You gotta keep your pad clean. But when you spray that cleaner on your kitchen counter, you might be getting rid of the remnants of last night's party, but you may also be doing as much damage to your body as a Dirty Bomb.

Everyday household cleaners can contribute to allergies, asthma, headaches, dizziness, chest pains, eye and skin irritations, birth defects, fatigue, depression, and cancer. Here's a list of 17 common ingredients in cleaners you probably have in your house right now, and the effects they can have.

Forget rubber gloves, you should be wearing a hazmat suit.

Ammonia –
Causes irritation to eyes and nose, breathing difficulties, chest pains, pulmonary edema (lungs fill with fluid), cataracts and skin burns. High exposure can lead to lung damage, blindness, heart attack or death. Has been shown to produce skin cancer. Typically found in glass cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, and disinfectants.

2-butoxyethanol / Ethylene glycol butyl ether –
This chemical can be easily absorbed by the skin or inhaled, and can damage the liver, kidneys, reproductive organs and cause blood disorders. Commonly found in all-purpose cleaners, window cleaners.

Ethoxylated nonyl phenols (gender-benders) –
This chemical has been shown to induce female characteristics in male fish (if that doesn't make you go "holy crap", nothing will), and poses such a threat to the environment that it has been banned in the UK. It is still available for use in the US. Typically found in household detergents.

Silica –
Shown to be a possible carcinogenic (causes cancer), and is commonly found in abrasive cleaners. Typically found in all-purpose cleaners.

Trisodium Nitrilotriacetate (NTA) –
Listed as possible carcinogenic by International Agency for Research on Cancer. It is used in laundry detergents and can have an adverse affect on the environment because it can impede the elimination of metals in wastewater treatment plants.

Xylene –
Often found in graffiti or scuff removers, oven cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners. This chemical has shown reproductive harm in lab experiments and is a neurotoxin that can cause memory loss with repeated exposure.

Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) –
Once mixed with acids (typically in toilet bowl cleaners), it can form a chlorine gas. In case you're not a history buff, chlorine gas was used as a weapon of war in the early 1900’s. If mixed with ammonia, it can form chloramine gas. Short term effects of inhaling this gas are burning eyes, inflammation of the sinuses and airways, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Long-term exposure will lead to damaged lung tissues and the condition, Chemical pneumonia. Bleach is also acutely toxic to the environment. Usually used as an ingredient in laundry bleaches, dishwasher detergents, and tub and tile cleaners.

Sodium Hydroxide –
Often found in oven cleaners and is a derivative of lye. This chemical can eat through the top layer of skin and cause severe tissue damage.

Phosphoric Acid –
Found in household cleaners, most typically bathroom cleaners, designed to remove mineral deposits or hard water stains. Can cause eye, skin and lung irritation. Breathing vapors can burn the lungs.

Phenol –
Typically found in air fresheners, this chemical can cause convulsions, cold sweats, skin eruptions, circulatory collapse and in extreme cases, comas.

Toluene –
Often found in oven cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners. If inhaled can cause euphoria, confusion, depression, vertigo, dizziness, seizures, headaches, hallucinations, ataxia, optic neuropathy (damage to optic nerves to blockage of blood supply), peripheral neuropathy (damage to peripheral nerves which carry information between the brain and spinal cord), stupor, and even coma.

Tetrachloroethylene –
Is a central nervous system depressant. If inhaled, it can cause nausea, confusion, sleepiness, dizziness, headaches, difficulty speaking or walking, unconsciousness and death. This is commonly used as a solvent in dry cleaning or in spot removers.

Phthalates –
described as a ‘fragrance’, this chemical is found in air fresheners, cleaners, and even dryer sheets. They produce fumes that can be inhaled and cause asthma, allergies, and disrupt estrogen metabolism (potentially causing cancer).

Perchlorethylene –
Typically found in carpet cleaners. It is a carcinogen and can damage your kidneys, liver and nervous system.

Ammonium Hydroxide –
Also found in carpet cleaners, this chemical is corrosive and extremely irritating to skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Fumes from this chemical can cause sleepiness, dizziness, loss of appetite or nausea, and disorientation.

