Down with Toxic Chemicals

An American Airlines plane flying from London to Philadelphia almost did just that.

NBC reported this week that a plane had to make an emergency landing because 2 crew members and one passenger fell unconscious soon after take-off. The report states, “The plane was flying from London to Philadelphia when it diverted to Dublin due to odor from cleaning fluid that spilled in the galley. Two crew members and a passenger on an American Airlines plane have been taken to a hospital in Dublin after fumes from spilled cleaning fluid caused an emergency landing. “ Read full article.

It’s time to realize that most cleaning products used today are toxic, i.e. harmful as heck to our health, our pets’ health, and the health of the planet, and it’s time to stop using them.

We ooh and aah because of the emergency landing but no one is talking about how ridiculous it is to have made a emergency landing because of cleaning fluid. Or how insane it is to be using cleaning fluid whose fumes would make you fall unconscious. It’s probably uncommon that cleaning agents (as toxic as they may be) cause one to pass out but I know I’m not the only one who feels a little dizzy or head-achy after walking down the laundry/cleaning aisle at the grocery store.

There are so many choices for safe and effective cleaning products on the market now. Over the years I’ve tried quite a few and here are the ones I currently use and recommend.

White vinegar. How easy and cost effective is that? Use a 1:4 solution (dilute 1:4 with water) for general cleaning of sinks, countertops, toilets, etc or use full strength to combat mold and mildew. You can add it to your washing machine to get rid of musty odors in clothes, wipe window sills or walls on the damp or shady side of your house, and wash produce with it. Vinegar is now known to combat mold as well! Lemon juice or oil and orange peel are good cleansers for countertops and produce as well.

Homemade Vegetable Wash– Speaking of produce washing, I just created a homemade version of veggie wash based on the Rebel Green brand sold in most grocery stores. It took me less than 5 minutes (though I had all the ingredients on hand). Here’s what I used: water, a small amount (less than 10% of total volume) of Dr. Bronner’s soap, about 5 drops of lemon essential oil, about 5 drops of lime essential oil, about 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract. It works beautifully. You can also just use Dr. Bronner’s and water. Most stores sell Dr. Bronner’s soap in various sizes; it isn’t cheap straight up but most of its uses recommend diluting which makes it cost effective in the end.

Dr. Bronner’s pure castille liquid soap. The list of uses is long. Visit their website or buy a bottle and read the uses listed. I use it (diluted) for hand soap, veggie wash, added to laundry, and washing floors. I also buy travel size bottles to use for hands and body when traveling. The company suggests using it as a shampoo but I find it too drying. They continue to add new products but I’ve found their original pure castille soap to be the best. I also use their toothpaste.

Thieves cleaner by Young Living. I use this in my kitchen and bathroom. Again, the price point seems high but it gets diluted 1:30. I’ve been using the same bottle for over a year. You can also mix it with baking soda for a shower scrub. And by the way, baking soda makes an easy, simple, clean, cheap scrub for shower and pots/pans with caked on stuff. And it’s a key ingredient for homemade toothpaste and deodorant.

Pure Haven– I love Pure Haven’s surface cleaner and scrub as well as numerous other products. Their whole line is great.

Dishwashing detergents– There are numerous non-toxic choices for hand washing soap and I switch up brands based on what’s on sale. I’m currently using Ecos which is one of my favorites and can be found in most grocery stores. Seventh generation makes a good one too. For the dishwasher I use BioKleen. Pure Haven makes one too that I tried, and liked, a few years ago but when they reformulated it I found BioKleen which I currently use. One key is to find one without chlorine because hot water and chlorine form chloroform which comes out of your dishwasher in the form of steam. Give either one a try, it beats having toxic steam flood your kitchen.

Laundry detergent and dryer balls– If everyone could switch dryer sheets for dryer balls I, and the earth, would be soooo happy and grateful. When the weather is nice there’s nothing like taking a break to sit on my porch after (or during) my work day. But when my neighbor is doing laundry I can’t stand to be outside in my own yard because the toxic smell of their detergent and dryer sheets knocks me down, literally. The dryer sheets are the main culprit. God that smell is toxic. Dryer balls really work to eliminate static and if you’re set on having your clothes perfumed just add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (eo), lavender is a good choice, to the dryer balls. Young Living sells wool dryer balls but you can buy them almost anywhere these days. Try your grocery store, Marshall’s, or Target. I find the wool balls a little more effective at eliminating static and easier to add eos to but the plastic ones work too. Just like dish washing soap, there are many brands of laundry detergent that are far less toxic than the common/standard brands. Ecos is one of my top choices.

Essential oils– EOs can be diluted and added to water with lemon or vinegar to make a great all-purpose cleaner. They can also be diffused to freshen up a room which is sooooo much healthier for you and your pets than those toxic plug-ins (note- there are some pets and some EOs that don’t mix so talk to your vet and try a small amount in a diffuser the first time). Learn more about diffusing here. Add a few drops of your favorite EO to a cotton ball and put it in your car, dresser drawer, or closet.

The only toxic cleaning product I have in my house is bleach. I rarely use it (haven’t in years) but keep it around, mostly because I already had it.

This is not an exhaustive list but a good one to get you started on where to buy or how to make safe and effective household cleaners. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and you won’t clog your lungs, get dizzy, or fall unconscious (well, not from the cleaners anyway).

Suzanne is a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner who has hosted and presented seminars on non-toxic products and detoxing your home and your body. Join the EBM mailing list for events and workshops.