clean & green!

When we buy household cleaning products, we expect them to do their jobs!  But most commercial cleaning products (with their added fragrances, detergents, bleaching agents, softeners, polishing agents and so on) can actually do more harm than good!  Many of them contribute to indoor air pollution, are poisonous if ingested, can be harmful if inhaled or touched, and can contribute to serious health problems, including hormonal disruption and cancer.  Not only that, many of these agents wreak havoc on the environment, especially the water supply.  And that’s just dirty.

Here's a simple breakdown of some of the most common toxic ingredients you might run across, along with some of the many places you may find them.  Remember, even things that are labeled “natural” or “environmentally friendly” may not be so, so read your labels before you purchase products.

 

DEA (Diethanolamine) is found in more than 600 home and personal care products, including shampoos and conditioners, bubble baths, lotions, cosmetics, soaps, laundry and dishwashing detergents.  DEA is a potential carcinogen.

Propylene Glycol is the main ingredient found in anti-freeze, but it’s also common in shampoos, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, toothpastes, processed foods, baby wipes, and many more personal care items.  Propylene glycol is connected to contact dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver disorders. It can also inhibit skin cell growth and can cause rashes and dry skin.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is found in shampoos, liquid soaps, conditioners, cleansers, and nearly all toothpastes.  It’s absorbed through skin contact and stays in the system for up to five days.  SLS can cause improper eye development in children, can react with other ingredients to form  carcinogens, it’s a skin irritant, and can increase the allergic response to other toxins and allergens.

Talc has been linked to ovarian cancer. It’s found in many body and baby powders, as well as many cosmetics.

Alcohol is a major ingredient in mouthwashes, which often have a higher alcohol content than most alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, etc). Mouthwash products with alcoholic content greater than 25 percent have been linked to cancers of the mouth, tongue, and throat. Alcohol acts as a solvent inside the mouth, making tissues more vulnerable to carcinogens.

Alkylphenols are industrial chemicals used in the production of detergents and other cleaning products, and as antioxidants in products made from plastics and rubber. They are also found in personal care products, especially hair products, and as an active component in many spermicides.  Many studies have shown that alkylphenols mimic the actions and effects of estrogen in the body. In the body, this means that exposure to these chemicals could cause changes in the breasts and reproductive organs, leading to symptoms of early puberty, estrogen-dependent cancers (like breast or uterine cancers), and other tumor formation such as fibroid tumors. 

Don't worry! There are many safe and natural alternatives to commercial house cleaning products, and you can save a lot of money with them!  These include:

Castile soap:  Olive-, coconut-, or other vegetable-oil based soap.  Castile soap is gentle enough to wash the body and hair but is effective enough for floors and laundry.  Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap is probably the best-known brand, but Trader Joe’s and other companies make concentrated liquid castile soap.

White vinegar: White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. 

Baking soda: The ancient Egyptians used natural deposits of natron, a mixture consisting mostly of sodium carbonate decahydrate, and sodium bicarbonate. The natron was used as a cleansing agent like soap.  Modern-day baking soda is used to neutralize odors (like in the fridge or in the laundry), as an antiseptic, and an abrasive cleanser—basically, it has scrubbing action.

Borax (sodium borate) was first discovered in dried up lake beds in Tibet.  It’s a combination of naturally-ocurring minerals that clean, deodorize, disinfect, and soften water.  Borax can be used to clean laundry, painted walls and floors, and wallpaper.

Essential oils: As a rule, all essential oils have some antibacterial properties, but the most effective essential oils that I like for housecleaning are tea tree, lavender, citrus oils (like lemon, lime, or grapefruit) and evergreen oils (like rosemary, pine, cedar, and spruce).  

Try these simple and effective natural cleaning solutions:

Household cleaning spray

• Fill a spray bottle with water and a squirt of castile soap.
• Add 3–5 drops each of lavender, lemon, and rosemary essential oils.
• Shake well.

Floor cleaner

• Add ¼ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup borax and 1 tablespoon of castile soap to a bucket of warm water.
• Add 10 drops each of lemon, tea tree, and pine oil.

Window cleaner

• Mix 1 cup white vinegar, 10-15 drops of Lemon Essential Oil and water in a 1 quart spray bottle.
• Shake well before using.

Dryer Fragrance Sheets

• Dampen a washcloth with water and then add drops 10 drops of lavender, lemon, bergamot or other essential oil on the cloth.
• Toss in the dryer with clothes. The cloth will not soften clothes or reduce static cling, but will add a great fragrance to your laundry.