I recently held a class where we learned about healthy cleaning options. Often when think about our health, we think about our diet and exercise routine; but another area that can affect our health is the toxins we are exposed to every day. This can be the air we breathe, the cosmetic products we apply to our bodies, or the cleaning products we use in our homes.
How “safe” are our cleaning products?
Why are there caution and warning labels on these products?
Did you know that the label often doesn’t disclose everything that is in the product?
The most concerning fact is that there are no federal requirements for disclosing ingredients. Fortunately, California and New York have just recently enacted labeling requirements; but what about the rest of our country?
Some of the side effects from toxins are endocrine disrupters, neurotoxins, carcinogens, skin and respiratory irritation, narcosis, pulmonary edema, severe liver and kidney damage, and being toxic to the environment.
Interesting Facts
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has found that one third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic! ONE THIRD!!
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only about 1% of the more than 75,000 registered chemicals have gone through complete testing for human health!
Small sample studies are finding on average 200 chemicals in the umbilical cords of newborn babies.
What you can do to decrease your exposure to toxins in your cleaning products
- You can make your own, check out one of my previous post which includes a few recipes. There are many great books out there for making your own household products. Here a few I found helpful: The Modern Organic Home by Natalie Wise, The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier, and The Organically Clean Home by Becky Rapinchuk.
- If you don’t want to make your own, purchase “safer” cleaning products.
- Check out the toxin levels of your current products or products you are considering using. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has evaluated over 2,500 cleaning products and given a letter grade to each product. This is a great resource for individuals wanting to improve their health through better cleaning products. Here is the link: https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners#4ltVKjIU
It may be overwhelming to change out all your household cleaning products at one time, but maybe start with just one or two at a time, slowly “cleaning up” your cleaning products; over the course of a few months you can replace your products with safer options. By taking this small step, you are investing in your health – remember you are worth the investment.
Be Blessed,
Heather
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