Today is Blog Action Day, and as my part, I will be writing about our choice to rid our home of toxic cleaners. As you probably know, many of the most popular cleaners are toxic. Some of the ways you can gauge the toxicity of a product are by reading its ingredients or the warning label. It’s true! Literacy is wonderful!
Tip: If the label mentions causing dizziness and nausea or to “allow venting with fresh air” after usage, it’s probably toxic.
This summer, the Household Hazard Report described five hazardous ingredients typically found in common cleaning products and their potential negative effects on people and the environment. It did an excellent job of explaining why to avoid conventional cleaning products.
The report identified MEA, alkylphenol ethoxylates, phthalates, the glycol ethers EGBE and DEGME, and quaternary amine disinfectants as hazardous chemicals linked to the development of asthma and reproductive defects in the people that use them and their families. Not to mention what the toxic by-products of these cleaners do to our environment. (You can read more here.)
Here is a small sample of the conventional cleaners that include one or more of these chemicals (that can cause asthma and reproductive defects, YO.)
Formula 409
Pine-Sol
Simple Green products (interesting choice of a name)
Windex
Glass Plus
Mr. Clean
Spic and Span
Clorox
Easy-off
Tilex
Comet
Bleach
Several laundry detergents (Tide Ultra, Tide 2X, Cheer, Dreft , Era, Ivory Snow, Gain…the list goes on and on. This was the most shocking to me.)
As you can see, most of the conventional cleaners are on this list. Frightening, no?
We made our decision to ban all of these products before the birth of Wito and we have never looked back. I’ll admit, finding products that clean as well as the conventional ones proved to be daunting at times, but one year later, we are 100% happy with our choices. (Which I will share with you. Right now. Because I love you and want you to spend your free time doing something else besides testing household cleaners.)
Whoorl’s non-toxic household cleaners (which is basically Method’s entire portfolio. Asterisks by the ones I can’t live without.):
*Method Naked Surface Wipes – I love these wipes! First off, let me say that a lot of my products are scent-free, however, Method does make several naturally-scented versions if you prefer. Just let me state for the record, CLEAN DOES NOT HAVE A SCENT. I know we have all been programmed to correlate lemon and pine with clean (it’s Pine Fresh!), but clean doesn’t smell like lemon or pine. Clean smells like nothing.
I use these wipes for the counters, Wito’s high chair, splats on the floor, etc. They are truly all-purpose.
Method All-Purpose Surface Cleaner – Same all-purpose cleaning ability, just in a spray.
Method Tub and Tile Spray – This is great for the bathroom shower and sink.
*Oxo-Brite – I would buy stock in this non-chlorine bleach. Use it in the laundry as a brightener, scrub the sinks and tub with it, anything that requires a little elbow grease will benefit from Oxo-Brite. I* also use it in places where I* would have previously used Comet. For instance, in the summer, our shower floor can get pretty grimy for our beach trips. If I* used the Method Tub and Tile spray only, I* could get it clean with a lot of work. Instead, I* just sprinkle some Oxo-Brite and it would be sparkling in 1/3 of the time. Seriously, I want to make out with this stuff.
Method Window Wash – Like Windex, but with healthy lungs!
*Method Stainless Steel Wipes – Holy mother. We have stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. Before, I used all of those products where you rub it in and buff and rub and buff. BAH. I was so skeptical that these wimpy little wipes could make my stainless sparkle. Holy shit, you guys! It works better than any of those rubbing/buffing liquids or potions. Just wipe down and toss in the trash. No streaking, no smears, nothing. I don’t understand how it works so quickly and perfectly, but I shall perish if they stop making it.
Method Wood For Good Spray and wipes – Shiny wood is good!
Method Dish Soap – We use the Pink Grapefruit scented version of this one. (I like it, JANET.)
EcoSense Diamond Brite Automatic Dishwasher Detergent – Do you remember my dishwasher woes? LVgurl sent me an email about Diamond Brite, and it is by far the best I’ve ever used (toxic or non-toxic). You have to be a member of Melaleuca to buy it, but you can bypass the membership by purchasing on eBay. (At least that’s what I did.)
*Method Foaming Hand Wash – We blow through this stuff in our kitchen and bathroom. (Hi! We get off on washing our hands at the Whoorl household!) You can buy the eco-friendly refills at Costco or Target, too.
Method Unscented Laundry Detergent – Perfect laundry detergent. No scent and ultra-concentrated so you only use a little. Side note: I also bought the Method Baby detergent, but the baby powder scent was a little overwhelming to me.
Folex Carpet Cleaner – This is a water-based non-ionic surfactant with no hazardous chemicals. Works like a charm and you don’t have to rinse after using.
The best part about Method products is the availability at places like Target. You don’t have to go searching for an eco-friendly marketplace to find these. So, you really don’t have an excuse? Right?
I would love to hear your suggestions for non-toxic cleaners. Bring it on!
* In the interest of full disclosure, “I” meaning “the housekeepers”. Just keepin’ it real.
