Fireproof Your Home from Toxic Cleaning Products

Researchers say that the chemicals in household cleaning products can damage your lungs as much as smoking cigarettes. This is a big one and includes dozens of top offenders, from oven cleaners and bleach to ammonia and toilet bowl cleaners. They release caustic chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sodium or potassium hydroxide, or ethanolamines, which cause lung irritation and inflammation.

According to American Lung Association, many cleaning supplies or household products can irritate the eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other health problems. Some products release dangerous chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals that vaporize at room temperature.