The Top 5 Household Toxins to Get Rid of NOW

Committed to getting rid of toxins but don’t know where to start?

Me too! I remember that feeling all too well. I’m happy to say it wasn’t that painful or as confusing as it first felt to be. You’re in good hands! I’m going to give you a crash course in the top 5 toxins you’ve got hidden in your house, and what to do about it.

Over the years, as I’ve done more and more research, I’ve have become a bit passionate (*ahem*) about NOT having toxins in our home.

You should have heard some of the intense discussions my husband and I have had when he wanted to buy the cheap, brands filled with junk!  They’ve been pretty heavy but thankfully he’s more on board with making our household chemical-free. 

Analysis Paralysis

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of information that’s out there but all you need to worry about is taking it one step at a time.  This post will give you a little ‘cheat sheet’ to help you out.

The biggest and best thing you can do to start is to find out why you’re doing this.  When you find that why, it will make everything else figureoutable. (Yes, it’s a word and my mantra in life).

Let’s start out with why toxins are bad.  You may already know this (and that’s awesome!), or maybe you’ve been sent this post by someone who really cares about you and wants you to dig deeper into what you’re bringing into your home.

The Skinny on Chemical Regulation

There are over 84,000 chemicals registered for use and only 200 of those have been reviewed by Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan.  Being reviewed or registered does not imply they’re safe. That means we’re not only using chemicals we know are toxic, we’re also using ones who’s effects are unknown!

But hold up, why would companies be using toxic chemicals for general use?  Wouldn’t the government intervene?  I’m sorry to say, but no. 

Far too many companies have been found to knowingly have toxic chemicals in their products and still market it to the public, including to children.

While it would be ideal for the government to protect us from toxins that are unhealthy and unsafe, it’s just not the case. You must do your own research and make educated choices to protect you and your family. 

There’s also no requirement in Canada for manufacturers to warn consumers about the health and environmental hazards linked with the long-term exposure to chemical ingredients in their products. 

Insane right?  As if we need another thing to worry about while trying to parent, heck adult in today’s world.  That’s why I created this guide for you. 

It’s written by a mama who didn’t know where to start either.  A fellow mama who stayed up late researching, testing, and stressing so you don’t have to. Rest easy, mama, I’ve got you.

Here are 5 of the top toxins to read labels for:

By all means, if you can’t pronounce it, don’t use it.

Fragrance chemicals

Label: parfum/fragrance and now ‘essential oil’

Health concerns: irritant – trigger allergies, migraines, asthma/respiratory issues, endocrine disruptors (mimic or interferes with the function of hormones)

Environment: bioaccumulation, toxic to aquatic organisms

Found in: everything.

Other notes: there are over 3000 chemicals that can be used to create a fragrance. Companies are not required to disclose what chemicals are used as they claim it’s “proprietary information”.

‘Unscented’ does not mean actually unscented.  More chemicals are used to mask the scents of other ingredients.

Parabens

Label: ending in -paraben (e.g., methylparaben, butylparaben)  

Health concerns: known as “xenoestrogens”, increased risk of breast cancer, endocrine disruptors (mimic or interferes with the function of hormones)

Environment:

Found in: used as preservative in health and personal care products, makeup, moisturizers, shaving creams, snack foods, 90% of typical grocery store items, 85% of cosmetics, deodorants

Other notes: look for items with shorter shelf lives as parabens are used as preservatives

Phthalates

Label: phthalate, dibutyl phthalate (DBP)

Health concerns: endocrine disruptor (mimic or interferes with the function of hormones), reduced sperm count, birth defects in rodents, highest exposure for young children and women of childbearing age, found in cord blood

Environment: classified as very toxic to aquatic organisms, listed as a Chemical for Priority action

Found in: laundry detergents, fabric softeners, deodorizers, glass cleaners, floor polishes, air fresheners, and many other products, plastics (raincoats, toys, containers, dinnerware, water bottles, baby bottles, etc.), cosmetics, basically everything

Other notes: used to stabilize plastics to make them more durable, DBP is used to stabilize fragrances

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)

Label: Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)

Health concerns: skin irritant

Environment: toxic to environment

Found in: dish soap, liquid laundry detergents, cleaning towelettes, toilet bowl cleaners, shampoo, soap, face wash, body wash, children’s products

Other notes: makes a product produce suds. Suds do NOT equal clean!

