Learn About Harmful Chemicals in Cleaning Products -Cleanz
Are any of these nasties lurking in your home?
Did you know that the air in our homes can be up to 2 to 5x more polluted than the air outside? Crazy right! Plus, it is at it’s worst right after you clean (depending on what products you use, of course!)
We recommend you that you go through all of your cupboards using this list and dispose of any products containing any one of these nasties.
For more information on why this is so important click here.
Beware! Some of these ingredients may even be lurking in your 'Eco' products so check them too!
Preservatives
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Nasty - Stop Using! |
Heath Concern |
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Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) Often found in ‘non-toxic’ cleaning products, they are formally registered as pesticides |
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Phenoxyethanol Often found in ‘non-toxic’ cleaning products - it is an ethoxylated compound that may be contaminated with carcinogenic toxin 1-4 Dioxane |
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Benzalkonium Chloride |
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Potassium Sorbate |
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Sodium Benzoate |
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Parabens (benzlyparaben, butlyparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben) |
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Fragrances - Synthetic & 'Natural'!
Look urgently at your laundry detergents and powders here - everything that touches your skin is absorbed and processed by your liver.
| Nasty - Stop Using! | Heath Concern |
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Fragrance Parfum “Fresh clean smell” Unscented Free & Clear |
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A word on essential oils
Many essential oils are processed with solvents that contain harmful VOCs - ensure that you use botanical fragrances that are organic, wildcrafted and extracted through distillation, not with solvents
Essential oils are a great way to add non-toxic scent to your cleaning products if you wish, however, PINE, LEMON and ORANGE have been found to contain terpenes that react with ozone from outside air - and create secondary toxic compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and ultrafine particles in the indoor air
NOTE: Although natural, essential oils are extremely powerful and can cause irritation to allergies and sensitivities. If you have either of these, we suggest you keep your dilutions neutral.
Petroleum based ingredients
Look for ingredients ending in
| Nasty - Stop Using! | Heath Concern |
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Ol Ene Xyol Glycol Phenol Benzene Toulene Xylene |
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Pesticides & Herbicides
No need to even read the label on these - just simply get rid of them! Remember, CIDE means kill!
| Nasty - Stop Using! | Heath Concern |
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Insect repellents DEET Mosquito Sprays Insecticides treatments Bed bug treatments Lice & flea Shampoos |
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Surfactants
The only surfactants deemed safe are coco, decyl and lauryl - these have been approved by the EU (European Union) for use on skin including babies, have no carcinogens or toxic by products. They are also biodegradable.
| Nasty - Stop Using! | Heath Concern |
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All Other Surfacants (e.g. SLS, SCS, SLES) |
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Other
| Nasty - Stop Using ! | Heath Concern |
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CHLORINE BLEACH classified as a pesticide |
Highly irritating and corrosive to :
Fumes from bleach can cause:
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DISINFECTANT or SANITISER (non-alcohol based products contain registered pesticides) |
As per Pesticides & Herbicides |
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PHTHALATES (plastic softener) You'll find them in construction materials (vinyl flooring, adhesives, lubricating oils, solvents, materials, varnishes etc) Home products (shower curtains, wallpaper, vinyl products, food packaging, plastic wrap, garden hoses, printing ink, sporting goods) Toys & clothing (inflatable toys, raincoats, rubber boots) Cosmetics (nail polish, perfume, hair spray) |
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General statements to look out for
| Nasty - Get Rid! |
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Directions recommending the use of RUBBER GLOVES or MASK Directions that require VENTILATION while using the product A “COMBUSTIBLE” or “FLAMMABLE” WARNING Instructions for HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL - some examples of these products are: Oven cleaners Drain cleaners Wood & metal cleaners Polishes Toilet cleaners Tile, bath and shower cleaners Laundry bleach Polishes |
These products typically contain synthetic petroleum-based surfactants. If you can’t throw them in your rubbish bin, do you really want them in your home?
Safe disposal of toxic products
A healthy environment is paramount to good health and wellness and it is extremely important that you remove toxic ingredients from your home as soon as possible - however, it is equally important that you dispose of them safely and responsibly. Treat toxic pesticides and cleaning products as hazardous waste. Poisonous and toxic chemicals can catch on fire or could mix with other chemicals and cause an explosion or dangerous reaction. Check with your local council where and how you are able to dispose of these products safely and follow their guidelines. If you are not able to dispose of your products immediately, we recommend storing them in an airtight container (such as a BPA plastic box like Steralite of Sistema) and keep out of direct heat or sun.
Next - Replace with safe alternatives
Firstly, congratulations for making it this far!
We know it seems like an overwhelming and expensive exercise, but we know that your bodies will thank you for it. Your body is an amazing detoxifying, self-healing machine and given the right conditions and environment, will not only survive, but thrive as well. Clean air and a safe and healthy home is essential to living a vibrant and healthy life.
Now on to what to use instead!
Pesticides & Herbicides
Choose safe, healthy alternatives to rid your home of pests - check out our recommendations for chemical-free pest management - an inexpensive, safe & sensible way to avoid pests
Cleaning Products
There are a couple of options for human-safe, chemical free cleaning products. You can check this inexpensive guide to DIY cleaning product recipes here or choose soap based products like CLEANZ that will safely and effectively clean your entire home
What else can you do to create a healthy home?
There are a number of things you can do to eliminate toxicity and clean up the air in your home. Click here to find a list of things you can do immediately that will greatly improve the health of your home.