How a Natural Stainless Steel Cleaner Can Make a Difference
It can be tempting to reach for the strongest, most chemical-laden cleaner on the shelf when it comes to keeping your stainless steel appliances clean. After all, you want to make sure those pesky fingerprints, streaks, and stains are gone for good. But have you ever stopped to think about what you're spraying on your kitchen surfaces? If the label has a giant "danger" symbol, that's usually a good indication that the product isn't safe for you or your family. Plus, who wants to inhale all those toxic fumes while trying to cook dinner? Gross.
The Problem With Traditional Stainless Steel Cleaners
Traditional stainless steel cleaners typically use petroleum distillates. These compounds have many different names including: aliphatic hydrocarbons, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, amongst many others. Companies have relied on these ingredients for decades because they are relatively cheap and effective. However, this all comes at a substantial cost to the environment and our own health.
Environmental risks
The extraction of petroleum from the earth negatively impacts the environment [2]. This process involves drilling or digging into the ground, which disrupts natural habitats and ecosystems. It also releases pollutants into the air and water, including volatile organic compounds, nitrogen and sulfur compounds, and spilled oil. These substances harm plant and animal life and contaminate soil and water sources. That's sure a lot of harm for a clean kitchen!
Health Risks
Secondly, using these chemical cleaners in the kitchen when preparing food raises concerns about the potential for chemical residue. Ingesting petroleum or petroleum-based products can be hazardous to human health. Petroleum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, chemicals of hydrogen and carbon atoms. These chemicals are harmful when ingested and cause various symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, ingestion of petroleum can lead to serious health issues, such as aspiration pneumonia, which occurs when the substance is inhaled into the lungs [3].
Ingesting petroleum can also have other harmful effects on the body. Hydrocarbons can interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients and can potentially cause liver and kidney damage [4].
The Benefits of Using a Natural Stainless Steel Cleaner
Using a natural stainless steel cleaner has many benefits compared to traditional cleaners. One of the main benefits is that they are safer in the kitchen. Natural cleaners are made from plant-based or mineral-based ingredients, which pose significantly less hazards than their petroleum counterparts. They are also less likely to leave behind harmful chemical residues that can inherently be ingested.
Another benefit of natural stainless steel cleaners is that they are safer for the environment. The production and disposal of natural cleaners have a lower impact on the environment than traditional cleaners, which can generate harmful by-products and contribute to pollution when disposed of. Natural cleaners are typically biodegradable, meaning they break down quickly in the environment and do not leave any toxic residues behind.
In addition to being safe for use in the kitchen and gentle on the environment, natural stainless steel cleaners are also a safer option for use around children and pets and for people who are sensitive to chemical cleaners. A natural stainless steel cleaner can provide a safer, more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional cleaners.
How to Use a Natural Stainless Steel Cleaner
Using a natural cleaner like Therapy Clean is an easy and effective way to remove smudges, grease, and grime from the surface.
- Spray the cleaner onto the stainless steel surface and wipe in the direction of the grain.
- Wipe in the direction of the grain to remove residues.
- Lightly polish with a soft microfiber cloth to reveal a brilliant shine.
What's the Best Natural Stainless Steel Cleaner?
Call us biased (because we are), but Therapy Clean offers a 100% USDA BioBased Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish. Made with natural coconut oil, our formula is designed to cut through tough grime and leave a brilliant glossy finish. Plus, it's scented with lavender essential oils for a relaxing experience while cleaning your fridge. Just spray, wipe, and admire away!