Karen
October 15, 2007 at 7:15 pmI was going to tell you about Norwex too — but someone beat me to it! Their window cloth is really amazing — you can clean windows and mirrors with just water! Their floor mop works on the same principle — water only cleaning with microfibre cloths. Also they have dryer balls (heehee) that you use instead of dryer sheets (can you say chemicals?!?!) that work fantastically and your clothes dry even faster in the dryer. They come out a teensy bit staticy but it’s a small price to pay.
I love the Melaleuca Diamond Brite — I find it works better than the other stuff, and their laundry soap is great too.
Thanks for the suggestions of other good things!
Nicole
October 15, 2007 at 8:55 pmThese are great. I found a really good indoor insect spray that is organic and safe around kids and animals:
http://redlotusmama.blogspot.com/2007/10/cant-live-without-bioganic-home-garden.html
Moose
October 15, 2007 at 10:12 pmOh god. I knew my ovaries were burning for a reason.
Marcy
October 16, 2007 at 6:37 amI think one of the biggest things I miss about living in the US is Method products. I had my parents bring over a crapload of wipes, and the wood floor cleaner, when they came to visit over the summer. At least now we also have composting so I can actually let the wipes biodegrade!
Shareen
October 16, 2007 at 9:51 amwhen I was in elementary school I told my art teacher I was allergic to comet so I wouldn’t have to clean the paint brushes…hey, I wasn’t lazy, I was just ahead of my time!
now I use watkins cleaners, they’re organic and non-toxic, as well as Nellie’s laundry products (www.nellieslaundry.com) and there’s a company here called dusting divas that also makes organic and non-toxic cleaning products (their all-purpose cleaner smells like cinnamon, I swear I clean more often just because it smells so good) – http://www.dustingdivas.com
Tara
October 16, 2007 at 10:10 amCool blog action post! Mine is on going green and being frugal and how the 2 are not mutually exclusive- check it out if you have the inclination.
I am a Method fan too but my favorites are Mrs. Meyer’s and
Caldera. The Caldera surface cleaner in sweet pea is so amazing, I want to bathe in it (but I won’t).
michelle
October 16, 2007 at 10:20 amGreat post! It is nice to know that these products actually work as well or better than their conventional counterparts. A few more questions: What do you use to clean toilets? What, if anything do you use to wipe/sanitize shopping cart handles, restaurant high chairs, etc? I am assuming the answer is not Clorox wipes…
Andrea
October 16, 2007 at 3:17 pmThanks for the great list. We’ve been switching over to greener prodcuts since Charlie was born and it is so great to see all the reviews, as I have found some of the products to not work so well.
On the topic of harmful chemicals any thoughts on baby products? I’ve been reading all about parabens lately and just found out that my beloved Mustela products are full of them. I am thinking of going with California Baby, but thought maybe all knowing Whoorl had found something even better.
Jora
October 16, 2007 at 4:30 pmThank you, thank you for this! I would add the Ecover line as well — we love many of their products. What do you use for your toilet? I can’t bring myself to quit the comet/bleach habit for that one item. Maybe you already covered this??
We currently use Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner. If you want to go the bleach route, just use the Oxo-brite. Same results, but with a non-chlorine bleach.
Karen
October 17, 2007 at 5:49 amI stumble around blindly in my toxin-filled world wondering “what’s the big deal?”
But reading your list was eye-opening, as many of those products are in my house. Most of them.
I think I shall try a few of the products that you listed, and take a step in the non-toxic direction.
Interesting post.
BeachMama
October 17, 2007 at 6:05 amGreat list! We use Method soap for washing up, but I had no idea they had a full cleaning line. And your list of laundry detergent shocked me, the only one we use is Gain, but thankfully the jug is almost done so I can try something a little less harmful. Thanks for taking the time to share these great products and tips.
Jenn
October 17, 2007 at 7:47 amI use Pink Solution. It’s organic, non-toxic and biodegradeable.
Works like a charm on anything, and it lasts a long time. A big bucket costs about $50 and it will take you a year or so to use it all up.
Beth
October 17, 2007 at 7:53 amLove your blog. First time responder.
I will take that extensive list of dangerous cleaners to conclude this:
a clean house=a dangerous house,
and we will continue to live in filth instead.
Ok, not really. We love Method products here too. And they really aren’t very much more expensive than other cleaners. Just start replacing your old ones one at a time. As you run out of one product, buy a Method (or any non-toxic product) and eventually you will replace your whole stash of cleaning supplies.
Neil
October 17, 2007 at 1:08 pmThat was very interesting. And as the housekeeper in my home, important to me. I never heard of these Method products, but I know I always feel crappy after using traditonal cleaners.
Chiada
October 17, 2007 at 1:57 pmI’m a couple days late on this, but just wanted to give a shout out to Seventh Generation products. We use the Kitchen Cleaner, Shower Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, and laundry detergent, which are all awesome and non toxic. Hooray! I also like the Ecover toilet cleaner, which is like a vinegary gel; kinda weird, but works. Lastly, I looooooove the Meyers dish soap. I’m currently using the Lavendar scent. Hub-E and I had to switch over to non-toxic products because he was getting sick from chemical sensitivity disorder. He’s much better now that we don’t use Chlorox and Windex. :D