Do young adults leave their homes and go out into the world knowing that bleach mixed with ammonia or vinegar can cause brain damage and even death? Probably not. I didn’t know until a friend informed me when I was in my late 20s. At that point, I’d experienced my share of light-headedness, rashes and respiratory problems after cleaning my house. In later years, after my brush with poison, the side effects became dire: passing out, heart arrhythmia and seizures.

In today’s world, shelves are stocked with products highly laced with chemicals, like formaldehyde and chlorine, that can cause both immediate and long-term health effects.  You probably don’t know that due to the build-up of formaldehyde in our tissues, it now takes half the formaldehyde to embalm an American as it did just 20 years ago. Kind of freaky, right?

Kids are at the highest risk and are the most affected because their nervous, reproductive, respiratory and immune systems aren’t fully developed. Just think about how often they put their hands in their mouths! And imagine what these chemicals do to their brains. With the steep rise of mental health issues in our country, it’s hard not to link the use of chemicals.

It’s the manufacturers who have brainwashed us into thinking we need their easier, expensive products. But when’s the last time you saw a commercial for a cleaning product that cited all their harmful side effects? In this news clip, you’ll see that cleaning with chemical products has been determined to be as harmful as smoking cigarettes. Hopefully, commercials about the toxic effects of cleaning products aren’t far behind those we now see about cigarettes.

If you’re concerned about your children’s health and your own, stop using chemical cleaning products. It’s easier than you think. Here’s an app that makes shopping for cleaning products stress-free. Or think simple and inexpensive, like vinegar, baking soda, lemon or the myriad natural cleaners on the market. They may take a little more elbow grease, but they’ve worked for centuries. This simple and natural practice has been a literal lifesaver for me, and it may be for you, too.