It’s that glorious time of year when warmer weather is arising, longer days are noticeable, and Spring is in the air. That internal need to re-freshen, declutter, and clean our homes is all too familiar and is an itch we all urge to scratch after a long winter. Naturally, we set out to organize our lives and homes. So, doesn’t it make sense to use this time to evaluate the products we choose to introduce to our home and inside air? We think so, and want to help! It is important to educate yourself first on the reasons why choosing toxic free cleaning and home supplies are important before buying.
Using products with harmful chemicals, substances, and fragrances can cause many serious health issues, irritations, and worsen asthma or allergies. Because it is such an important step in making sure your home a safe place for you and your family, we are going to share some tips and alternatives to keep your cleaning routine toxic-free.
All-Purpose Cleaners
There are numerous all-purpose cleaning products on the market. Ingredients listed in these products vary in the type of health hazard they may pose. Even some products that are labeled “green” or “natural” can still be harmful. These all-purpose products usually can contain harmful detergents, grease-fighting agents, solvents and disinfectants.
According to CleansGreen, specific chemicals in these ingredients include: Ammonia, Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Acetate, Sodium Hypochlorite, and Trisodium Phosphate. These cleaners can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat and cause more serious long term health problems.
Fortunately, we have been able to do the research for you and have carefully picked brands we trust and believe in to provide you a chemical-free home. Some of our favorite all-purpose cleaners include Veles all-purpose cleaner that is scientifically derived from food waste, Aunt Fannie’s all-purpose cleaning vinegar that is EWG A-rated for your safety, and Method all-purpose cleaner.
Laundry Detergent
Depending on how well you practice non-toxic habits at home, your laundry room may be the most toxic room in your house. In an article written by the University of Washington, their research states: “air vented from machines using the top-selling scented liquid laundry detergent and scented dryer sheet contains hazardous chemicals, including two that are classified as carcinogens.” Although this is already worrisome, it is also a source of pollution.
Unfortunately, those laundry detergents filled with chemicals will severely impact the air quality of your home and leave residue on your clothes. Switch to a safer alternative to conventional detergents, we recommend: Rebel Green Fresh Laundry Detergent that is plant-based and free of harmful chemicals. As well as environmentally and socially responsible!
Dish Soap
Another important household product that every family holds in their home is dish soap. Dish soap is used to wash the surfaces that our food and mouths come in direct contact with, such as, glassware, silverware, plates, serving dishes, cutting boards, etc., Many name brand dish soaps leave harmful residues in the process of cleaning and disinfecting. Some known ingredients that are used in dish soaps include: Carcinogens, Formaldehyde, Sulfuric Acid and Phosphates, which can be poisonous when swallowed and become an irritant.
Because there is no legislation for companies to list ingredients in household products, many large corporations choose to list vague terms leaving customers in the dark about their household products. To make sure you are completely aware of the ingredients in your dish soap, make sure to check out our Household Supplies tab where you can see full ingredient lists. Some of our favs include plant based brands such as Rebel Green, Seventh Generation, Method, and Aunt Fannie’s.
Disinfectant Wipes
Cleaning wipes may be one of the most popular and most frequently used cleaning products on the market because of their easy use, attractive smell, and effectiveness. Since these wipes are usually used by hand, it is a cause for concern for your health due to the chemicals that you are being exposed to daily by the touch.
Many disinfectant wipes have an active killing bacteria ingredient called Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause dangerous blood, lung, bone, and heart valve infections. There are also other harmful chemical compounds in disinfectant wipes that especially should be kept out of reach of children.
For a simple tip in limiting exposure, make sure to not use these wipes every day, as they are not needed for daily uses. Instead, use soap and water or real non-toxic cleaners that you can easily choose from our website to keep your home as a safe environment for you, family, and friends.
Hand Soap
Hand soaps are one of the most popular cleaning products out there, especially amidst a pandemic. When reviewing ingredients of hand soaps, beware of the word “natural”. Products are often labeled natural as a marketing tactic to confuse consumers. Now, not all “natural” products are bad, but this is where product and ingredient education is helpful. Many hand soaps contain toxic substances that can harm your health, which can be contradicting for its very purpose. Some of these harmful substances include Fragrances, Parabens, SLES, SLS, and more.
Fragrances are in many hand soaps, but they aren’t always trustworthy when it comes to being chemical-free. The fragrance industry unfortunately is not required to disclose the ingredients used in their products, which makes it even more tricky to know which brands are loyal to your health.
For making your decisions easy and less stressful, you can make the swap with our Rebel Green and Aunt Fannie’s Hand Soaps that always keep your safety in mind.
Spring is a beautiful time to start taking your health more seriously and getting ready for the warmer weather to come. Although it may be easy to turn the other way when it comes to digging deep into ingredient lists, it is never too late to make the swap to a healthier life and create a safe home for you to thrive in!
References:
https://greencleaningproductsllc.com/why-all-purpose-cleaners-are-harmful-to-you-and-your-family/
https://www.washington.edu/news/2011/08/24/scented-laundry-products-emit-hazardous-chemicals-through-dryer-vents/
