You may be ready to launch into spring-cleaning mode. Be careful! Consumer Reports says that some cleaning products contain dangerous ingredients.
Consumer Reports recommends avoiding antibacterials such as dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, which may help promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria. That harsh chemical can be found in several cleaners, including Scrubbing Bubbles Heavy Duty All Purpose Cleaner and some types of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes.
Better choices include Clorox Green Works All-Purpose Cleaner, which did well in Consumer Reports’ tough mess test. Also consider Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Wipes, a good option for occasional disinfecting, like when someone has a cold or flu.
As for your bathroom, be aware that toilet-bowl cleaners can harbor some of the most dangerous chemicals in your house. Products such as Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner Complete Clean contain hydrochloric acid, which can burn your eyes and skin. For a safer option, select a cleaner without hydrochloric acid, such as Seventh Generation Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner, which did well in Consumer Reports’ tests.
Spring-cleaning also means washing windows and making glass sparkle, but be careful with ammonia. It can potentially damage your eyes or lungs. Instead, try a glass cleaner that’s ammonia-free—such as Staples’ Sustainable Earth Glass Cleaner. Another option is to dilute ammonia: Use a half-cup in 4 cups of water.
The Environmental Protection Agency is offering more help in finding safer cleaning products. It has just issued a “Safer Choice” logo, which can be found on more than 1,000 products available at stores including Home Depot, Staples, Target and Walmart.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
SC Johnson, which sells Scrubbing Bubbles, issued the following statement regarding Consumer Reports' findings:
We want to address a recent Consumer Reports piece that mentions dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. Dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is an effective antimicrobial that has been evaluated and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).
In addition, its use in Scrubbing Bubbles Heavy-Duty All Purpose Cleaner has been approved by the U.S. EPA for consumer use in homes per the product label.
In order for SC Johnson to sell products such as Scrubbing Bubbles Heavy-Duty All Purpose Cleaner, U.S. EPA requires extensive product testing, in terms of product ingredients, safety and efficacy. The Consumer Reports piece neglects to discuss the efficacy of the product. We can verify the product has been proven highly effective, killing 99.9% of bacteria as it cleans, including odor-causing bacteria and viruses that cause the common cold and flu.
As a family company, nothing is more important to us than the health and well-being of the families who use SC Johnson products. Our products meet or exceed the high standards and regulations set by government regulatory agencies in the United States, Canada, the European Union and other global markets in which they are sold.
Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports’ website.
