Effective, versatile and accessible, this product is very popular in French housing. However, it is very controversial.
Some household products are far from harmless and can even represent a risk for the environment, but also for health. ADEME, the French public organization which accompanies the ecological transition in France, therefore recommends abstaining to use them as much as possible. Among them, a particularly popular product should be used only “exceptionally, when no other solution is possible, and with great precaution”. However, it is found in 7 -houses out of 10 cupboards without users being aware of the damage it can cause.
For more than a century, it has been anchored in cleaning routines, because it disinfects, whiten, and eliminates bad odors in a single product. Bacteria, viruses, mold: it would eradicate almost everything in its path and that is why this product is often acclaimed to clean up both floors and toilets. But it is also and above all controversial for its environmental impact and its dangers. Irifying the skin, eyes and respiratory tract, bleach can cause burns and allergic reactions in the event of direct contact. Its particularly aggressive vapors are likely to cause headache, persistent cough, even asthma attacks. According to a study by Lidia Casa et al, the Catholic University of Louvain, children are even more likely to develop respiratory infections in households that use bleach.
The greatest risk comes from hazardous mixtures: combined with an acid (vinegar, descaling) or ammonia, it releases toxic gases that can cause serious respiratory disorders. Corrosive, it can also damage certain surfaces and, once rejected in water, harm the environment by forming polluting chemical compounds.
The agency insists that its use must remain occasional, with strict precautions: never mix it, use it in a well ventilated space and store it correctly. It recommends using alternatives such as white vinegar, an excellent disinfectant and anti -lime that eliminates bacteria while being biodegradable. Soda bicarbonate degrees, deodorizes and cleanses without health risk. Soda percarbonate, effective in whitening and disinfecting, advantageously replaces bleach for the maintenance of linen.
