How to Detox your Home from Chemical Chaos
What do cosmetics, shampoos, shower gels, conventional food, and home cleaning products all have in common? They can all be hiding endocrine disruptors - toxic chemicals that can interfere with your body's endocrine (hormone) system. Endocrine disruptors can increase, decrease, block or imitate certain hormones, or alter how these hormones work in the body. They harm the body's neurological, immune, reproductive, and developmental systems and have been linked to a wide range of health concerns, including fertility problems, decreases sex drive, kidney disease and birth defects.
Many of us know the importance of detoxing our diets to avoid pesticides, fertilizers, artificial flavors, etc., but my goal for today's post is to nudge you to reexamine all the chemicals you use to clean your home that are just as toxic and can cause various hormonal health issues.
Research shows that many of the chemicals found in everyday house-cleaning products are bio-accumulative, which means that once in your system, they actually stay in your system and allow for increased free radical damage, which makes you more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases and cancers.
It's scary stuff! To lower your exposure to these toxins, make some healthy household swaps:
Instead of this: Lysol Disinfectant Wipes and Sprays
Use this: Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner, or make your own by combining 1 tsp borax, 1/2 tsp washing soda, 1 tsp liquid castille soap and essential oils (lemon, lavender, orange) in a spray bottle. Add 2 cups of warm water, cover and shake well.
Instead of this: Windex
Use this: Homemade Mirror Cleaner
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, then add a few drops of your fave essential oils for a scent.
Instead of this: Mr. Muscle Oven Cleaner
Use this: DIY Oven Cleaner
Make a spreadable paste with 1/2 cup baking soda + few tablespoons of water. Spread all over interior surfaces of your oven. Let sit for 12 hours or overnight. Take a damp dish cloth and wipe out as much of the dried paste as you can. Spray a little vinegar where you see baking soda residue. Take a damp cloth and wipe out the remaining foamy vinegar-baking-soda mixture.
Instead of this: Zep Commercial Grout Cleaner
Use this: Natural Grout Cleaner
Mix 1 part water and 3 parts baking soda into a paste. Apply to grout and let sit, scrub with toothbrush, remove with sponge.
Instead of this: Kaboom Toilet, Shower, Tub Cleaner
Use this: Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner. For a no-scrub option for cleaning the toilet, dump a cup of baking soda into the toilet and let it soak for at least an hour. Pour in a cup of white vinegar, leave for 5 mins and flush.
Instead of this: Tide Laundry Detergent
Use this: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Detergent, or you can make your own by combining 1 bar (4.5 oz) shaved bar soup (like Dr. Bronner's) + 1 cup borax + 1 cup washing soda. Store in a sealed container with a small scoop.
Instead of this: Tide spot stain remover
Use this: Hydrogen peroxide will get any stain out, even from a pure white shirt. Pour some on the stain and then wash in the washer as normal.
Instead of this: Bleach products like Ajax and Comet
Use this: Arm and Hammer baking soda. To keep clothes clean and fresh, add one cup to your laundry loads.
Instead of this: Downy Fabric Softener
Use this: Homemade Fabric Softener
Mix 1 part baking soda, 1 part white vinegar, and 2 parts water together. Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup during the final rinse cycle.
Instead of this: Commercial Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Use this: To clean wood, bamboo and laminate floors, fill a 2 gallon bucket with warm water and a few drops of essential oil, or warm water with 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and use a well rung out sponge or rag mop. Buff the floors dry with a soft cloth or towel.
Instead of this: Commercial Tile Floor Cleaner
Use this: To clean linoleum, tile and stone floors, mix 1/4 cup white vinegar + 1/4 cup baking soda + 1 tablespoon liquid castille soap + 2 gallons hot water and mop!
Instead of this: Glade Plug Ins
Use this: Electronic essential oil diffusers - you get the benefits of the essential oils plus a lovely whole-house scent!
I hope you feel inspired replace some of your harsh household cleaners with these natural and non-toxic options. If you have any tried-and-true, DIY cleaning products, feel free to share in the comments below!
Steph x