How to Avoid Inhaling Chemicals while Cleaning

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Here’s a short answer to the question “How to Avoid Inhaling Chemicals while Cleaning?” :

  1. Don’t use cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals.  Use greener cleaning products, which generally use more gentle substances.  In many cases, you can make your own cleaning products by using simple, very safe ingredients.
  2. Always ventilate the cleaning area well.
  3. Avoid ammonia, bleach and toxic drain cleaners.
  4. Follow the directions on the cleaning product. Use proper gear – gloves, mask, goggles, if necessary.
  5. If the job needs a professional, hire a professional. Some possible examples are mold remediation and serious cleanup situations involving sewage.

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about greener, healthier ways to clean.  Hopefully, this article will help you to learn more about how to avoid inhaling toxic chemicals while you’re cleaning!

This article aims to provide you with information about how to avoid toxic chemicals in your cleaning supplies, as well as ways to improve the cleaning experience.

Of course, please always use common sense, stay informed, and speak with a qualified professional about your particular situation. Best wishes!

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Slightly Longer Summary

    1. In household cleaning, some cleaning products may release harmful chemicals  (18 Toxic Cleaning Chemicals To Avoid)
    2. Be especially careful if you must use bleach or ammonia; ensure proper ventilation and do not mix either with other substances. Do not mix bleach and ammonia – it creates very dangerous gases, chlorine, and chloramine.
    3. To avoid harmful chemicals from cleaning products:
    4. Cleaning substances are a primary culprit implicated in poison exposures; make sure you follow proper protocols to create a safer environment, especially around children.

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Why you should Avoid Inhaling Chemicals (While Cleaning)

Inhaling toxic chemicals can create immediate and longer terms health issues.

For example, inhaling chlorine, a toxic gas that may be created by mixing bleach with ammonia, can cause a multitude of negative problems.

Don’t Mix These Cleaners

According to Good Housekeeping, there are several cleaning substances you do not want to mix. These include:

  1. Bleach and ammonia
  2. 2 types of drain cleaners
  3. Baking soda and vinegar
  4. Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar
  5. Bleach and vinegar
  6. Bleach and rubbing alcohol
  7. Bleach with anything but water

List of Toxic Ingredients (in Cleaning Supplies)

On top of that, there are many ingredients found in a lot of cleaning supplies that can potentially cause health issues on their own. You’ll find more details about by clicking on items on this list:

  1. Alcohol
  2. Ammonia
  3. Bleach
  4. Butyl Cellosolve
  5. Carbolic Acid (Phenol)
  6. Cresol
  7. Formaldehyde
  8. Glycols
  9. Hydrocarbons (Petroleum Distillates)
  10. Hydrochloric and Phosphoric Acids
  11. Hydrofluoric Acid
  12. Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
  13. Naphthalene
  14. PDCBs (Paradichlorobenzenes)
  15. Perchloroethylene
  16. Propellants (Propane, Butane & CFCs)
  17. Sulfuric Acid
  18. TCE (Trichloroethylene)

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Potential Issues

The issues that may be caused by improper exposure to these ingredients vary from dizziness to death and blindness.

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How to Avoid Inhaling Chemicals While Cleaning

In general, there are several ways to avoid toxic chemicals when you clean:

  1. Proper Ventilation
  2. Reduce usage of Cleaning Products that use Harsh/Toxic Chemicals
  3. Follow the Manufacturer’s Recommend Cleaning Methods
  4. Make Sure Children aren’t Exposed
  5. Clean without Toxic Chemicals

1. Proper Ventilation

First, use proper ventilation.  This means bringing fresh air into your working space.  In a household situation, this usually will be a fan and an open window or door.  Make sure you are positioned between the air blowing from the fan and the cleaning product; this should help you to breathe the fresh air before it reaches the chemicals.

2. Reduce Cleaning Products that use Harsh Chemicals

Second, avoid any cleaning products that use toxic substances. In most cases, you probably don’t need harsh cleaners to remove most dirt and grime. You can research most cleaning products at the Environmental Working Groups website.

Instead, use greener cleaners, including ones you can make yourself.

You can probably clean most things with some Castille soap and water.  For more info read – The Simplest, Greenest Cleaner You Can Find.

And while you may be worried about harmful germs, you need to balance that concern with overuse of chemicals that may cause problems, too.  If you do want something with disinfecting power that’s probably less toxic, there are more ‘natural’ alternatives. For example, check out our review of 7th Generation’s Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner.

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3. Follow the Manufacturer’s Recommend Cleaning Methods

Third, follow instructions provided by the manufacturer on how to use the product.

4. Make Sure Children aren’t Exposed

Fourth, if anyone is especially sensitive to inhaling chemicals, make sure they aren’t nearby when the cleaning is happening.

5. Clean without Toxic Chemicals

Please check out some of our articles discussing different aspects of greener cleaning.

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Conclusion

Try to use green, less-toxic cleaning supplies.

You probably don’t need anything more than water, soap, and elbow grease.

Remember – read and follow the instructions, use proper ventilation, and try to clean greener!

Best wishes!

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