Household & Cleaning

If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to avoid cleaning products that include toxic ingredients.

You’ll know if a product is toxic if it has a pollution image warning, or advises you to use it in a well-ventilated area.

Look for products that are advertised as ‘fragrance-free’ and ‘dye-free’, or ‘green’ and ‘natural’.

Always take precautions when using cleaning products, like wearing gloves and well-covered clothing to avoid contact with your skin.

There are three main ingredients in your household cleaning products - surfactants, fragrances, and preservatives.

Surfactants are cleaning and foaming agents, which have the ability to remove dirt and bacteria from clothes, skin, and dishes.

Fragrances are added to make the cleaning product smell more appealing and to give your home a fresh, clean smell.

You use your cleaning products to get rid of bacteria and dirt - that’s why the cleaning product itself needs to contain preservatives to avoid becoming infected with bacteria and yeast.

If you suffer from allergies, it can be a constant battle - a build-up of dust can cause your allergies to flare up, and using cleaning products to get rid of the dust can cause it, too.

If you are known to suffer from allergies, it’s best to find cleaning products that are non-toxic to prevent a flare-up.

Baking soda and vinegar are useful cleaning alternatives that can be diluted differently for different uses.

It’s safe to use cleaning products during pregnancy, as long as precautions are taken.

Ensure that the room you’re cleaning has plenty of fresh air circling by opening a window or door to reduce the number of chemicals you breathe in.

You can also wear gloves to protect your skin so no chemicals are getting absorbed into your skin.

You should take care when using some cleaning products like aerosols that release a fine mist that you can easily breathe in, and when cleaning the oven as these cleaning products can be very strong.

Try and look for natural alternatives that are free of harsh and toxic ingredients.