There is no shortage of cleaning products on the market, but what products are considered good for you in your home?
Cleaning products shouldn’t make us sick, they should do the opposite - provide our homes and working spaces with a healthy environment.
Because of this, we want to steer clear of anything containing Volatile Organic Compounds, and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gasses that are made of carbon and hydrogen compounds that evaporate at room temperature and enter your home’s interior atmosphere. The ‘organic’ portion of the title, means that the molecule was derived from something that was once living. VOCs are found in many things around your home, including chemicals used in the production of, and/or added as ingredients of most cleaning products and personal products such as shampoo, shaving cream, body wash, and perfume.
Literally, thousands of cleaning products - including the most commonly used ones - contain toxic chemicals that can pollute our surfaces and air quality - even when they’re being stored.
VOCs can lead to negative health effects that can be both short-term and long-term. If you’re looking to see if you’ve already been affected, you can test for these toxins in your body with urine samples, and your home’s air quality can also be tested.
These products not only infiltrate your air, but they rest on your surfaces. The same surfaces you eat on, you walk on barefoot, your kids crawl on, you sit on, and your dogs lay on. We quite literally wear clothing all day, so what do you think happens when the toxins rub against our skin, and we breathe in the smells of the dryer sheets all day?
I’m sure we’ve all had some headaches that we would have never attributed to scents and cleaning toxins before starting this journey.
The most common effects that one will notice immediately after exposure will be eye, nose, and throat irritation. Sometimes these symptoms can also include headaches, nausea, and loss of consciousness with lengthy exposure.
Aside from these side effects, you may experience longer-term problems such as kidney and liver issues, eczema, contact dermatitis and skin conditions, asthma, endocrine and immune disruption, and you can even develop cancers.
Starting in your laundry room, things such as laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets are some major culprits. Other products throughout the home include spray and plug-in air fresheners, and carpet cleaners.
According to the Building Biology Institute,
“these products gave off nearly 100 VOCs, including three chemicals that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers hazardous air contaminants and pollutants with no safe exposure levels”.
Reading the labels on your products is a good place to start, however, VOCs might not be listed properly, or at all. Commonly, household cleaning products include one specific ingredient - ‘fragrance’. This fragrance ingredient can show up in the form of many different chemicals.
Not only can they be misleading under the ingredient labels, but in the name of the product as well. Many laundry brands labelled as “gentle”, "sensitive skin", or “free and clear” contain unsafe levels of these chemicals.
In Canada, the VOC percentage can actually be quite high - some cleaners hold up to 90% VOC in weight. Here is a list of some of the allowed percentages in Canada (as per the Canadian government website).
Prepare to be floored.
Aerosol Air Fresheners - up to 30%
Aerosol Disinfectant - up to 70%
Aerosol Fabric Refresher - up to 15%
Aerosol Fabric Protector - up to 60%
Aerosol Glass Cleaner - up to 10%
Laundry Detergent - up to 22%
Toilet Cleaner - up to 10%
Hand or Body Soap - up to 8%
Aerosol Antiperspirant - up to 40%
Hairspray - up to 55%
Perfume or Cologne - up to 75%
Scary stuff. Especially because most people use at least one of these things per day, whether you’re showering or washing your hands, or doing a full deep clean of your house, you’re being exposed to these toxins.
Keep in mind that cleaning products, especially aerosol products, slowly seep out over time so you’re still at risk of exposure even when you’re not actively using them.
One of the easiest ways to prevent the use and exposure to VOCs is to eliminate fragrances from your cleaning routine.
We recommend making your own natural cleaning products (we use vinegar for almost everything), but if you do wish to keep some of the products you’ve used over the years, try and be smart about where you store them and when/how you use them.
If you’re storing them in the kitchen or pantry, try moving them to the garage or a storage room that’s not somewhere you frequent, or somewhere you cook.
When you clean your bathroom, make sure you’re wearing gloves and do it at a time when someone isn’t going to be jumping right in there for a shower.
Small changes can make a big difference.
We make our own cleaning products at home, but we know not everyone is comfortable doing that right off the bat. We’ve compiled a list of ‘better’ products to replace your toxic ones.
Remember, even if you just replace ONE thing at a time, you’re on your way to a healthier home environment!
Just a reminder that these are a ‘better’ option, but making your own at home is always your best choice.
Check out our blog on how to make your own natural all-purpose cleaner.
Cheers to your health!
Bailey
