We assume carpet cleaning chemicals to be safe. However, in reality, many carpet cleaning chemicals available at our local stores are dangerously toxic.
A breeze wafts the freshness of the early sunrise into Amy’s face as she stands outside in her garden, smiling and feeling grateful for the “new” life that she has been blessed with.
In 2014, Amy, whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, was imparted with the sad news that she had a ping-pong-ball-sized tumor under her collarbone. She could not lift her arm; neither could she move her fingers without feeling the painful brunt of the benign mass. Doctors were unsure of putting her under the knife because it could possibly cause her to lose her hand. Eventually, they left the decision to her.
Amy opted out of the surgery, and instead, she decided to put her trust in her body’s natural healing capacity. She, however, knew her body wasn’t going to win this battle all by itself; she will have to support it.
So Amy set out to learn everything about tumors and what triggered them. This is when she came across a startling fact where she discovered that tumors can grow in response to exposure to toxins found in carpet and other household cleaning products.
“I initially found this information on the internet and I could not believe when I first read it,” says Amy. “I thought it was a joke. But when my doctors confirmed, that yes, this is very much possible, that’s when the reality of the fact dawned upon me.”
Household cleaning chemicals often contain toxins that are harmful for our health. When we clean our carpets and floors with these chemicals, the toxins can be left behind as residues. Later, these toxins can become airborne and enter our biological systems and cause all sorts of health problems—including cancer.
What type of carpet and household cleaning products are we specifically talking about here?
While toxins can be present in any carpet or household cleaning product, they are most commonly found in products that contain:
- Naphthalene
- Butoxy Ethanol
- Perchloroethylene
- Nitrilotriacetic Acid
- Hydrofluoric Acid
Soon after learning of the danger that was lurking inside her home, Amy decided to get rid of it. She disposed of all the harmful household cleaning products tucked away in her kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
Amy also had to make significant changes to her lifestyle. Every day, she would feel that her illness was getting the better of her, but then she would rise up and go again.
Now five years forward, Amy lives a healthy life and her tumor is gone. She believes she can’t pin the results on any one change but mentions her decision of getting rid of the harmful carpet and household cleaning products a critical one in helping her with her recovery.
For further reading: Damage control: When you need to call in carpet cleaning professionals
