Summer means it’s time for holidays, cookouts, and get-togethers. The nicer weather and vacation time lets family and friends get together—whether outdoors or safely indoors—and celebrate with games or gatherings.
But summer isn’t always all fun and games. These summer get-togethers might also get you moving on some late spring cleaning, or you might spend some time cleaning as you try to keep up with pollen, dirt, or other seasonal messes. If you’re cleaning up the wear-and-tear of day to day life, or if you’re trying to get ready for guests, you might find yourself reaching for cleaning products as you tidy up—particularly as you try to keep things sanitary and safe.
But when it comes to safety, these products can actually be some of the riskier items in your kitchen or bathroom. Yes—the products that are supposed to keep you safe can be as dangerous as some kitchen tools. Here, we’ll break down some of the products that can be most dangerous to your family’s health, and how you can stay safe when using them.
Bleach
Bleach has powerful cleaning properties that can help whiten laundry or sanitize kitchen surfaces, but those properties come with a major risk if used improperly. The strong fumes can irritate your eyes, lungs, or throat, and if the liquid comes in contact with your skin, it can cause painful burns, or red welts.
But maybe the biggest danger when it comes to bleach? Mixing it with other products—especially ammonia. These products when used together put off highly dangerous gasses, which can cause coughing, nausea, chest pain, and other symptoms. So when using bleach, always ensure it’s properly diluted, not used with other products, and only used in a well-ventilated space—and if you aren’t sure about using it, consider using another sanitizing product.
And bleach’s sanitizing properties work on hard, non-porous surfaces—that means it can damage porous materials, like wood surfaces. It can corrode metal if used improperly, and can weaken the sealant on granite countertops, eventually wearing through to the stone.
Ammonia
Ammonia can be used to clean up in the bathroom or kitchen—on tubs, tile, or to clean up crusted-on food in the oven or microwave. It’s also a great cleaner for glass. But this product comes with some major hazards—just the smell can cause your eyes to water and sting, and it can irritate your nose, and throat. When used improperly, such as when it’s not diluted, it can hurt your skin, too.
Always use ammonia according to the directions, and never mix with any product that contains bleach. Avoid using it on stone countertops—it can weaken the sealed surface in much the same way that bleach does. Consider using substitutes to clean microwaves and ovens—hot water can work just as well to clean a microwave, and baking soda can work just as well to clean caked-on food in an oven.
Oven and Drain Cleaner
Avoiding ammonia and using baking soda to clean an oven can help you avoid commercial oven-cleaning products—even those that don’t include ammonia can have very harmful chemicals in them. Oven and drain cleaners often include lye, which can cause burns if it comes in contact with your skin. Spray-on products are easy to inhale, too—breathing the fumes can give you a sore throat.
Always wear gloves and a mask, and work in a well-ventilated area. And use drain cleaners sparingly—they can damage your pipes, and the caustic chemicals can eat away at the enamel surface of a porcelain sink. Consider safer alternatives for a clogged or slow sink—like a mixture of vinegar and baking soda—before you reach for the commercial cleaner.
All-Purpose Cleaners
The multi-purpose cleaning agent you reach for every day might seem like one of the safest and most reliable chemicals in your kitchen or bathroom. But like any chemical cleaner, these solutions need to be used carefully, or they can pose some real hazards. Spraying on the cleaner can make it easy to inhale the fumes, which can make allergies and asthma worse, and if the solution comes in contact with your skin, it can cause irritation.
And every cleaner isn’t right for every kind of surface—the chemicals in all-purpose cleaners can be hard on countertops, and might wear down the protective surface. Make sure that the cleaner you use is safe to use on your type of surface, and consider greener alternatives or DIY solutions.
What should I do if a product has damaged one of my surfaces?
Household chemicals, when used safely and according to directions, can be very effective at cleaning and sanitizing your home. But when used on surfaces they aren’t intended for—or if an accident happens and a product comes in contact with the wrong type of material—it can strip and weaken surfaces, and leave your counters or other surfaces looking less than great.
But you don’t need to renovate the whole space—refinishing can get your counters, tub, or sink looking good as new. The new coating protects the surface and makes the space beautiful and functional—and it can even update the color. Faux granite countertops can give you a new surface with a variety of color options—whether you like traditional or in line with kitchen trends for 2021.
Where can I find counter and sink reglazing near me?
What about corian countertop repair near me?
Ready to get started with a project that includes countertop, sink, or bathtub refinishing? Memphis and the Greater Memphis area is the place to be—The Tub Pros proudly serve this area of the Mid-South, offering reliable, high-quality results that will get your home looking and functioning great.
Best of all? Our refinishing services save you the expense and hassle of renovation—which gets you back to enjoying your summer quickly! If you have a project, give us a call at 901-871-8827 or visit our contact page to get started.
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