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"Guys, you know I love to clean. I&amp;#x27;m well aware that this makes me sound like a nut, but there&amp;#x27;s something so stress-relieving about a good scrub of the bathtub or a whole-house vacuuming tirade. But, a while ago, I realized that the cleaning product I was using to scour my bathroom was leaving me feeling a bit woozy and wheezy. A health warning for you (and me) and a great healthier product to try ... I recently broke up with Comet (you know, the powdered cleaner for the bathroom?). I&amp;#x27;m a little embarrassed to admit it, given my interest in green living, but I&amp;#x27;ve been using this not-so-eco-friendly cleaner for years. Don&amp;#x27;t shoot me! My mom used it when I was growing up, as did my grandma. It was my norm! But, several months ago, I realized that I actually felt a bit sick after cleaning the bathroom--cough, mild nausea, headache. Whoa! And then one day, after scouring out the sinks, I noticed that my lungs sort of felt weird. Every time I took a deep breath, I felt like coughing. This was my wake-up call. I did a little research and found some enlightening facts about the cleaner I&amp;#x27;ve used for years. Apartment Therapy had this to report: &amp;quot;According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (a division of the Department of Health and Human Services), sodium hydroxide [an ingredient in Comet, and cleaners like it] &amp;#x27;is very corrosive and can cause severe burns in all tissues that it comes in contact with. Sodium hydroxide poses a particular threat to the eyes, since it can hydrolyze protein, leading to severe eye damage. Inhalation of sodium hydroxide (most common when you&amp;#x27;re cleaning in small spaces like bathrooms) &amp;#x27;is immediately irritating to the respiratory tract. Swelling or spasms of the larynx leading to upper-airway obstruction and asphyxia can occur after high-dose inhalation. Inflammation of the lungs and an accumulation of fluid in the lungs may also occur.&amp;quot; Yes, these are extreme warnings, but you know what? With apologies to Comet, I&amp;#x27;m no longer willing to risk my lung health for a sparkling bath tub. My healthier alternative? I&amp;#x27;ve switched to Mrs. Meyers Surface Scrub, which isn&amp;#x27;t made with harsh chemicals, yet still provides the power to get my bathroom clean. I also love that it comes in scents that include Basil (my fave) and Lavender! Tell me your thoughts on harsh cleaning products? Do you have qualms about hardcore cleaners as I do? What alternatives have you found? More reading: *5 reasons why it&amp;#x27;s a good idea to call in sick *The berry that could help you fight off swine flu... *Natural cold remedies to try at the first sign of a sniffle... More Ways to Get Glamour You could win $50,000 just for registering for or logging in to Glamour.com! Sign up for Glamour.com&amp;#x27;s Style Tips of the Week and Beauty Tip of the Day newsletters! Add Glamour to your iGoogle homepage. Follow us on Twitter! Photos: Mrs. Meyers, Getty"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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