Are your cleaning products making you sick?

Study finds regular use of cleaning products can be same as smoking pack of cigarettes per day.

Could your cleaning supplies be making you sick? A new study suggests they are, after finding that women who use household cleaning products regularly over two decades have reduced lung capacity. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Scientists from the University of Bergen, Norway, have published a study that suggests regular use of household cleaning products could have a similar effect as smoking 20 cigarettes per day. 

The study followed 6,000 women over two decades and found that those who routinely use cleaning products suffer reduced lung capacity as if they had been smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. 

Scientists think the cleaning products, which are often designed to disinfect by killing bacteria and viruses on contact, are also having an impact on airways in the body. Over time, the damage becomes significant and lung capacity starts to decline. 

The study did not name which chemicals were used, mostly because each person in the study used their products of choice. The common denominator is that those who used chemical cleaners developed reduced lung capacity. 

The scientists recommended the used of microfiber cloths and water. Soap and warm water can also do the job and vinegar can sometimes be used as a substitute for bleach, but it is not an all-powerful disinfectant. Ultimately, elbow grease and avoiding messes in the first place can do the most to contribute to a clean home.