Non-Toxic Spring Cleaning
When I started the transition to a cleaner, less toxic lifestyle about five years ago, one of the first things I switched out were our household cleaners. If you have been looking to make switch in your life, cleaning products are a great way to start. Cleaning products are usually some of the biggest offenders and the ones that are most commonly used. It’s a change that doesn’t seem too overwhelming and there are so many non-toxic options out there now, or you can dive into making your own cleaning products at home!
TRADITIONAL HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS MAY INCLUDE:
Neurotoxins: these can affect brain activity, causing headaches and even memory loss
Carcinogens: can cause or promote cancer
Endocrine Disruptors: mimics human hormones and can cause issues with infertility, premature puberty, miscarriage, menstrual issues and ADHD
You might be thinking: If it’s on the shelf, it must be safe!
there are no federal regulation of chemicals in household cleaning products
up to 100,000 chemicals on the market today have not been tested for safety
manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on labels
companies can use “greenwashing” to make a product seem non-toxic, when really it is just as bad as the others. Always check the ingredients!
The long list of chemicals to avoid when it comes to cleaners is a long one and I find it hard to remember them all, so I have found my go-to cleaner that I know it non-toxic and I stick to that. However, I wanted to make you aware of a few to keep an eye out for:
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds or “quats”, such as benzalkonium chloride, are added as germ killers in antibacterial cleaning supplies and disinfecting air fresheners. They are also used as fabric softeners.
Ethanolamines (mono-, di-, and triethanolamine) are commonly used to control product acidity (pH); they also act as detergents in many classes of cleaning products.
Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and ammonia (ammonium hydroxide) are perhaps the most widely recognized cleaning ingredients in the world.
Borax and Boric Acid are compounds used to stabilize enzymes in laundry or dishwashing detergents. Borax is a common ingredient in homemade cleaners as well.
Sodium Perborate is a form of oxygen bleach found in some cleaners and releases sodium borate during the bleaching process. The European Union considers them toxic to human reproductive systems.
Diethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether is a solvent also known as DEGME or methoxydiglycol and is found in a few heavy-duty cleaners and degreasers. The European Union suspects this chemical of damaging fertility or the developing fetus.
Fragrance are complex chemical mixtures commonly used to scent air fresheners and cleaners, personal care products and other consumer goods.
Formaldehyde is sometimes called formalin. It is designated by the U.S. government and World Health Organization as a known human carcinogen.
1,4-Dioxane is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the EPA. This chemical has been detected in a number of brand-name liquid laundry detergents.
THE BIGGEST PRODUCT OFFENDERS:
Bleach
Frequent use of bleach (such as cleaning the bathroom with it every day), inhaling it, mixing it with ammonia or vinegar, or disposing of bleach by pouring it down a drain or on the lawn outside can cause extensive physical and environmental damage.
Drain Cleaners
Watch out for sodium hydroxide, a highly corrosive chemical that can burn and permanently injure human flesh.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Many name brands contain eye and lung irritants (phosphoric acid, sulfates) and are highly corrosive. These products go directly down the drain and are highly contaminating for groundwater, soil, and highly toxic for plants and animals.
Air Fresheners
The fragrances in air fresheners can trigger asthma or allergies and act as hormone disruptors. Many air fresheners also contain formaldehyde.
Fabric Softeners
Again, “fragrance” can virtually mean any chemical cocktail and is the biggest issue here. They could potentially contain carcinogens, neurotoxins and reproductive toxins.
Laundry Detergent
The University of Washington did a study on laundry detergent and found that every product they tested emitted one or more carcinogenic “hazardous air pollutants” which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers no safe exposure level.
Glass Cleaner
Most commercial glass and surface cleaners contain a solvent called butyl cellosolve, a hazardous substance that, as a carcinogen, is not safe for humans in any amount.
Surface Cleaners
The fragrance chemical galaxolide is present in many surface cleaners such as Pledge, Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles. It has been found to be a contaminant in waterways, as well as an endocrine disruptor. Known chemicals in many powdered cleaners are formaldehyde, benzene and chloroform.
If these facts alone don’t motivate you to change to less toxic cleaners, then consider this:
US emergency records show that on average around 10,000 children, aged 5 and under, end up in the ER due to household cleaner accidents with at least 500 of them being life threatening or resulting in a significant disability.
It’s important to not that most of these have to do with cleaners in spray bottles, so if you are taking small steps to switch your cleaners - I would start there.
This is not to say that I am perfect, you better believe I have the most potent spider killer on the market sitting in my cupboard! I am just trying to make changes where I can and where it makes sense for our family and our health.
To make things literally as easy as possible our family started using Branch Basics, which is sold as a single concentrate that you dilute with water to make your all purpose cleaner, streak free glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, hand soap and even laundry detergent! They are the “cleanest” or least toxic cleaning products on the market - made with plant and mineral based ingredients. Not only do we love their products, but they offer a ton of learning materials on their website and instagram helping all of us ditch the toxins!
Check out their website or the sources below where you can learn more about the chemicals that may be sitting in your home right now. If you’re not ready to take a leap, I encourage you to take one small step. Even that can make a big difference during your spring cleaning!
Sources:
EWG website, Mayo Clinic website
Much Love,
