Research-backed
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Gone are the days when we used some soap and water to have an immaculate household. Now disinfectant wipes are all the rage! It is used at home, school, restaurants, office, and even while we travel. These wipes are handy not just to clean our rooms and surfaces, but also cellphones, laptops, doorknobs, and stair rails. Imagine any place where germs could be present (which is almost everywhere these days), and disinfectant wipes come to the rescue. Unlike the traditional sprays used earlier, these wipes are much more convenient to sanitize almost everything. However, a recent report shows that some of these disinfectants can be hazardous for your kids if you are not being careful(1).
A recent report by Consumer Reports shows that quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) present in certain cleaning products can be harmful to your kids. In fact, quats are actually registered as pesticides under EPA. Since these disinfectant wipes come in cylindrical canisters, they are easy to grab by children. With long term exposure, the active ingredients present in these can lead to asthma and other health issues in children.
Besides quats, bleach and hydrogen peroxide are some of the active ingredients found in disinfectants(2). Quats, however, are more concerning compared to the rest since they are marketed as classroom-friendly products to schools and teachers. You may find them on labels with a different name such as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. Ideally, any product that has active ingredients registered as pesticides by EPA should bear a caution saying “Keep out of the reach of children.” But since this is not followed, it is critical that you check the label before using any product.
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A study done by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed cases of pesticide-related illnesses found in schools and other child care institutions from the year 1998 to 2002. It was found that disinfectants such as quats and bleach were the cause of 830 pesticide-related cases out of the total 2,593 cases. It was found to affect the eye, skin, and cause upper respiratory irritation in school kids.
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And it’s not just kids, these products can cause problems in adults too. However, kids may be more affected by it. Jerome Paulson, pediatrician and professor at George Washington University says that exposure to these chemicals can be greater in kids in terms of inhalation since the ratio of air they breathe per pound of body weight is more(3).
Here Are Some Ways To Clean Safely
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We understand that it may be hard to stop using disinfectants unless there is an alternative solution to protect your family from bacteria and germs. Well, there is!
1) Limit The Use Of Disinfectants
While it may be critical to use disinfectants at facilities such as healthcare, scrubbing with some soap and water may do the job when you are cleaning at home. You need not use disinfectants to clean as there are plenty of safe cleaning products out there that will help you get rid of germs(4).
2) When You Need To Disinfect, Follow The Instructions Right
For example, if one of your family members is contracted by a highly contagious virus, it calls for the use of disinfectants. Any traces of vomit of diarrhea should be first cleaned before disinfecting. So, make sure you check the product label and follow the instructions thoroughly to do it properly.
3) Keep Away From Kids
Make sure the kids are not around when you are disinfecting a surface or an area. This will prevent them from touching the drying liquid or even ingesting it. Also, it’s best to keep them away for a little while afterward, probably about 20 minutes as these products give off fumes which have been associated with respiratory irritation and asthma.
4) Consider Safer Options
It was found that disinfecting products with hydrogen peroxide had fewer negative effects on health when compared to bleach and quats. Hence the safer option would be to go for products that have only hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient(5).
The bottom line is this: Go easy on disinfecting products and remember that you don’t have to disinfect your house every day unless it’s absolutely necessary.
