From laundry detergent and furniture polish to glass cleaner and hand soap, the cleaning products you use on a regular basis contain a wide variety of hazardous and toxic chemicals. Read on to discover some fast facts about these products:

• The average American uses 40 pounds of hazardous toxic household cleaners each year. – The Clean Water Fund

• Cleaning products are the 3^rd most common cause of poison exposure in adults. ­– American Association of Poison Control Centers

• Every 7 minutes, a child in America is taken to an emergency room for poisoning from household cleaning products. – American Association of Poison Control Centers

• 150 common household chemicals have been linked to short-term reactions like irritations and allergies, and long-term effects such as birth defects and psychological abnormalities. – Consumer Product Safety Commission

• On average, the human body contains 210 of the 75,000 chemicals registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. ­­– Environmental Working Group

• One-third of the substances used in “fragrance” may be toxic. – National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

• Oven cleaners, drain cleaners, wood and metal cleaners and polishes, toilet cleaners, tub, tile, and shower cleaners and bleach are considered “hazardous waste.” – Environmental Protection Agency

• A random sampling in 2002 found that 69% of streams across the country contained detergent metabolites, 66% contained disinfectants and nearly 57% were contaminated with triclosan, a popular antibacterial ingredient. – U.S. Geological Survey

Natural and non-toxic cleaning products, made from substances such as vegetable-based soap, herbs, essential oils, baking soda, vinegar and more can help keep your home clean, while limiting the impact to both your health and the health of the environment.