Did you know that a lot of nasty chemicals accumulate in ordinary dust? Yes, even if you try to avoid plastics and buy consciously, most homes have computers, TVs, phones, and cables that can release flame retardants and so on.
When dust has been examined closely, besides hair, skin flakes, and mites, flame retardants, phthalates, and bisphenol A have been found.
Cozy, right?
The best way to protect ourselves from these chemicals is to clean and keep the home tidy. Vacuum (with a HEPA filter as close to 100% as you can find), mop, and air out!
If you want to keep your home free from nasties, you can choose to switch to eco-friendly cleaning instead of buying conventional cleaning products.
Eco-friendly cleaning is both cheaper and more enjoyable. But above all, you avoid a lot of harmful chemicals hidden in cleaning products.
Choosing eco-friendly cleaning is not only good for your health, it’s also a great act for the environment!
10 Cleaning Products You Should Avoid
If you have regular cleaning products at home, be sure to read the information on the packaging carefully, look for hazard symbols, and follow the instructions!
Always use gloves and other protective equipment recommended when working with the product, such as safety goggles or natural rubber cleaning gloves.
Always screw the cap tightly on the bottle when finished and store the products in their original packaging—preferably locked in a cabinet out of reach of children!
Call 112 and ask for Poison Information if someone has ingested or come into contact with something that may be corrosive.
1. Common Laundry Detergents
Laundry detergents often come in powder or liquid form. These can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Be extra careful if the products are concentrated.
Avoid especially perfumed detergents. Synthetic fragrances can contain several hundred chemicals derived from the petroleum industry and also phthalates that can impair reproductive ability.
Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers in plastic and rubber but also as solvents in perfumes and pesticides.
Choose saponin-based detergents instead of surfactant-based ones. Saponin is found, for example, in soap nuts.
You can also switch to an organic detergent that is as effective as conventional ones.
2. Fabric Softener
Fabric softener is the last chemical clothes are exposed to before the wash is finished, and it often remains in the textiles. Since textiles are in contact with our skin and can be absorbed, these chemicals then enter our bloodstream.
All products containing water, such as fabric softeners, need to contain preservatives to prevent mold growth and spoilage. Many of these preservatives are toxic to aquatic organisms and can disrupt the biological treatment of our wastewater.
Instead, use a little vinegar as fabric softener and add a few drops of essential oil if you want fragrance.
3. Cleaning Products
This category includes all-purpose cleaners and liquid cleaning products that contain synthetic surfactants, perfumes, and unnecessary dyes.
These are especially irritating to our lungs because there is a high risk of inhaling the tiny droplets when spraying the product. They can also irritate skin and eyes.
They often contain surfactants that dissolve grease and dirt by reducing water’s surface tension, as well as petroleum products that are both hard to break down and toxic to all life in our waters.
The synthetic surfactants can also smell a bit musty. That’s why perfume is often added to cleaning products.
Instead, choose soap flakes or eco-labeled dish soap or cleaning products.
4. Window Cleaner
Window cleaner, like all-purpose cleaners, contains synthetic surfactants, perfumes, and unnecessary dyes. These become easy to inhale when spraying the product, which irritates lungs, eyes, and skin.
Instead, you can mix your own window cleaner with this recipe consisting of vinegar, water, and dish soap.
5. Dishwasher Detergent
Dishwasher detergents are especially risky because they are highly concentrated. Additionally, many are packaged in a microfilm that releases microplastics into our oceans when it melts. Microplastics are eaten by our fish, and then we eat the fish.
Instead, choose eco-labeled dishwasher detergent without plastic film.
6. Descaling Agents
Descaling agents are also highly concentrated and therefore extra risky.
Instead, choose vinegar, which is a natural water softener.
7. Oven Cleaner
Potassium and sodium hydroxide are examples of alkalis that may be included in oven cleaners. They are also called caustic soda and are very corrosive.
Since oven cleaners are highly concentrated, extra caution is required.
Instead, choose soap flakes and follow the instructions on Morotsliv.
8. Bleach
Bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, an alkali that is highly corrosive and has a very high pH. It is strongly irritating and can cause burns if it comes into contact with skin or eyes.
Instead, choose sodium percarbonate, which is naturally bleaching thanks to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen.
9. Drain Cleaner
Drain cleaners are extremely corrosive and can quickly cause serious and permanent burns in the mouth, esophagus, eyes, and on the skin. Every year, children and adults are hospitalized due to injuries caused by drain cleaners containing sodium or potassium hydroxide, also called caustic soda or lye.
At Morotsliv, you can find recipes for a milder but effective version of drain cleaner using vinegar and baking soda or sodium carbonate.
10. Fragrance Spray
Fragrance spray is something you breathe in. And synthetic perfumes contain many substances that disrupt our reproductive ability, the environment, and more.
Instead, choose natural scents and fragrance sprays.
If you want to save money on household expenses and learn more about eco-friendly cleaning, here is a highly appreciated online course on how to get started with eco-friendly cleaning!
