"Eating is inevitable, and so is washing dishes. "When it comes to grease stains left on the dishes, dishwashing liquid comes in handy! Therefore, dishwashing liquid can be said to be a must-have "hygiene assistant" in every home.
But recently, there have been countless rumors about it, claiming that dishwashing liquid has a high formaldehyde content, which not only hurts hands, but also causes cancer! Is that really the case? Is dishwashing liquid really harmful?
Daily use of detergent.
Does it really cause cancer?
In fact, CCTV has reported that the formaldehyde content of dishwashing liquid exceeds the standard - the investigation team conducted spot checks and tests on dishwashing liquid in 28 provinces and cities, and found that only 936% of the dishwashing liquid meets the standard, and the main problem that does not meet the standard is "excessive formaldehyde". ”
Why does dish soap contain formaldehyde? Can't you use it because of formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is present but does not mean that it is carcinogenic.
The main purpose of adding formaldehyde to dishwashing liquids is to prevent corrosion. Formaldehyde is cheap and effective, and it can extend the shelf life of dish soap. The state allows dish soap to contain formaldehyde, but there are strict requirements for the amount of addition:
Type A can be used to clean food, if vegetable detergent, the formaldehyde content should not exceed 005%；
Type B is used to clean dishes, and the formaldehyde content shall not exceed 01%。
The formaldehyde content will not cause harm to health within the standard range, and there is no problem of excessive formaldehyde in the qualified products produced by the regular production, so there is no need to worry too much.
However, some small manufacturers may use large amounts of formaldehyde to extend the shelf life of dish soap, which is often given away for free, bargained, or in stores at roadside stalls and affordable community groups**.
Are laundry detergent residues harmful to humans?
Dishwashing liquid residue is also a concern for many people, and its main ingredient is "surfactant". So does this indicate that the active ingredient is harmful to humans?
Theoretically yes, but in practice it is not.
Theoretically, surfactants will directly damage the bimolecular membrane of the cell membrane, which in turn will disrupt the water balance and lead to cell death. There are also cells in the human body, which are harmful to the human body from this point of view.
However, from a practical point of view, relevant experiments by the China Consumers Association have shown that the toxicity of the surfactants LAS and AES currently popular on the market is 05 to 20 g, while the maximum toxicity of AES is 17 to 50 g.
This is a toxic dose that can only be achieved by drinking a bottle or two of dishwashing liquid, and some residues on plates and chopsticks are not worth mentioning at all.
Of course, if you're still worried, I recommend washing the dishes a few times.
How many times should I wash to get clean?
Some experts have conducted experiments for this purpose, and found that after the first wash, the alkaline residue fully meets the standard;
After two washes, the residual amount is lower than the national standard;
After three flushes, the residual amount is basically kept at 001mg cm2, 10 times lower than the national standard.
Does dishwashing liquid really hurt hands?
Since the decontamination ability of dish soap will also destroy the protective lipid layer on the surface of the human body, long-term contact can easily lead to dry hands, and even peeling off in severe cases. So be sure to wear gloves when washing dishes.
These 4 types of dish soap.
You do need to use a little less.
Generally speaking, if you buy from a trusted brand from a regular channel, you can use it with confidence. What really needs to be vigilant is that this kind of dish soap can threaten human health if used for a long time!
Plenty of dishwashing liquid.
Most bulk dishwashing liquids are "three-no" products, the quality cannot be guaranteed, the bacteria and pH value in them may exceed the standard, and if you use this type of dishwashing liquid for a long time, it is likely to become dirtier. Wash more.
Scented dishwasher cleaner.
Dishwashing liquids that are too fragrant are likely to contain inferior fragrances, and smelling this fragrance can cause great irritation to the respiratory tract and cause unpleasant sensations such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
Multiple layers of opaque dishwashing liquid.
In general, dishwashing liquids must be very transparent and the liquid must not be stratified. If you find that the dishwashing liquid is layered or cloudy, it may be spoiled and should be removed in time and can no longer be used.
Add water and dish soap.
How many people add water and stir well after using the final dishwashing liquid?
This method makes it easy for people to pour out all the dishwashing liquid until there is not a drop left, but adding water can easily create conditions for bacteria to grow, and it is easy to destroy it over time. Use it all at once and add it next time. Water.
Use safe dishwashing liquid.
Keep these 4 points in mind.
Dilute before use.
Many people have the habit of squeezing dishwashing liquid directly on dirty dishes or rags, and when they see foam coming out of the plates, they feel that the dishes are already clean. But this habit is both a waste of dishwashing liquid and difficult to clean.
The correct way to do this is to squeeze 5 cents of dishwashing liquid into a small bowl, dilute it with a bowl of water, and use it to wash the dishes.
Do not soak. Some people who are familiar with soaking dishes and chopsticks with detergent say that this method is more effective in removing stains. But in reality, bamboo and wood chopsticks, ceramic bowls, basins, cups, etc., if soaked for a long time, will absorb a large amount of detergent, and it is not easy to wash off with water.
The correct way is to wash and rinse immediately without soaking first.
Rinse with hot water after washing.
If you still feel that there is too much dish soap after washing the dishes, and you have a greasy feeling, you can also wash it off with hot water.
Because the high temperature can quickly decompose the surfactant structure, making it easier to peel off, the removal of detergent residues will naturally be better.
An alternative to dish soap.
In daily life, it is not necessary to use dish soap every time you wash dishes, for example, you can wash dishes with hot water without leaving grease stains, or use dishes instead of dish soap as a detergent.
Wheat flour. It is a "natural" cleanser that absorbs oil stains. If Qiguo's utensils are too oily, you can wash them with a little flour before using another detergent.
Toothpaste. Toothpaste contains abrasives that can be cleaned by rubbing. When cleaning glass or ceramic tableware, if there are tea stains, coffee stains and other stains that are difficult to remove, you can squeeze a little toothpaste on it, and then scrub it with a damp rag, the effect is better.
Sodium bicarbonate. The method is simple, mix warm water and baking soda first, then soak a rag and you can clean happily. Baking soda is more effective for stubborn grease stains on pot lids or range hoods. Finally, rinse them with clean water.
Dish soap