Like many of you, my cleaning routine consisted of using the same products since like forever ago! For me, I not only wanted to look at options that were free of harmful chemicals, but also products that came in less bulky containers and packaging. I remember tossing huge plastic containers in the recycle bin, and not feeling right about the amount of plastic our household was tossing out, just from cleaning products alone!
Most mainstream cleaning products are filled with harmful chemicals. Let’s talk about what to look out for and how to start cleaning up your cleaning routine.
What harmful chemicals should I watch out for?
Often times, the cleaning products we see at the store are packed with harsh chemicals. Although these products promise to disinfect, deodorize and make things nice and shiny, the chemicals in them are not good for our bodies. There can be more than 15 different chemicals in any of these cleaning products. Some of these may be:
– Formaldehyde – Potentially cancer causing. Extremely irritating to the eyes and lungs.
– Phalates – Known endocrine disruptors and can also cause reproductive problems. These are found in products with fragrance such as air fresheners, dish soaps, deodorizers.
– Ticlosan (TSC) – Exposure of children to this may result in asthma, allergies, or eczema. This may also act as an endocrine disruptor, negatively impacting your hormones. This one is really, really bad for you. Since it has antibacterial properties, triclosan can be found in disinfectants, dish soaps, laundry detergents, hand sanitizers, antiperspirants, facial tissues and toothpaste…yuck!
– Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Helps the product to lather, making it appear as though it is cleaning better. This is very common in shampoos and hand soaps, and can cause eye and scalp irritation.
– 2-Butoxylethanol – This can interfere with the health of your red blood cells. Commonly found in kitchen, window, and multi-purpose cleaners.
– Sulphuric Acid – Can severely damage, skin, eyes and throat. Found in drain cleaners.
– Diethanolamine/Triethenolamine – Potentially cancer causing compounds. Look for DEA-Free or TEA-Free. Found in sudsing products.
– Quaternary Ammoninium Compounds (QUATS) – Found in fabric softener liquid and sheets, and most cleaners labeled as antibacterial. These chemicals are known endocrine disruptors, causing hormonal problems in your body. This is a powerful irritant to your skin and may lead to a rash or even asthma.
– Ammonia – Irritates the eyes, throat, skin, and lungs. Do NOT mix this with bleach, as this will result in a highly poisonous gas. This is typically found in glass cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, stainless steel cleaners, drain cleaners, bathroom cleaners, and oven cleaners.
– Fragrance – The word “fragrance” on any type of product is bad, especially because it can be a cover up for hundreds to thousands of chemicals used to create the scent. Fragrance can mean endocrine disruption, as well as damage to the kidney, skin and respiratory system.
– Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) – Extremely irritating to eyes, nose, throat and is corrosive, so it can burn body tissues on contact. Found in drain and oven cleaners.
– 1,4 Dioxane – Found in laundry detergent and many personal care items, this chemical is known to be a carcinogen, meaning it causes cancer and it does not readily biodegrade in water or soil, so it can continue to cause damage to wildlife, it is also an animal carcinogen.
– Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) – extremely irritating to the lungs and eyes. Note: Never mix with ammonia, this will result in a poisonous gas.
– Ethylene Glycol – Poisonous if swallowed; will also cause damage to the liver, kidneys, bone marrow, and nervous system. Found in glass and all-purpose cleaners.
– Nonylphenol – when release into the environment it can act as a hormone disruptor for many animals. Especially found in citrus cleaners, stain removers, detergents and disinfectants.
Where do I even get started?
The key here is to not overwhelm yourself. I know that is easier said than done, but taking it one bottle at a time will help.
What worked well for me was simply getting rid of products as they ran out and replacing them with cleaner alternatives. This is a trial by trial period because you will have to try out clean, new products and find what works best for you. The cost of switching out chemical packed products for ones that are better for you and your family can get expensive if you try to do it all at once, so just start with your needs and then move on to your wants.
Make a list of what types of cleaners you use most. Maybe even which ones your children are often exposed to. If you find that cleaning products for the kitchen and bathroom are used more often or more people are exposed to them, then start by replacing those ones first.
What clean options do I have for my laundry?
If you are a DIY-er, then you can make your own laundry detergent with:
2 cups washing soda
2 cups baking soda
2/3 cup Epsom salt
3 tablespoons salt
1/3 cup vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser
If you are looking to purchase some clean laundry detergent alternatives, here are some I recommend:
- Molly’s Suds
- Earth Breeze Laundry Sheets
- Rowe Casa Organics
- Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater
- Rosey by Thrive Market
What about the rest of my house?
I have found vinegar to be a handy item to have on hand because it can help to clean so many areas of the house. Due to it’s moderate acidity, vinegar is great at removing stains, unclogging drains, removing stickers, fabric softener, and disinfecting. You can also use it as a rinse aid in your dishwasher to help those glasses come out streak-free. You can also use vinegar to steam clean your dishwasher or microwave. Simply dilute some vinegar in a spray bottle, with some water and carry it with you around the house to tend to odors on fabric to soap scum in the shower.
One of the best natural cleaners is lemon juice. Not only does it smell great, but lemon juice has natural antibacterial properties and is a natural bleach. Lemon juice can be used just like vinegar, all around the house. Dilute some lemon juice in some water and use it to freshen up, clean mirrors or wipe away smudges on furniture. You can also use a half of a lemon in a cup of water to steam clean your microwave. Grab the other half the lemon along with some salt to scrub your cutting boards and dishes before washing with your dish soap. To clean your floors mix up some lemon juice, vinegar, and warm water, not only will your floors sparkle, but your home will smell lovely too!
Here are some great clean alternatives for cleaning products you can use throughout your home:
Here’s what you need to know…
Read the label before you buy or use cleaning products in your home. Look at that list of ingredients and watch out for any harmful chemicals. The overall health of you and family means much more than continuing to use these harmful products. Stay away from fragrance – this also means candles and deodorizing sprays in your home.
Replace cleaning products with safer, cleaner options as you are able.
If cost is a concern, utilize what you most likely already have on hand to get started. Items like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice can work wonders to help get your home clean.
