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It's antibacterial! It's antimicrobial! It disinfects, killing germs on contact! Do you really know how these cleaners work, or, in fact, if they live up to their claims? Since disinfectant household cleaners are responsible for 93% of home poisonings among children, isn't it time we paid attention to them? Studies indicate that four well-known brands, all concentrates, are the chief culprits, but legalities prevent the disclosure of their names.
When it comes to disinfectants, labels are often misleading or confusing. In recent years, the media and marketers have made us overly cautious about bacteria. Today, 76 percent of all liquid soaps and 29 percent of bar soaps contain chemicals that fight bacteria, not to mention the growing number of antibacterial additives in other products. Their overall effectiveness is questionable and when they kill bad bacteria they also kill good bacteria. In hospitals, continued use has caused some bacteria to develop immune "super-strains" that we can't combat or manage.
So-called antibacterial products target only bacteria. Antimicrobial is an inclusive term for products that kill or inhibit all microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and molds. Disinfectants are antimicrobial cleaners used specifically against disease-causing microbes. Antiseptic products are disinfectants, such as hydrogen peroxide, that can be used on the skin, usually on wounds.
Another frightening fact is that less than five percent of the 3,000 (U.S.) EPA-registered antimicrobial products sold, actually control infectious microbes. The rest restrain growth of algae, odour-causing bacteria, bacteria which cause spoilage or deterioration, and microorganisms infectious only to animals. The fact is, few of the microbes on and around us are harmless. Bacteria actually help us maintain a balance in both our internal and external environments. Exposure to bacteria may even be a good thing, simulating our immune systems to develop. Chemical disinfectants are bluntly, overkill. Most of the time, soap and water are all that's needed to get rid of germs. Cleaning your hands regularly is a big step in the right direction, as is keeping your home free of the dust and dirt that carry dangerous microbes using safer, natural cleaners.
For chemical-free cleaning, contact AspenClean and arrange to have our team clean your home using the all-natural AspenClean Way.
Sources: The Globe and Mail, ParentingBookMark.com, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Children's Health Environmental Coalition, Alliance for Healthy Homes
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