Best Non-Toxic Wood Cleaner & Polish in 2025

Ammonium hydroxide is a corrosive substance that can cause injury to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. High concentrations, either through inhalation or prolonged exposure, can lead to significant respiratory issues, including inflammation, pneumonia, and pulmonary edema. It is used in various industries such as fertilizers, dyes, explosives, plastics, and cleansing agents, among others. Due to its intense pungency and potential to cause extreme irritation and even life-threatening conditions, precautions such as wearing protective clothing and immediate cleansing of affected areas are recommended. It should be stored away from combustibles and heavy metals, in well-ventilated areas and in specified containers. Disposal guidelines also need to be referred from environmental regulatory agencies due to the hazardous nature of the substance.

Benzene is a colorless, highly flammable liquid with a sweet smell. It is used in a variety of products, including motor fuels, solvents, pharmaceuticals, and detergents. It's also present in substances such as crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke, and is one of the top 20 most produced chemicals in the U.S. However, benzene is also known to be a human carcinogen, with both acute and chronic exposure causing numerous health concerns, including drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, and irritation in the short-term and blood disorders, reproductive effects, anemia, and an increased risk of leukemia in the long-term. Various measures have been taken to limit benzene exposure, including the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration setting standards for occupational exposure and the European Union reducing the maximum allowed benzene content in gasoline from 5% to 1% by volume in 2000.

Methylisothiazolinone can reportedly cause allergic contact dermatitis in workers who interact with products containing it. This substance is recognized as a contact allergen for consumers using cosmetics that include it. It can cause skin burns and sensitization, and inhaling it may lead to corrosive injuries in the upper respiratory tract and lungs. Ingesting this substance is harmful, and inhalation is toxic. This preservative is linked to the category of isothiazolinones.

d-Limonene is a liquid with a lemon-like smell, often used as a solvent to substitute for more volatile and toxic organic solvents. When it comes into contact with air, it can oxidize, and this oxidized form is a known skin sensitizer, capable of irritating skin and eyes. The combination of d-limonene and l-limonene is known as limonene or dipentene. The estimated lethal dose for humans is between 0.5 to 5 g/kg, and studies have shown that it can cause diarrhea and liver effects when ingested in high doses.

Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether, when administered orally or through the skin in doses exceeding 800-1000 mg/kg/day, can cause central nervous system depression and changes to the liver and kidneys in animals. However, it doesn't exhibit significant developmental toxicity at these levels. The chemical is not expected to have adverse effects unless workers are exposed to its heated liquid mists. It is an eye irritant and provokes harm to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, red blood cells, and reproductive system in animal feeding studies. Despite these potential harms, it is poorly absorbed through the skin.

Denatonium Benzoate causes somnolence, tremor, and ataxia in rabbits and rats according to oral lethal-dose studies and is harmful by ingestion. It is one of the most bitterly known substances, with a 1980 case report linking it to urticaria and asthma. The European Union classifies it as highly toxic by inhalation and a potential cause of serious eye injury. Lastly, it is a strong eye irritant and skin irritant according to the Sigma-Aldrich Material Safety Data Sheet.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released by many cleaning products, as revealed by a study in Chemosphere which analyzed 30 such items. Of the 530 distinct VOCs identified, 193 were considered hazardous, linked to health issues like respiratory system damage and cancer. Indoor air contamination from VOCs is significantly higher than outdoor, with up to 10 times more pollutants. However, products labeled as green, particularly those without fragrances, exhibited fewer hazardous VOC emissions. Exposure to VOCs has critical health implications, especially for cleaning industry workers and children, and these compounds also contribute to outdoor air pollution.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is primarily used to create salts that aid in the processing of producing fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers. It also acts as a surfactant in firefighting foams, an intermediate in creating fluoroacrylic esters, and a crucial aspect in manufacturing Teflon and similar chemicals. However, exposure to PFOA can lead to adverse health effects, including alterations in thyroid hormone levels, lower fertility, an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels, a possible link to ADHD, smaller abdominal circumference and birth length in infants, an increased risk of common cold and gastroenteritis in children, and potentially prostate cancer mortality. Studies on animals have indicated possible liver and brain dysfunction, carcinogenicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. Ecotoxicity studies found alterations in genes linked to lipid metabolism, hormone action, immune responses, and mitochondrial functions in rare minnows exposed to PFOA.

Perfluoroalkyls are synthetic chemicals known for their ability to resist oil, grease, and water, primarily used in surface protection products and fire-fighting foams. The two most abundant perfluoroalkyls are perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). Studies have observed liver enlargement and elevated cholesterol in animals given high doses, and the presence of PFOS in various populations has raised environmental and health concerns, leading to the phase-out of some PFOS-based chemicals. Tests have shown a range of health effects in animals, including eye irritation, liver changes, teratogenic effects, and more, with no evidence of mutagenicity. However, no substantial link has been found between PFAS concentrations and increased cardiometabolic risk measures in human studies, and there are no known health effects from exposure when used as intended.

