Top 8 Dangerously Toxic Cleaning Chemicals to Avoid

cleaning and home concept - close up of male cleaning stain on c

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4. Perchloroethylene AKA Perc

This chemical is often used in carpet and upholstery cleaners, spot removers, and dry cleaning solutions.

Perc is a well-known neurotoxin as well as a possible carcinogen, according to the EPA. There have been numerous reports of people who live in buildings where dry cleaners are located that have stated they have symptoms of dizziness, loss of coordination, and other types of symptoms. These complaints have been so pervasive that the EPA has ordered that all perc machines to be removed from residential buildings by 2020. The State of California has gone even further and has said that they will no longer allow perc use in their state by 2023 due to health risks. Most people are exposed through inhalation, the smell on clothes that have been freshly dry cleaned or fumes that hang around after having your carpet, drapes, and furniture professionally cleaned.

You can avoid this by taking clothes, curtains, even small rugs that are marked as “dry clean only”, to wet cleaners, which use cleaners that are water based, not solvent based. Always ask your dry cleaner which method they use. Instead of chemical spot removers, simply rub some undiluted castile soap right on the stain before laundering.

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