There are essentially two different types of floor strippers, water-based and solvent based. Solvents are a much harsher product, cutting through grime with harmful chemicals. Solvent strippers are fast working and a small amount goes along way.
A large majority of house hold cleaners on the market are actually solvent based to some extent. If more people were aware of the harm that solvent cleaners can do to their floors and their health there would certainly be a change in preferred cleaners. Some chemicals in solvent based floor cleaners come with the following health warnings:
- Severe irritant of the eyes, nose and throat
- Neurotoxic
- Respiratory problems
- Irreparable damage to the respiratory tract
- Toxic to fish and plant life
- May damage red blood cells
These chemicals are not only inhaled but remain on floors where our children and animals literally crawl around. We all want clean floors but we also want our health to be protected.