Many of the most toxic carcinogens come into our homes in laundry and cleaning products. One rule of thumb is “if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t buy the product”.
Let’s look at what ingredients to avoid, if you see any of these chemicals staring back at you from any laundry or cleaning product label you may want to reconsider purchasing that item after reading this.
First up it’s best to avoid any product with fragrance in it such as regular laundry powders and liquids, fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
Avoid chlorine bleach and any products that contain optical brighteners.
Eliminate the use of fabric softeners by using 1/2 cup of double strength vinegar in the rinse cycle instead.
Don’t use dryer sheets. If you really want a fragrance when drying your clothes add a few drops of essential oil to a damp rag and throw it in the dryer with your laundry. Use dryer balls to reduce drying time, wrinkles and static, you can make your own felted dryer balls, this blog explains how.
Add a little Soda Ash to your laundry powder to naturally brighten colours and eliminate odours.
Add half a cup of Oxy-Bleach to your wash if clothes need extra cleaning.
Pre-treat stains with Natural-San.
By avoiding some products you will ensure the worst ingredients don’t come into your home. I found the following checklist which might help you out – when these chemicals are washed down the drains and run through pipes, they do not easily degrade and thus pose an environmental risk that affects both animals and humans. The longer these chemicals remain, the more likely people are to have an increased risk of skin, eye, or respiratory irritation, hormone disruption and nervous system problems.
There are several toxic ingredients commonly found in cleaning/laundry products that you should avoid to minimise health risks and environmental harm.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Here are some to watch out for:
Chlorine Bleach: It can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system, and can also react with other chemicals to form toxic byproducts.
Ammonia: This can irritate the respiratory system and can be especially harmful if mixed with bleach, forming toxic fumes.
Phthalates: These are often found in fragrances and can interfere with hormone function.
Triclosan: Commonly used in antibacterial products, it’s been linked to hormone disruption and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
2-Butoxyethanol: Often found in window and multipurpose cleaners, it can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats): These are commonly found in disinfectant sprays and can cause asthma and other respiratory issues.
Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Found in oven cleaners and drain openers, it’s extremely corrosive and can cause severe burns on contact with the skin or eyes.
Perchloroethylene (PERC): Commonly found in carpet and upholstery cleaners, it’s a neurotoxin and likely carcinogen.
Formaldehyde: Often found in air fresheners and some cleaning products, it’s a known carcinogen and respiratory irritant.
Artificial Colours: These can contain carcinogenic compounds and may also contribute to skin sensitivity.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Depending on the manufacturing processes, sodium laureth sulfate can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and another human carcinogen called ethylene oxide.
Nonylphenols and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates: There is evidence that NPEs are linked to cancer, DNA damage, skin allergies and irritation, asthma and respiratory problems, and hormone disruption.
1,4-Dioxane: This toxin is a known (possible human) carcinogen, yet it remains one of the most widespread chemicals in personal hygiene products and laundry detergent. 1,4-dioxane is actually created in a process – ironically – that is supposed to reduce skin irritation risk in petroleum-based ingredients.
To avoid these toxic ingredients, look for products labeled as “green,” “natural,” or “eco-friendly.” Alternatively, you can make your own cleaning products using simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and Castile soap. There are plenty of recipes on our website and we have DIY kits to help you get started.
Of course you can always buy ready made Green Goddess products!
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