Serving Size: 4.84 MB Servings Per Container: 1 In Your Body On Your Body For Your Home For Your Family Seeking Medical Treatment How to Detoxify Your Body Guide to Symptoms A Healthy House Values, Vision & Mission Background & History Staff & Advisors News & Upcoming Events Join Our Mailing List Contact Us Recommended Resources Index of Terms Works Cited This product contains 100% natural ingredients. Easy Pay Pal Donations TNTP Grade A Brain-food More Special Features Back to Index of Terms The product Drain Cleaner is in the following categories: Household Cleaners Drain Cleaner CHEMICALS CONTAINED: One of the most toxic cleaning products found in the home. They usually contain lye and ammonia, petroleum by-products, synthetic dyes, and fragrance. Most synthetic dyes and fragrances are made from petroleum by-products or coal tars (a carcinogenic liquid or semi-liquid from bituminous coal). Coal tars can contain benzene, xylene, naphthalene, phenol and creosol. Synthetic fragrances are much less expensive than natural ones, and so are most commonly used. Most have not been tested for safety, or have undergone only minimal testing. Each individual fragrance may be made from up to 4,000 different chemical components. The chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets and so may be listed on labels only as “fragrance.” HEALTH CONCERNS: Lye is extremely corrosive. Even a tiny bit can burn through skin, and if inhaled it can burn the esophagus, respiratory and digestive tracts. Ammonia is irritating to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes, and can also burn. Ammonia fumes can cause headaches, disorientation and nausea. Synthetic fragrances may cause a wide range of acute and chronic effects such as respiratory irritation, headache, sneezing, watery eyes, other allergic symptoms, sensitization, nervous system depression and skin irritation. Nitrobenzene may be used in making synthetic dyes. Benzene is a known human carcinogen. Naphthalene is a possible human carcinogen that has been linked to cancer in animal tests, and exposure to large amounts may damage or destroy red blood cells. Nitrobenzene can irritate eyes and skin at low exposure levels, and in larger amounts has damaged liver and blood in animals. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: The best way to take care of drains is to prevent clogs from happening. Use a basket or trap to collect food, grease, soap, hair and other materials form going down drains. It also helps to regularly clean out deposits that coat the insides of drain pipes, causing slow drains and making clogs more likely. To do this, pour about a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a cup of warm or hot vinegar. The baking soda and vinegar react chemically to produce carbon dioxide. The fizzing dislodges material, and the vinegar and baking soda also clean away grime as they go down the drain, and they deodorize. After a few minutes, follow with very hot water. This also takes care of smells that can emanate from drains. Do this every week or two. If you have a clogged drain, here are some ways to clear it without using caustic, toxic commercial cleaners: Use a plunger or a “snake.” Often clogs can be dislodged mechanically with a little work. These tools don’t cost much and they don’t require any chemicals or cleaners at all. If you are looking for a commercial product for a stubborn drain, there are several brands of natural cleaners that use enzymes to break down the organic material in clogs. Note that these products can still contain toxic chemicals, so read labels carefully. Back to Index of Terms