Household Chemicals/ DIY
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is doing their best to help us, the consumer, navigate our way through Household Cleaning Products to find the least toxic and safest options.
Take a look at EWG 2012 “Hall of Shame” and see which household chemicals are:
“loaded with extremely toxic compounds banned in some countries. Some of their ingredients are known to cause cancer, blindness, asthma and other serious conditions. Others are greenwashed, meaning that they are not, as their ad hype claims, environmentally benign. Still more hide the facts about their formulations behind vague terms like “fragrance.” “
For the sake of your health and the health of your children, I hope that your goal is to limit as many toxic household chemicals as possible… If you’re not sure why, please read about endocrine disrupting chemicals here before continuing. I want you to know just how toxic the products are that you’re currently using, and I also have a solution. Our kids deserve to grow up in a toxin free environment!
Note:
- Many of the DIY recipes have essential oils. Essential oils have antimicrobial properties: like tea tree, thyme and peppermint oil for example.
- When making your household cleaners, try using glass bottles instead of plastic when you can. The volatile oils in the essential oils will break down the plastic overtime.
Household Chemicals/ DIY Resources
- US Department of Health and Human Services – Household Products Database
- Federal Emergency Management Agency – Household Chemical Emergencies
- Cleveland Clinic – Household Safety (Household Chemicals Chart: Whats in my House?)
- Environmental Working Group – Guide to Healthy Cleaning
- Presidential Executive Order-13045 – signed 1997
- EPA Children’s Environmental Health – drafted document, July 2, 2014
- Andrus, Becki (2013-04-14). Natural Cleaning Recipes: Essential Oils Recipes to Safely Clean Your Home, Save Money, and Protect Your Family (Essential Oils Books) (Kindle Locations 370-373). . Kindle Edition.
- SaferChemicals.org
