由 home-healthhaven 
When you walk around your house, you probably don’t think about life-threatening items. Sure, there’s bleach that can be deadly if ingested in large amounts or knives that can cause serious harm if used improperly. But generally, we don’t consider our homes to be hazardous to our health.
However, it’s important to know that some common household products contain chemicals that can be harmful to our health, and we might not even be aware of it. Take air fresheners, for example. Designed to make our surroundings smell better, they can actually be quite dangerous.
Believe it or not, air fresheners often contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that’s highly toxic to humans. You might recognize formaldehyde as the chemical used in funeral homes for embalming. But it’s not even the only harmful ingredient. Air fresheners can also contain phenol, which can cause skin irritations like burning and peeling, and more severe reactions like cold sweats and convulsions if ingested or inhaled in large quantities.
While it’s true that these are extreme cases and most of us have used air fresheners without collapsing into a coma, it’s still something to consider. Air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oily film or by releasing a nerve-deadening agent, which is why they seem to work so well. But this could mean they’re doing more than just masking unpleasant odors; they could be affecting your health in subtle ways.
Another surprising household product that can be harmful is dishwashing detergent. The very detergent we use to clean our dishes is highly toxic and is the number one cause of child poisonings every year, according to poison control centers. This is due to the concentrated chlorine in the detergent, which is used to sanitize dishes but is also harsh on the skin.
The concentrated chlorine in dishwashing detergent is why it often dries out our skin. Detergents that are gentler on the skin use alternatives to chlorine and are, therefore, better for your health. Whenever possible, opt for these gentler detergents.
It’s crucial to remember that many household products contain chemicals we might not be aware of. Just like we should read the nutrition labels on food, we should also check the labels on household products. Although it might be challenging to identify which chemicals are harmful and which aren’t, it’s worth doing a bit of internet research to make more informed choices when shopping.
Knowing what you’re bringing into your home is an important step toward ensuring a healthier living environment for you and your family.