Most of the home cleaning products that line hardware and grocery store shelves are truly massive chemical cocktails. When you look at the ingredients, you would never think to ask for the recipe so you could make it yourself! Unless you use non-toxic home cleaning products, there’s a good chance that your cleaning efforts aren’t actually effectively “cleaning”. Most home cleaning products are filled with harmful chemicals and if anyone can tell me what turns a collection of chemicals into the smell of “Summer Rain” or “Berry Breeze”, do let me know!
When Josh and I moved into our new home, I felt like we had this incredible opportunity to do the right thing. We were mindful about the sofa we purchased, the wood that was used on our closet doors, our new bed, right down to the de-chlorinator we installed to remove all chlorine from the water that enters our house. Yes, we recognize that we are in the extreme category on these things, but we’ve also each read enough books and seen enough cases of chemical sensitivity and auto-immune disease to know that every bit of effort matters.
A healthy lifestyle comes down to more than just diet and exercise. We can fill ourselves to the brim with clean water, organic produce, non-GMO fare and high-quality superfoods, but if we’re slathering our homes in toxins and laundering our clothes with chemicals, we’re doing ourselves a real disservice.
A whopping 133 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the products – even in those labelled ‘green’, ‘natural’ or ‘organic’.
On average, 17 VOCs were found in each product, with anywhere from 1-8 of those 17 chemicals being toxic or hazardous.
Nearly half of the products contained at least one of 24 carcinogenic air pollutants that have no safe exposure level, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Why are VOCs dangerous?
Volatile organic compounds are gases emitted from solids or liquids. They’re found in many household products, from paints and varnishes to cleaning products and disinfectants. The EPA states that some of the risks associated with VOCs are:
Eye, nose and throat irritation
Headaches, loss of coordination and nausea
Damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system
Some VOCs can cause cancer in animals, and some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans
VOC exposure doesn’t just happen while we’re using the products – they can linger afterwards and while they are stored. As well, VOC levels can be 2 to 5 times higher indoors as compared to outdoors.
Some of the common carcinogens the researchers at the University of Washington found in cleaning products were:
Acetaldehyde
1,4-dioxane
Formaldehyde
Methylene chloride
But it isn’t just this one study that points to the health risks of VOCs and the dangers of cleaning products. For example:
Many cleaning products contain ‘fragrance’, which is an umbrella term for a cocktail of chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions, respiratory issues like asthma, headaches and hormonal disruptions.
We are obsessed with having every surface of our homes and bodies scrubbed clean, but our perception of what’s clean or not has become tainted by the messages that we need to be surrounded by the smell of “Lemon Breeze” or “Cottage Pine”. The cleaning product industry rakes in over 50 billion dollars a year in the US – so these companies are focused on what’s best for their bottom line, not for our health.
Of course, I’m not saying that you should stop cleaning your home, especially your kitchen where bacteria can thrive. But there are so many natural options for effective household cleaners that you can easily make at home.
To get you started, here are my Top 10 Non-Toxic Home Cleaning recipes from around the web.
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This is a fun one – the process is kinda like making quick pickles, but you won’t be eating what’s in this jar. All you need are citrus peels, vinegar and water. That’s it!
You don’t need bright blue or green liquids to get your windows and mirrors clean and streak-free. This recipe also includes a video tutorial so you can see how easy it is.
When my husband and I went shopping for a new toilet, we discovered that you can buy Teflon-lined toilets so nothing sticks to the insides. Well, I don’t want to eat off Teflon and I don’t want to poop in it either. Instead, I use homemade toilet bowl cleaner to keep the toilet tidy and fresh.
It costs less than $8 to make this natural, non-toxic and borax-free laundry detergent. Practically Functional breaks it all down for you – it costs less than a quarter a load. Amazing!
Some store-bought natural dish soaps just don’t get things as clean as you want them to be. Not with this dish soap, which will get rid of grease and residues. And if you don’t like lavender, try another scent.
I can’t stand air fresheners – they not only contain harmful VOCs, but they also, in my opinion, make rooms smell worse than the actual scent they’re trying to cover up. This three-ingredient air freshener spray helps to remove odors, not just mask them, and it won’t leave you with that toxic chemical stench.
This is a great way to clean your carpets without having to shampoo them all. Simply sprinkle this natural carpet freshener on a dry carpet, leave it overnight and vaccuum it up in the morning. So easy!
We don’t need to be 100% sanitized at all times, but clean hands are important – especially if you’re not close to soap and water. Great for car trips, hiking, camping, or when you’re out and about doing errands.
Just wondering Meghan – what do you use to actually scrub your toilet bowl with (i.e. Brush etc). It grosses me out to use the typical ones that just go back into a holder, even with washing it after each use…..
Good thing to know that there are still lots of alternative you can use in cleaning. I can now eliminate those nasty chemicals in my cleaning. It can be harmful to human as well as to nature.
Great article. I love the recipe for the Grease Lightning cleaning solution. I have never seen that. I love lavender too, it is one of my favorite smells. I own a cleaning company, and a lot of my clients are always looking for new techniques that I use. I appreciate you putting this down. Thank you.
Ok, I have products that I need to get rid of but what do you do with these. As you mentioned, you can’t just throw them down the toilet and presto they’ve vanished from the planet.
I hope somebody can help me with this. I made two batches of homemade toilet bowl cleanser and both of the bottles ‘wow’ out on the bottom. I have a hunch I should have let the solution completely cool before I transferred them to bottles. Also, I am sure the separation is normal…
What is the name of your water system? I have been using reverse osmosis for twenty years or more and didn’t know until a year ago it took all the minerals out of the water also. I need to replace my system now and would like to know the brand you are using. There are so many out there I want to make sure I get the best one?
Thanks for all your info!
Angela
I have tried making non toxic dishwasher tablets and I can’t get one that actually works. What do you use? It’s the only chemical thing left in my house
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Just wondering Meghan – what do you use to actually scrub your toilet bowl with (i.e. Brush etc). It grosses me out to use the typical ones that just go back into a holder, even with washing it after each use…..
Good thing to know that there are still lots of alternative you can use in cleaning. I can now eliminate those nasty chemicals in my cleaning. It can be harmful to human as well as to nature.
Great article. I love the recipe for the Grease Lightning cleaning solution. I have never seen that. I love lavender too, it is one of my favorite smells. I own a cleaning company, and a lot of my clients are always looking for new techniques that I use. I appreciate you putting this down. Thank you.
Ok, I have products that I need to get rid of but what do you do with these. As you mentioned, you can’t just throw them down the toilet and presto they’ve vanished from the planet.
I hope somebody can help me with this. I made two batches of homemade toilet bowl cleanser and both of the bottles ‘wow’ out on the bottom. I have a hunch I should have let the solution completely cool before I transferred them to bottles. Also, I am sure the separation is normal…
If we follow these non toxic home cleaning recipes then we can achieve maximum results.
Great post! Where do you find low VOC furniture and what kind of a house water filter are you using?
What is the name of your water system? I have been using reverse osmosis for twenty years or more and didn’t know until a year ago it took all the minerals out of the water also. I need to replace my system now and would like to know the brand you are using. There are so many out there I want to make sure I get the best one?
Thanks for all your info!
Angela
Love this article. It’s very insightful. I’m curious about the dish soap, would definitely try. Thank you, Meghan!
I have tried making non toxic dishwasher tablets and I can’t get one that actually works. What do you use? It’s the only chemical thing left in my house