How Clean Are Your Cleaning Products?
Warning: Your cleaning products could be leaving behind toxic residues…
Check out any commercial cleaning product on store shelves, and you’ll see lots of claims about how “powerful” the product is, or how “sparkling clean” your kitchen will be after you use it. What you won’t see is a list of ingredients – have you ever noticed that?
That’s right – cleaning products are NOT required to disclose what’s in them on the label – at least not in the U.S.
Isn’t that crazy? You’re cleaning your home with an unknown combination of unknown chemicals, and the manufacturer isn’t required to tell you what they are…
Every time you use these products, your home may look “sparkling clean” afterwards, but what you can’t see is the invisible chemical residue they leave behind – or the chemicals you inhale while using them.
And unfortunately, many of these chemicals may be doing bad things to your family’s health. Some can interfere with your body’s endocrine system, causing a whole range of health problems, including fertility problems, diminished sex drive, kidney disease, and birth defects, among others.
But since your cleaning products don’t list these ingredients (or their harmful effects) on the label, how can you tell what you’re really getting when you buy cleaning products, and make sure you’re choosing safer options?
First of all, you can check out this helpful guide for identifying the best and the worst cleaning products among popular brands.
Secondly, you can make sure you shop for all-natural and eco-friendly cleaning products whenever possible. The good news is, there are more and more of these safer options on store shelves these days.
One good example is Ecover. According to ThriveMarket.com, Ecover’s cleaning products are:
Biodegradable
All of Ecover’s products are completely biodegradable…
Plant-based
Instead of relying on synthetic chemicals that can cause all kinds of health issues—for your body and the planet—Ecover uses renewable, plant-based ingredients that ensure it’s gentle on the environment and less likely to irritate the skin.
Even their bottles come from naturally occurring resources. Not only does Ecover use post-consumer recycled plastic in their bottles, but they’ve actually discovered a way to create a plant-based plastic out of sugarcane. Each bottle is a mix of recycled plastic and this sugarcane plastic, and can be recycled again and again, reducing the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.
Never tested on animals
…Absolutely none of the Ecover products have ever been tested on furry creatures.
Another of our favorite brands is Earth Friendly Products, and Seventh Generation remains a popular choice among eco-conscious shoppers.
Try any of these options for a safer cleaning experience, and a truly clean home!
