ErdmannStlouis995
"Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaner" is quite a mouthful. What it means isn't way too hard to guess - or maybe it's.
Soapy detergent have been the universal "all purpose cleaners" since they were invented. They are used to wash the body, scrub our utensils, rinse our clothes as well as mop the floors - where applicable. What's so special about that?
In terms of "non-toxic", we somehow think that the products we use within everyday life are "safe". We do not be prepared to be slow poisoned by our food, our cosmetics or our household cleaners.
Sadly, the reality is very different.
Most cleaners are surfactant-based, and they contain either soap or detergent. While soap is organic in origin and mostly safe, it foams less and refuses to lather whatsoever in difficult water, which makes it an inconvenient universal standard. Detergent, however, is laboratory manufactured, and made to be cheap and versatile. In the process, certain compounds are introduced that are under friendly towards the body. Any store-bought cleaner will probably contain at least one of these ingredients:
Ammonia - Gives off fumes that irritate the eyes and lung membranes, resulting in asthma, blindness, eye inflammation, bronchitis, and respiratory failure.
Ethoxylated nonyl phenols (NPEs) - They are called "gender benders", as they possibly can cause male fish to exhibit female characteristics. Though banned in Europe, these NPEs are still utilized in the united states.
SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)/SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) - SLS, found in most shampoos and body washes, may cause irritation in the scalp and skin. When absorbed through skin into the bloodstream, it may act like the female hormone estrogen and cause secondary sexual characteristics. SLES' effects are milder than SLS, but it can't be broken down as SLS can, so stays in the body longer.
PEG, or polyethylene glycol - while PEG is not dangerous in itself, it can get contaminated by a number of highly toxic and potentially carcinogenic compounds - 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, for instance - within the manufacturing process.
This really is only the tip of the iceberg. Only recently have people grown conscious about the harmful toxins they get exposed to daily, and much research is needed before declaring any product a "safe" one. This research is only undertaken by companies who take a stand on ethics as well as profit, and make products that get the job done without unfortunate negative effects.
Non-toxic all-purpose cleaners eliminate the harmful compounds in many commercial cleaners, and use simple and biodegradable ingredients instead. Most of them will also be pH balanced to prevent skin corrosion, but they are as efficient just like any from the toxin-laden cleaners popular in today's market.
While most non-toxic all purpose cleaners are laboratory-synthesized, they draw their raw materials from plants - a sustainable source, instead of petroleum products. The emphasis is on ensuring that these products don't cause harm to anyone - with the idea to the user in the short term, or our planet in the long run.
