Lets talk about Bleach, baby!

Blog, Dwelling

As always information is research based, evidence supported, and experience proven - provided for you to be able to know better and do better on your time and budget.

Chlorine Bleach

Myths:

  1. Bleach is the only thing that disinfects everything.
  2. Bleach is necessary to protect us from getting sick.
  3. Bleach can’t hurt us.
  4. I swam all of the time and I am fine.

Many symptoms are vague, difficult to pinpoint, and harder to correlate. For instance fatigue may not be just from “playing in the sun” all day.

Facts:

  1. Clorox website recommends mask, gloves, and removal of kids and pets while using (under proper dilution)   Do you do this? The studies are based off all recommendations being followed.

  2. IT IS HARMFUL: The EPA has limited the PPM because studies show high risk of birth defects and cancer with ingestion. The scary part: there are only studies for ingestion. There are no studies for long term/chronic inhalation or absorption through the skin. Using bleach wipe? Do you use gloves? Chlorine disrupts the endocrine system leading to changes in weight (often weight loss), nervous symptoms, and GI discomforts. With inhalation conjunctival irritation, lung irritation, pneumonitis, and edema (swelling and fluid in the airways) can occur. Also, since when is killing all germs beneficial? Our immune system has to be exposed to something to create a fight response.

  3. It is a sensitizer, meaning it can cause your body to create allergic type responses to many things.
    • Respiratory irritant. Do you cough when working with bleach? That is because it is irritating your airways. It can create an asthmatic type response. Long term it can cause fibrosis and other serious lung and airway damage. New studies show that professional cleaners often exhibit the same pulmonary symptoms as a 2 pack a day smoker!
    • Endocrine disrupter: causing fatigue, irritability, and poor rest.

  4. Chlorine Bleach is not the only option to effectively rid your home of potentially dangerous pathogens. You do not need it! I promise! I have cleaned my house with home made cleaners for two years now. I cook almost every meal at home. I chop on my counters and wood cutting boards. We have never gotten sick from raw meat contaminants. My house smells and looks clean. I eat off of my counters as do my children. Toilets are not sterile anyway, and my potty pucks make that job MUCH easier! Plus they stay cleaner longer since the oils hang out on the bowl!

What does NOT work:

  • Chlorox green effects (Basically no better than scrubbing with water).
  • Alcohol
  • Germ-Ex (alcohol based with limited coverage)
  • Lysol

What does work:

  • Vinegar: Works on pretty much everything but salmonella (especially if allowed to sit at least 60 seconds.)
  • Essential oils: Blends containing Thyme, Oregano, Clove, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Peppermint can all be helpful in protecting your home from pathogens.

Pools

Studies from 2011 show dangerous levels of chlorine in swimmers within 30minutes and lasting 2-3 hrs after swimming. (mostly in children, and presumably from ingesting the water).

Salt water pools are better. Yes, chlorination occurs but it does not produce the chloramines that is let off in a traditional pool. Studies also show much less HAA in a salt water pool. This reduces the risk of irritations and sensitivities.

Did you know? For lab work to result as abnormal your system being tested would have only 30% or less of its function remaining? Have you ever had your thyroid tested because you seemed to by symptomatic but the lab work was “normal”? Normal lab work does not indicate optimal organ function.

Detox: Geranium essential oil, magnesium (think epsom salt soak), drink water, support your liver with healthy greens.

Wouldn’t you love to clean your house without needing gloves?

Not using gloves? I highly recommend you throw away your cleaners or buy some gloves (and maybe a mask too).

*Side note on salmonella. Infection from salmonella can produce long term effects if not addressed. Studies suggest certain strains can product recombinant DNA damage requiring oxidative repair (Potent antioxidant drink, diet, and gut repair will be imperative to healing from an infection).

References:

#bleach #spoiledlife #clean #cleaning #household #dwelling