Demystifying household chemicals: Acetic acid

Some bottles of nail polish contain acetic acid
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

"Demystifying household chemicals" is a series that aims to inform people on the types of chemicals found in and around our homes. The series will be featured every Wednesday where a different chemical, and its everyday uses, will be discussed.

What is the first thing you think about when you hear the words: acetic acid? 

Sounds familiar, right?

Well, acetic acid is found in many different food products and some drinks as well. Small concentrations of this organic compound can be found in wine, cheese and orange juice, but the most common product we think of when we think of acetic acid is vinegar. Many condiments contain a little bit of vinegar, such as prepared mustard, prepared salad dressings and ketchup.

Acetic acid (also called ethanoic acid, ethylic acid, or methane carboxylic acid), is a main component of vinegar. This acid is what makes vinegar smell and taste so distinctive. It is a colorless liquid that is used in many commercial products that, in large quantities, can be dangerous.

Vinegar contains about five percent acetic acid and in that concentration, is considered safe. Once concentrations reach 10 percent, acetic acid becomes an irritant. At 25 percent concentration, it becomes corrosive and at 90 percent concentration, becomes flammable and volatile. 

Close contact to highly concentrated acetic acid can result in blindness and inhalation can cause respiratory problems. If your skin comes into contact with it, burns and blisters can result, though not necessarily right away. Ingestion can cause abdominal pains, the erosion of your teeth enamel, and even kidney failure in extreme cases.

 

Acetic acid is used in many laboratories and industrial industries. Large quantities are used for making:

• Pesticides
• Rubber
• Plastics
• Dyes

 Smaller concentrations can be found in the following household products:

• Nail polish
• Hair spray
• Glass and surface cleaner
• Shaving cream (men’s and women’s)
• Female personal cleansing products
• Moisturizers

For more information on these products and how safe they are, consult the GoodGuide.

Did any of this information surprise you? Share your questions, concerns or stories with us.

Sources: Article Online Directory, Health Protection Agency, Virginia Department of Health

Protecting your home

In order to protect your loved ones from undue exposure to acetic acid, first try to reduce the number of products containing high percentages of the compound. Purchase products that contain 10 percent or less acetic acid. For products containing more than that, make efforts to use them in aerated spaces.

Activated carbon adsorbs gases, chemicals
and odors, thereby improving
your indoor air quality

Using glass cleaners containing acetic acid and water may not be unhealthy, but using an aerosol hair spray in enclosed spaces is potentially toxic because it contains many other harmful chemicals. 

To keep your home as free from detrimental chemicals as possible, invest in an air purifier that will help rid the air of toxic chemicals found in nail polish, pesticides and hair sprays.

AllerAir’s activated carbon filters adsorb gases, odors and chemicals and help improve your indoor air quality.

For more information on our air purifiers, contact AllerAir today.

Show your support for a greener and healthier home by becoming a follower of this blog.

Is vinegar a good cleaning alternative in the home?

Homeowners can make their own
cleaners with vinegar, hot water
and  soap, expert says.

With experts sounding the alarm over harsh chemicals and toxins in commercial cleaning products, many people are turning to natural alternatives such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice.

But do these products clean as well as their synthetic rivals?

According to Professor Peter Collignon, infectious disease physician at the Australian National University's Medical School, who was interviewed for a report by ABC, vinegar is a viable alternative to commercial cleaning products.

It may not be as effective as the commercial products, but vinegar is a useful disinfectant that can be used in every household, he says.

What is vinegar?

Vinegar is about 5% acetic acid, the compound that kills bacteria and viruses.

Researchers found that vinegar can kill off the flu virus, but that it won’t touch some types of salmonella that could hide on chopping boards, for example.

Vinegar is a good alternative and non-toxic cleaning agent because it forces people to keep it simple, Collignon says.

The best way for people to clean their homes is with hot soapy water and some elbow grease to get rid of organic material.

Commercial cleaning products might make it easier, but it might also be overdoing it and over-using chemicals, he says.

Source: ABC

Clean the air with portable air purifiers

Just as over-using chemicals in the home is not a good idea, neither is breathing in too many volatile organic compounds in the home.

Along with source control (using more natural products) and ventilation (opening the windows regularly), a complete air purification system with activated carbon, HEPA and UV can help keep the air clean.

AllerAir offers air purifiers for the home and office with the most relevant filtration media at the best price. The deep-bed activated carbon filters remove a wide range of chemicals, gases, odors and VOCs.

The HEPA filter traps up to 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns. The UV germicidal filtration helps neutralize biological contaminants such as mold, bacteria and viruses.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.
  

Non-toxic cleaning: How vinegar works

Cleaning with vinegar is a great way to reduce chemical exposure at home

Vinegar is an effective cleaning agent.

Many of our previous blog posts decry the use of harsh chemicals in common household cleaning products, which can add to poor indoor air quality in the home.

One of the things we always say is to replace chemical cleaning products with natural cleaning agents such as vinegar. But how does vinegar actually work?

In a Networx article “The Science of Vinegar” Julian Taub explains what makes vinegar so effective for everyday cleaning chores.

What is vinegar?

Vinegar usually consists of water with 4-5% of a chemical called acetic acid. Acetic Acid is a weak acid (although the concentrated form can be a skin irritant); it is antibacterial and antifungal, meaning it can neutralize bacteria and fungi and thus remove odors.

When it is dissolved in water, acetic acid breaks apart into two components, the hydrogen and the remainder of the molecule, called the acetate.

The hydrogen will try to bond to any molecule that it encounters, that is why they are great at cleaning stains made from alkali substances, like soap, urine, and limestone.

Unlike harsh chemicals, vinegar maintains a balance within water of about 1% separated acetic acid, making it safe to use on cleaning surfaces, but slightly less effective in fighting grease or carbon buildup on cooking utensils.

Cleaning with natural ingredients is
better for your health and well-being.

Cleaning with vinegar

You can use vinegar on most cleaning surfaces, especially in the bathroom and kitchen and the floors, but it shouldn’t be used everywhere (see below).

Most people will dilute vinegar with water to create an effective cleaning agent, and you could also add some fresh lemon juice. Don’t worry about the vinegar smell; it disappears once the vinegar evaporates.

Do not mix the vinegar with alkali-cleaning products such as soap, lye and bleach because they will both become ineffective and/or create poisonous fumes (with bleach).

However, the neutralization effect can be used effectively for unclogging drains. Mixing vinegar and baking soda will create a “volcano effect” – the reaction between the two creating water and carbon dioxide will increase the pressure in the drain pipe and dislodge some of the clogging material.

The author warns against using vinegar on clean upholstery, serious drain clogs or ovens. It should also not be used on metals, including iron, stainless steel, bronze or copper.

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