In this article, you’ll discover 3 easy ways to switch to toxin-free cleaning products, including DIY recipes you can make from home.
If you’re getting symptoms of hormone imbalances like period pains, poor skin, weight gain or irregular periods, or you’ve tested with FUTURE WOMAN and we’ve discovered high levels of inflammation or oxidative stress, then switching to toxin-free cleaning products is vitally important for your health.Â
So, what's the problem with cleaning products?
Many of the cleaning products you’ll find in the supermarket are made with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).Â
EDCs are manmade chemicals that have the ability to disrupt our hormones at every stage of their development. That means they affect hormone production, hormone transportation and hormone metabolism.
According to the Endocrine Society, as many as 1,000 chemicals in our products and environments have been identified as endocrine disrupting so far, but many are still yet to be studied.
What are the worst chemicals we know about?
There are a few EDCs that we see frequently in commercially available cleaning products. The top three to look out for are:
- Fragrance: Synthetic fragrances include endocrine disrupting chemicals called phthalates, which are associated with fertility problems, pregnancy loss, and adverse pregnancy outcomes as well as increasing risk for polycystic ovarian syndrome by affecting not only metabolism but also testosterone levels.
- Anti-bacterial ingredients: Triclosan is a powerful anti-bacterial that is found in detergents, soaps and dishwashing liquids. It is known to disrupt estrogen and therefore impact bone density, as well as affecting the thyroid and inducing allergies in young children. Interestingly, while anti-bacterial products became extremely popular in the pandemic, studies have shown that antibacterial products are actually no more effective than simple soap and water.
- Bleach: Use of bleach has been linked to respiratory problems, skin irritations and other serious health concerns. Furthermore, one of the by-products of manufacturing bleach is a set of endocrine disrupting chemicals called dioxins, which have been linked to inflammatory hormone conditions like endometriosis.
Can I test for exposure to toxic chemicals?
Yes. We can assess your exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in our Advanced Hormone Tests by investigating a few key markers.
3 toxin-free cleaning alternatives
Ok so now we know what to avoid, how can we make better choices?Â
Let’s look at 3 common household cleaning products and how to either make our own at home or buy a better toxin-free cleaning alternative.
1. General Purpose Cleaner
DIY recipe
Mix together the following ingredients in a bucket, then decant into a glass spray bottle:
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup bicarbonate of soda
- 2 litres water
- A few drops of lime essential oil
Buy toxin-free
We love Spruce’s multi-purpose and bathroom cleaning duo with refills. They use plant-based, non-toxic ingredients, which are rated highly by the Environmental Working Group. And you can keep the bottles and refill which reduces the burden on the environment.
2. Loo cleaner
DIY recipe
- Dry ingredients: 1 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup citric acid mixed.
- Wet ingredients: 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar + a few drops of orange essential oil.
Buy toxin-free
Made using White Vinegar Powder as well as Sodium Bicarbonate, these Lemon & Lime Toilet Bombs are a great alternative to the usual loo cleaning options which are high in bleach and synthetic fragrance.
3. Dishwasher tablets
DIY recipe
- 1/2 cup liquid castille soap
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3 drops bergamot essential oils
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
Buy toxin-free
Many Ecover products do include fragrance, but we like these 0% fragrance All-in-One Tablets.
Key takeaways for toxin-free cleaning
- Endocrine disrupting chemicals negatively impact our hormones at every stage of their development.
- Many EDCs have been linked to problems with fertility, pregnancy, PCOS and endometriosis.
- The 3 most important chemicals to avoid in cleaning products are synthetic fragrances, bleach and anti-bacterial chemicals.
- Switching to our FUTURE WOMAN approved toxin-free alternatives, or making your own at home is a great way to reduce your exposure.
- The Advanced Hormone Test can indicate the impact of your exposure to environmental toxins and EDCs.