SLS – Environment Canada’s preliminary categorization of this chemical indicates that it may be toxic to the environment.

Sodium laureth sulfate is the “ethoxylated” form of this chemical, which is less harsh. However, the process of ethoxylation can leave behind traces of 1,4-dioxane, a possible human carcinogen that is persistent in the environment (see also DEA, MEA, TEA).

Triclosan

Label: triclosan

Health concerns: endocrine disruptor (mimic or interferes with the function of hormones), irritating to skin and eyes, contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially harmful to children

Environment: very toxic to aquatic organisms, long-term adverse effects in aquatic environment, reacts to chlorine in water system (and other chemicals) to create chloroform which are extremely toxic and bioaccumulates

Found in: dish soaps, disinfectants, “antibacterial” products, children’s toys, toothpaste, deodorants, wide range of household products, hand sanitizers, cutting boards, pesticides, bedding

Other notes: This one makes me so angry! The Canadian Medical Association has called for a ban on triclosan but Health Canada has agreed to only study its impact on aquatic life, rather than banning it for human use.  The FDA and CMA found there’s no evidence that products containing triclosan are more effective than regular soap and water.

In other words, triclosan-containing soaps and hand washes should not be used in our homes, offices, daycares or schools. In those places, they can cause serious harm to people and the environment while offering no benefits.

Woah Woah Woah!  But I Use ‘Natural’ Products!

Now before you head straight to the Natural Aisle at the grocery store to start replacing everything, let’s talk about the super slick marketing tactics companies use to get you to think they’re products are great and safe, when they’re anything but.

Even “natural” companies have been found to have toxic chemicals in their products and have lost lawsuits. ‘Natural’ means nothing. 

Products coloured green, with lavender fields and “natural” written all over them. Maybe they have some words like “paraben-free” or “unscented all-natural” or “essential oils”. 

Check the ingredients!  If it doesn’t have ingredients written on the bottle, there’s a reason why! In fact, companies count on you not looking past the green fields on the label and brown recycled packaging.

Download the Think Dirty app so you can scan all of your products.  Or go to www.ewg.com and look up the ingredients if it’s not in the app.

What We Use Instead

If you’re a mama who doesn’t have a whole lot of time to DIY everything and you just want to get ‘er done; this is what I switched to in one go so I wouldn’t have to worry about reading labels at the grocery store while hauling kids. 

It’s turned out to be more cost-effective and my kid can help clean because they’re SAFE!  Hello cleaning fairy! Plus, they’re so concentrated they last such a long time and I can make a ton of DIYs with them. I highly recommend you check out our toxic laundry story here.

I’ll Just Use Them Up or Give Them Away

Stop right there!  Did you really just say you’re going to use them up and then switch to something better because you know they’re toxic? Or worse, give them to a friend because you don’t want to use them anymore?!

Look, I’ll be honest. I had those thoughts too. I know you’ve spent money on these products but I’m telling you, it’s not worth the money you spent on it, nor your health to continue using it.

Share your knowledge with your friends, not the toxins you’re getting rid of.

My recommendation: Instead of throwing everything out or gifting it along, collect everything (holy this was eye-opening) and throw it in a cupboard you won’t touch. 

Get your ingredients to DIY and start there.  If something doesn’t work and you gave it a good try, you have backup and don’t have to spend money buying a new bottle.

Trust me when I say after a few months you won’t even remember they’re there! Now you can march those products your hazardous waste depot and get rid of them.

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Less-Stress Lifestyle

I know you don’t want to have to worry about what you’re bringing into my home and using with your kids. You now have a starting point and it’s only going to get easier!

You’re doing awesome, Mama!  When you know better, you do better.

Once you know, you can’t let your friends and family use them either.  Use your voice to educate others and share this article with your favourite mom friends.

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