and smells so clean, and that freshness lasts. Would highly recommend to all my friends."
We've been fortunate to have Dashing Maids clean our home for the past several years. Ashley and her entire team have been great to work with. We'd recommend them without reservation. Most recently, Tori and Carol cleaned our home with detail and care.
We really appreciate our cleaner,
Lily! She does more than just a quick “once over”. She recently found a class ring that had been missing for ages- thank you for a job well done! Dashing Maids delivers thoroughgoing service every time
Such a positive experience the whole time they were in my home. And the results are amazing. Very happy with the service and the staff. I knew what to expect but the outcomes exceeded my expectations. Lily, Mikayla and Alicia did so great!
We really appreciate our cleaner,
Lily! She does more than just a quick “once over”. She recently found a class ring that had been missing for ages- thank you for a job well done! Dashing Maids delivers thoroughgoing service every time