Pros and Cons of Oven Cleaners

Jan 25, 2012 by lisaheader

As there are places and things to clean, there will be different types of cleaning products specially made for different places and things. You can find toilet cleaners, tile cleaners, window cleaners, bin cleaners, oven cleaners and many more offered on the market. This article is for oven cleaners and how they affect to us and the environment around us.

Oven cleaners are usually available as aerosol cans, pump sprays or disposable wipes. They remove burnt-on grease, food and spills. Oven cleaners work by dissolving grease and grime. They literally “eat away” hardened food deposits and oil so that you can rinse everything away and enjoy a spotless oven. Such detergents contain powerful corrosive agents and solvents to dissolve grease and strong perfumes. Cleaners in aerosol cans contain propellants and most wipes contain a large percentage of ethanol.

On the other hand, professional cleaners Anerley have proven that oven cleaners, along with drain cleaners, are two of the most toxic household products. Powerful corrosive agents, such as sodium hydroxide (lye), are found in some conventional oven cleaners. A single exposure to sodium hydroxide can severely burn the skin or damage the eyes. Oven cleaners also contain a large proportion of solvents to dissolve grease or oil. The majority of solvents are irritants to eye, skin and mucous membranes. In addition, they can damage the lungs, kidneys and neurological system. Solvents exposure occurs during inhalation or through the skin.

Oven cleaners in aerosol cans are even more dangerous, say professional cleaners Kensington. This is because they produce a fine mist of choking fumes that can be inhaled. This makes them particularly bad for people who suffer from asthma. This fine mist can also travel around your home and land on other surfaces such as your kitchen table or floor where children and pets play. Never use a conventional oven cleaner without good ventilation and wearing rubber gloves and a mask.

Some solvents have been classified as toxic to aquatic life. According to Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), one litre of solvent can pollute over ten million litres of groundwater. Once solvents have entered the aquatic environment, they are extremely difficult to clean up. Some solvents dissolve rapidly in water and others sink, but both types cause pollution which can travel significant distances from the initial source.