Formaldehyde –
This is a carcinogen and can trigger allergic reactions, dermatitis, immune dysfunction, joint pain, asthma attacks, headaches, and skin and eye irritation. It is found in spray starch, air fresheners, carpet shampoos and deodorants but is not always listed as an ingredient. Oh yeah, it's also used to embalm dead bodies.

Butyl Cellosolve –
Common in all-purpose cleaners and window cleaners, it can damage bone marrow, nervous system, kidneys, and liver.

In looking at a few household cleaner labels, it's apparent that there is little that a manufacturer has to show on their labels. Regulations are very lax when it comes to these types of chemicals. Many cleaners do not even include their active ingredients on their labels.

So how can you lessen the chance you'll grow an extra limb from just cleaning your house? You can play it safe and go green. But you need to be careful. "Green" products make all kinds of environmental and health claims, but not all product's claims are valid. In this industry there are very few regulations and there are no standard definitions of terms like "non-toxic", "biodegradable", "natural", and even "environmentally friendly". So while many products boast they are good for our environment, they may be only slightly better than the non-green products.

To choose the right environmentally safe cleaner, look for products that are:
- Bio-degradable
- Not tested on animals
- Sustainable
- Made from renewable sources such as plant or mineral based ingredients

If you’re not sure about a product, check out the warning labels, if they mention the product’s hazards, then it’s probably not a very environmentally safe cleaner.

Here are 6 "Green" cleaners that are worth a try:

- Clorox Green Works offers a full line of household cleaners that boast that they're made with natural, plant-based ingredients and are just as effective as the conventional cleaners. Their green line of cleaners includes an all-purpose cleaner, glass and surface cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, dilutable cleaner, and a bathroom cleaner – all more than 99% percent natural.

- SimplySafe is another green cleaner manufacturer that offers a full line of products for any of your household cleaning needs. They have the usual all-purpose cleaner, plus an individual cleaner for glass, floor, toilet bowl, and tub and tile, as well as laundry detergent. Thier products are non-hazardous, free of toxic fumes, and use carbon-based ingredients. They typically contain natural ingredients such as purified water and even their bottles are 100% recyclable and undyed.

- 20 Mule Team Borax is a natural laundry cleaner, but it is also effective as a household cleaner. It removes tough stains from clothing and acts as a multi-purpose cleaner and deodorizer. The cleaner is made from 100% Borax (a naturally occurring mineral) and is also free of chlorine and phosphates and is not harmful to washing machines or septic tanks.

- Ecover manufactures an all-purpose cleaner, glass and surface cleaner, as well as laundry cleaners such as stain remover and laundry wash, and some unique dishwasher detergents such as Herbal dishwashing liquid and Lemon and Aloe Vera dishwasing liquid. They all contain plant-based ingredients (which are listed on their website), they are not tested on animals, are safe for river and marine life, as well as septic tanks, and far exceed legislative requirements.

- Bon Ami is most widely known for their Formula Cleaning Powder, which has been around since 1886, but they have also added an earth-friendly polishing cleanser to their line that is biodegradable and does not contain chlorine, perfume or dye. The cleanser has a long list of uses and can be found at your local grocery store.

- SimpleGreen has been manufacturing environmentally green household cleaners for over 30 years and their current product line includes more than 20 different cleaning products. All their products are non-toxic, biodegradable, non-corrosive, non-acidic and free of solvent or bleach. These products are also cost effective, meaning they offer the most cleaning power for your dollar.

Information provided by PartSelect.com, an appliance parts retailer.

Resources:
http://www.purezing.com/living/toxins/living_toxins_harmfulhousehold.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Harmful-Are-Household-Cleaners?&id=883760
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/3-worst-household-toxins
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/HealthNutrition/six-household-chemicals-to-avoid/
http://organicheads.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/the-dirty-on-household-cleaners/
http://www.tripdatabase.com/spider.html?itemid=206586
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrachloroethylene
http://www.lifekind.com/catalog/chemical_glossary.php - Glossary of all chemicals