When you are in the middle of decluttering, it is the perfect opportunity to do some deep-cleaning! You'll want to wipe out drawers, cupboards, and clean all your horizontal surfaces! Since you are having to take out everything as you clean, you might as well see what is in your cupboards while you are at it and check for toxic ingredients!
Start With The Cleaners
When you are doing your deep-cleaning, it is important to use a high quality plant-based cleaner...Why is this you might ask? Because most store-bought cleaners are known to cause lung damage and other issues. When you are cleaning in tight spaces, it is important to clean with something that is not going to irritate your lungs and is also safe to use around your children and pets!
The air quality of our homes is actually 5-10 times more toxic than outdoor air quality and room sprays, laundry detergents, candles, and cleaners we use in the home is a big part of what is causing our toxic air quality. Our homes are not well-ventilated so anything that you use in your home just stays in the air whether or not you can smell it.
Using A Plant-Based Cleaner
So using a plant-based cleaner is key to avoiding headaches and respiratory discomfort while cleaning and to protect your family. Have you ever read the label on your cleaner and seen the words "Poison", "Do not ingest", "Call Poison control if swallowed"? Friend, there is no need to have those dangerous chemicals in your home any more. <3
I use one bottle of cleaner for everything in my house. I was able to toss a whole shelf full of cleaners and simplify my life with this one cleaner that cleans EVERYTHING! I use it on carpet stains, furniture stains, clothing stains, glass, marble, wood, counter tops, greasy areas, toys, high-chairs and more. It has truly simplified my life!
My kids can even help me clean with it because its 100% safe. It costs less than $1.50 per spray bottle for me to make and it comes ultra-concentrated so I can make it whatever dilution I need for the job! It is the most affordable and most powerful plant-based cleaner I've ever used. Plus, it smells like Christmas whenever I clean! Win-Win!
What Ingredients To Watch Out For
These are 12 of the top most common and toxic ingredients that are found in household items. Be aware that there are many more chemicals than these and there has been barely any studies on chemical reactions between all the chemicals used in the US. There are over 80,000 chemicals in use today...most of them, at least 60,000, have never been studied for safety. It would take 1,000 years to actually perform safety studies on every chemical in use including safety studies on which chemicals interact with each other and a safety study on the product of those chemical reactions.
1.) Phthalates - These are found in nail polishes, perfumes, lotions, & hair spray.
These are known endocrine disruptors. They increase breast cancer risk and they cause reproductive birth defects & early breast development.
2.) Parabens - These are found in deodorants, shampoo, lotions, makeup, etc.
These contain xeno-estrogens. They can lead to breast cancer and are found in food and drugs too.
3.) DEA Ingredients - These are found in foamy & cream-type products like shampoos, shaving creams, and moisturizers.
DEA can react with nitrites and form a human carcinogen. It is similar in chemistry to MEA & TEA.
4.) Triclosan - These are found in oral and dental products, antibacterial soaps, etc.
It is a known endocrine disruptor. They cause harm to the thyroid and reproductive hormones and may irritate the skin.
5.) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate - These are found in 90% of cosmetic products.
SLS creates nitrosamines which cause skin, lung, and eye irritation. They are known to cause cancer and can cause kidney and respiratory diseases.
6.) Toleune - It is found in cosmetics like nail polish, hair color, and bleach.
It causes respiratory problems, skin irritation, and nausea. It may cause early development damage to a fetus and harmful to the immune system.
7.) Benzophenone - It is found in sunscreen along with other cancer-causing chemicals.
It is a known endocrine disruptor. It can cause cancer as well as cellular damage in the body.
8.) Fragrances (Natural fragrances included) - It is found in almost all cosmetics and body care products.
Fragrance is a loophole in the labeling laws where manufacturers can hide up to 300 chemicals without disclosing them on the label. It is the WORST ingredient because you have absolutely no idea how bad the ingredients are that are hidden. It causes asthma and allergies and is linked to neurotoxicity and cancer as well.
9.) Formaldehyde - It is found in conditioners, shampoos, eye shadows, nail polishes, etc.
It is a known carcinogen and is harmful to the immune system. It also causes skin allergies.
10.) Lead - It is found in most cosmetics, including lipsticks & hair dye products as a contaminant, thus it won't be disclosed on the label even though it is in the product.
It is a known carcinogen.
11.) Propylene Glycol - It is found in sunscreen, lotions, creams, skin moisturizers, conditioners, and hair sprays.
It causes skin irritation and dermatitis. It is also good to avoid because of enhanced skin penetration...so it can bring other chemicals into the bloodstream even easier.
12.) Siloxane - It is found in products that soften and moisten the skin.
It is a known endocrine disruptor and can cause tumors. It is also dangerous to the reproductive, immune, and nervous systems.
Why It Is Important To Avoid These Chemicals
It takes 26 seconds for a chemical to enter the skin...many people look at the skin as a barrier...when really it is actually a carrier of chemicals and other tiny molecules into the bloodstream. They then get carried to our organs until they are filtered out of the blood...but they end up overworking the liver and get stored in our fat instead of detoxed...
Chemicals might be the missing link in your health puzzle...it was for us. Grab a free copy of my guide with 7 subtle signs of Toxicity Overload! This guide will walk you through some common signs that you might be missing...I would never have guessed number 3 &4.
Want to learn more about how going toxin-free can impact you? Read our story.
xo Rachelle
