The Secrets of Dish Soap: How to Use Everyday Cleaners Safely

The Secrets of Dish Soap: How to Use Everyday Cleaners SafelyGrandma Sun, after retiring, kept her kitchen spotless every day, even polishing her dishes to a shine. To make her dishes cleaner, Grandma Sun especially loved using dish soap, believing that more bubbles meant a better clean

The Secrets of Dish Soap: How to Use Everyday Cleaners Safely

Grandma Sun, after retiring, kept her kitchen spotless every day, even polishing her dishes to a shine. To make her dishes cleaner, Grandma Sun especially loved using dish soap, believing that more bubbles meant a better clean. However, recently while watching the news, she heard a report on CCTV about some dish soaps containing formaldehyde, which could even be carcinogenic. This news left her in a panic. Grandma Sun wondered to herself: "How can dish soap contain formaldehyde? I use it to wash dishes and pots, even wash fruit, could this harm my family's health?" Increasingly anxious, Grandma Sun decided to ask her neighbor, Big Sister Li, who is very attentive to these types of matters. What dish soaps are safe? Grandma Sun began to realize that seemingly ordinary everyday matters might not be as simple as they seem.

I. Why does "harmless" dish soap contain formaldehyde?

Dish soap, an essential cleaning product in every household, is used to wash dishes and utensils, and everyone assumes that it makes them clean and hygienic. However, when you realize that some dish soaps contain formaldehyde, you probably won't feel at ease. Why does dish soap contain formaldehyde?

Let's first talk about what role formaldehyde plays in dish soap. Formaldehyde is not added to dish soap to "harm people," but rather for preservation. That's right, it has a strong preservation effect, inhibiting the growth of bacteria and microorganisms. If dish soap is left for a long time, the nutrients inside are prone to deterioration and mildew, especially in humid environments.

In addition to preservation, formaldehyde also helps improve the cleaning power of dish soap. It's like adding a "booster" when running, making the dish soap "run" faster and steadier. However, although this "booster" is useful, it hides health risks. Using dish soap containing formaldehyde for a long time, even if the amount is within the national standard, can still cause some potential harm.

Many people will ask, will this small amount of formaldehyde cause any harm to the body? The answer is: a short-term, small dose of formaldehyde will not make you sick immediately, but the problem lies in the cumulative effect over time. Although these residues are very small, formaldehyde is not a "friendly" chemical. With long-term contact, even in small amounts, it can burden the liver, respiratory system, etc.

Furthermore, some poor-quality dish soaps may cut corners in their formulas to reduce costs, leading to excessive formaldehyde content. Many of the unqualified dish soaps that were previously exposed by CCTV were named and shamed because their formaldehyde content exceeded the standard.

In short, formaldehyde in dish soap is not an unavoidable "bad guy." It has its uses and its rationale for existing, but for health considerations, we should still choose products with a higher safety factor and pay attention to correct usage. We hope that while cleaning, everyone can also add an extra layer of "protection" for their family's health.

II. The Truth About Dish Soap Residue

The claim that formaldehyde residue from dish soap can cause cancer makes many people nervous. After washing dishes, will we eat the formaldehyde when we eat from them?

First, dish soap may indeed contain trace amounts of formaldehyde. As mentioned earlier, formaldehyde has a preservation effect, which makes dish soap last longer without deteriorating, but as long as the product is produced by a reputable manufacturer, the formaldehyde content is generally within the national standard.

In fact, we need to look at this from two aspects: the amount of residue and the duration of contact. Scientific tests have shown that if the amount of dish soap used is appropriate and dishes are thoroughly rinsed with clean water after washing, the amount of formaldehyde residue is negligible. The two main factors that affect the amount of residue are: excessive use of dish soap and incomplete rinsing.

Many people like to pour a large blob of dish soap when washing dishes, thinking that this creates more bubbles. However, using too much dish soap makes it harder to rinse clean, resulting in a slippery feeling on the dishes after washing, which means the residue is exceeding the limit.

Incomplete rinsing is also a major culprit for "leaving" formaldehyde on the dishes. Especially in winter when the water is cold, people are prone to washing dishes quickly and just giving them a quick rinse, thinking that they are clean as long as there are no bubbles. In reality, this may still leave a lot of dish soap residue behind. If there is residue on the dishes when eating, it is equivalent to consuming the formaldehyde.

As for the claim that "formaldehyde residue can cause cancer," this is actually somewhat of an exaggeration. Formaldehyde is indeed classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization, but this is under the condition of massive exposure. However, the trace amounts of formaldehyde residue in dish soap, as long as it's not a dish soap with excessive formaldehyde content, is used daily, and eaten in large quantities, this risk is completely negligible.

So how can we determine whether the dish soap at home is safe? First, look at the ingredient list on the packaging. If it lists "formaldehyde" or "formaldehyde-releasing agent," it's best to avoid it. Second, smell it. If it has a particularly pungent odor, it's best not to use it, as it indicates that it contains a lot of fragrance and chemical ingredients. When using it, control the amount of dish soap, rinse it several times after washing, and ensure that there is no slippery feeling on the dishes.

III. These Three Types of Dish Soap Should Be Used Sparingly!

When selecting dish soap, many people only focus on the brand and price, but ignore its ingredients and safety for use. Especially the following three types of dish soap should be avoided, otherwise they may pose health risks.

1. Layered and Cloudy Dish Soap

If you notice that your dish soap has layered or the liquid appears cloudy when poured out, then be wary. This usually indicates the use of inferior raw materials or thickeners. These thickeners are often cheap chemicals like polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, etc. Not only do they not significantly improve cleaning effectiveness, but they can also cause skin allergies. Washing dishes with them is like wiping the plates with "medicinal water," which makes people uneasy.

2. Strong-Smelling Dish Soap

Many people are attracted by the scent when buying dish soap, and a pungent fragrance makes the dishes feel "fragrant" after washing. However, dish soap with a strong fragrance often contains a large amount of "perfume," which is not simply plant extracts, but synthetic chemical substances. These substances, such as styrene, phthalates, etc., can provide a sweet scent, but they also have some allergic and toxic properties. Therefore, don't be fooled by the strong fragrance when buying dish soap If you smell a particularly pungent, long-lasting fragrance, put it down immediately. This kind of "perfume-like dish soap" may just be "selling a dog's head as a lion's," with poor cleaning power and health risks.

3. Dish Soap Purchased From Unofficial Channels

Online shopping is convenient, but there are many hidden traps. Especially some dish soaps that claim to be "ultra-low price," often are counterfeit or inferior products. These products often lack proper production qualifications and inspection certificates, with unclear formulas and ingredients. Many people seek cheap deals, tempted by online dish soap that is a few yuan for a large bottle, only to end up paying for these substandard products with their health. The dish soap you get back may be too thin, too sticky, or have a strange smell. Compared to a regular product, the difference is obvious. Even if such dish soap is diluted before use, the effect is still poor, and long-term use may also affect the health of your family.

Dish soap, as a cleaning product that we come into contact with daily, its safety cannot be ignored. When selecting, be sure to be discerning and avoid "three no products" that are layered and cloudy, have a strong fragrance, and are purchased from unofficial channels. There are no shortcuts to health, don't let your pursuit of temporary cheapness make you and your family bear unnecessary risks.

IV. How to Use Dish Soap Correctly?

First, pay attention to the amount of dish soap used. Many people think that the more they use, the cleaner it will be, and they want to pour the whole bottle in. However, the active ingredients in dish soap can achieve the best effect within a certain concentration, and excessive use will actually reduce the cleaning

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