Butylphenyl methylpropional, also known as lilial, is a chemical compound commonly used in cosmetics and laundry powders. It is found naturally in crow-dipper and tomato plants and is also produced synthetically in large quantities. In May 2019, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) deemed its use in cosmetics as unsafe. Following animal studies indicating reproductive toxicity, the EU banned its use in cosmetics by March 2022. Moreover, butylphenyl methylpropional can sometimes serve as an allergen, potentially leading to contact dermatitis in susceptible individuals.

Benzene is a colorless, sweet-smelling, highly flammable liquid that evaporates quickly into the air and slightly dissolves in water. It's a byproduct of both natural processes and human activities, used extensively in the U.S production of other chemicals for plastics, resins, nylon, rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Present in crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke, benzene is also released into the air from burning coal, oil, gasoline stations, and vehicle exhaust. Short-term exposure may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and irritation, while long-term exposure leads to blood disorders, reproductive effects, and even leukemia. Benzene has been classified by EPA as a known human carcinogen, and regulations apply to various industry sectors with potentially high exposure risks.

Phenol is a manufactured chemical and natural substance that is primarily used in the production of phenolic resins, nylon, and other synthetic fibers. It is also used in slimicides and various medicinal preparations. Exposure to phenol may occur from certain medicinal products and it can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, and toxicity when ingested. It can also lead to various health problems such as weight loss, vertigo, kidney damage, and other serious health conditions. It is highly corrosive, flammable, moderately soluble in water, and has a sweet, tar-like odor; it should be handled with protective clothing and stored in well-ventilated areas to avoid toxic exposure.

Acetone is a colorless, flammable liquid that dissolves in water and has a distinct smell and taste. It is also known as dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, and beta-ketopropane. This manufactured chemical, which is used to create plastic, fibers, drugs, and other chemicals, can also be found in the environment in plants, trees, volcanic gases, forest fires, vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, and landfill sites, with industrial processes contributing more to its presence than natural ones. Acetone can be harmful if absorbed through the skin or inhaled, potentially causing irritation to the skin and respiratory tract, as well as adverse effects on the central nervous system (CNS), liver, and kidneys. The allowable exposure limit is set based on its potential to cause eye and upper respiratory irritation and CNS impairment.

DMDM hydantoin is a substance used in cosmetics that has the potential to cause allergic contact dermatitis, although rinse-off products generally have a low risk. According to various reports, skin sensitization patch testing has yielded positive results.

5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMI) is a compound frequently used as a preservative in cosmetics, hygiene products, and other industrial applications such as hydraulic fracturing fluids. It can also be deployed as a pesticide in the U.S, pending regulatory approval. CMI, which is often used in combination with 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI), can cause contact dermatitis in humans. Various animal studies have shown that a high exposure to a CMIT/MIT mixture can cause alterations in rats' liver function. The production and use of CMI in a range of products mean it can be release into the environment, with some susceptibility to degradation through photolysis in sunlight. Its mobility in soil is high but volatilization from soil or water surfaces is not expected to be significant. Occupational and general exposure to CMI can occur especially through inhalation and dermal contact with CMI-containing products.

1-Bromopropane is a colorless liquid that is commercially used with additives to boost its performance in applications and prevent decomposition. Initially, it was utilized in the production of pesticides, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals. However, studies have shown that exposure to 1-bromopropane can lead to various health issues including reddening of the skin, peripheral neuropathy, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. It has been found that adverse effects occur in animals exposed to levels above 250 ppm and 200 ppm. Furthermore, workers in factories that produce 1-Bromopropane have exhibited signs of toxicity affecting the central nervous system and peripheral nerves.

Nitrilotriacetic acid and its salts are categorized under cleaning products and household care, and personal care. This includes general household cleaning products, oven cleaners, hand/body lotion, and shampoos. However, these chemicals may have carcinogenic properties with inadequate evidence in humans but sufficient evidence in experimental animals. The chemicals can be absorbed by the body through inhalation or ingestion, causing symptoms like cough, sore throat, and redness. They are also listed as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program.

Nitrobenzene is a yellow, oily liquid with an almond-like odor that is primarily used in the manufacturing of aniline. It also finds applications in the production of lubricants, dyes, drugs, pesticides, and synthetic rubber. Although it does not fully dissolve in water, it can evaporate into the air. Prolonged exposure to nitrobenzene, either through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact can lead to a range of health issues, such as methemoglobinemia (a blood disorder), along with symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and at higher concentrations, disturbed vision and coma. While its effect on human fertility and its potential as a carcinogenic are unclassified, animal studies have indicated inhaling nitrobenzene can reduce fertility.

Potassium hydroxide 30-70% is a liquid that is highly corrosive to skin, causing second or third-degree burns even after brief contact. It is a hazardous substance that can also induce pulmonary edema, a condition characterized by excessive fluid in the lungs. The effects and properties of this chemical can be compared to those of Sodium hydroxide.

Trideceth-4 is a water-soluble compound with notable wetting, permeability, and emulsifying properties. It enhances the effectiveness of certain silicone oils and is used in various applications including metal processing aids, detergents, and household cleaning agents. However, it can be harmful if ingested and is known to cause serious eye damage, skin irritation, and eye irritation, as indicated by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Despite these concerns, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has determined it to be safe when formulated to be non-irritating.