Avoid These 7 Risky Household Cleaning Products to Keep Your Family Safe

Keeping your house clean is likely one of your goals throughout the week. Whether you have little ones running around or teenagers, kids make a mess, and it's often left to us to clean it up. However, when you have kids around, you start to think more about what type of products you're using, especially when it comes to household products that could be harmful for your family.

While you may think that just because a company sells a household cleaning product means that it's safe to have around, that's not always the case. Some products can be extremely dangerous if children get hold of them, and others can cause serious harm if mixed with other products. To help you know what products to look out for, here are 7 risky household cleaning products to avoid.

Before we delve into some of the risky household cleaning products, it's essential to know what to look for. The EWG, or Environmental Working Group, offers a Guide to Healthy Cleaning, which provides information on some of the best products, key considerations, and how to read labels effectively.

On their website, you can also search for products that are EWG Verified, which means that they meet the strict standards set by the team of toxicologists, chemists, and epidemiologists at the EWG.

To determine some of the risky cleaning products, we looked at ratings from the EWG. The EWG has a scoring system that determines the potential hazard of certain products. This organization considers factors such as health concerns and ingredient concerns. You can view an explanation of the scoring system on the EWG website. Here are 7 risky products to avoid to keep your family safe.

• EWG Score: F

When you're looking for products that are safe to have around, you probably look for ones labeled as "green." However, some labels can be misleading. Even though "green" is in the name of this product, it's one of the riskier options out there. The EWG rated the ingredient disclosure for this product as poor and listed some of the possible health concerns as asthma/respiratory, skin allergies, or irritation.

• EWG Score: F

No one wants mold or mildew in their home. In fact, certain types of mold can be detrimental to your health and the health of your family. If you're looking for the best way to get rid of mold or mildew, it's best to skip cleaners like Lysol Mold & Mildew Remover With Bleach. According to the EWG, some of the health concerns related to this cleaning product include asthma/respiratory issues as well as developmental and reproductive toxicity.

• EWG Score: F

When you're looking for a way to keep your shower or tub clean, you may reach for this product at the store. However, there are many concerns about keeping this in the house, according to the EWG. This cleaning product received a high concern rating for developmental and reproductive toxicity, labeling some of the worst ingredients as oxygen bleach, lauryl pyrrolidone, and sodium salts.

• EWG Score: F

If you've got kids at home, the drains are bound to get clogged at some point. Whether your kids throw food down the kitchen sink drain or the shower drain gets clogged with hair, Drano is one of the most common products to use for drain clearing. However, it's important to be careful with this product, especially with little ones around. The EWG rated this product as high concerns for skin allergies and irritation. There are also concerns about the effect on asthma and respiratory issues.

• EWG Score: F

Floor cleaners can be particularly tricky when you're looking for something without concerning ingredients. One of the most popular options, Spic and Span Multi-Surface & Floor Cleaner, has received an F rating from the EWG. Some of the concerns include asthma and respiratory issues, developmental and reproductive toxicity, as well as a low concern for cancer. The worst ingredient included, according to the EWG, is nonoxynol-9.

• EWG Score: F

If you've got dirty windows, you probably turn to Windex first. According to the EWG, it's best to skip this product, however. The EWG listed health concerns for this product, including asthma and respiratory issues, skin allergies, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and cancer. There are many concerning ingredients listed, with the most concerning being ethylene oxide.

Pine-Sol is often known for its floor cleaners, especially those with a strong scent. However, the Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner received an F rating from the EWG. Some of the potential health concerns related to this product include asthma and respiratory issues, skin allergies, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and cancer. With a rating of poor for ingredient disclosure, there are many concerning ingredients in Pine-Sol, including cleaning agent, which is a non-specific ingredient.

No matter what type of household cleaners you have on hand, it's always best to be cautious, especially when you have young children at home. To keep your family safe from these products, consider these tips:

• Always keep cleaning and other household products away from children. You could store them in a high cabinet, a cabinet with a child lock, or in a room that your kids can't access.
• Only use the original container. Sometimes, we want to recycle containers, such as soda bottles or spray bottles, and use them to store household cleaners. It's best to keep cleaners in the original containers so that no one mistakes the product for something else.
• Never mix products. Some products can be extremely dangerous and create toxic fumes when mixed with other products. Always read the instructions carefully and avoid mixing any cleaning products.
• Don't induce vomiting and call poison control if ingested. While some parents still believe it's best to induce vomiting when a toxic substance is swallowed, doctors don't recommend this because it could lead to more harm. Instead, reach out to poison control immediately if you suspect a cleaning product was ingested.