Cleaning products are supposed to clean, disinfect and make for a healthier environment, right?
You would hope so! However, most conventional cleaning product brands are made with toxic chemicals that pollute the environment we’re in and actually harm our health.
If you were to improve one thing in regards to your health and home environment, choose to switch to non toxic cleaning products!
Using safe all purpose/ multi purpose cleaners are really important because:
- They are sprayed on surfaces that you touch or that your food touches, which you can absorb or ingest.
- The chemicals are released into the air, which pollutes your household environment.
- Indoor air is 2-5x more polluted than outside air, so switching to a less toxic product will help reduce this.
- According to the World Health Organization, deaths associated with ischemic heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections, COPD and lung cancer can be attributed to exposure to household air pollution.
In this article, we will cover non toxic and toxic all purpose/multi purpose cleaners, and what the top safe options are for you and your household!
Table of Contents
- Toxic Conventional All Purpose/Multi-Purpose Cleaners
- What Ingredients are Harmful and Why
- Top 7 Safe All Purpose/Multi-Purpose Cleaners
Toxic Conventional All Purpose/ Multi-Purpose Cleaners:
- Lysol All Purpose
- Mrs. Meyers All Purpose
- 365 Everyday Value All Purpose
- Clorox All Purpose
- Better Life All Purpose
- Ajax Multi-Purpose Cleaner
- Fabuloso Multi-Purpose
- Great Value Multi-Purpose
- Love Home & Planet Multi-Purpose
- Mr. Clean Multi-Purpose
- Seventh Generation
Harmful/Toxic Ingredients in All Purpose/Multi-Purpose Cleaners:
Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone
- Possible neurotoxicity and organ toxicity
- Irritating to skin and lungs if inhaled
Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Skin and eye irritant
- Current debate on if it’s a human carcinogen (cancerous)
- Damaging to environment
Styrene
- Human carcinogen (causes cancer)
- Causes irritation to eyes, skin, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system
- Could cause health problems involving the central nervous system and kidneys
- Can cause depression, headaches, balance issues and affect overall concentration
Ethoxylated Compounds
- Ethylene Oxide (also PEGs)
- Linked to cancer and organ toxicity
- Negatively affects male reproductive health
- Known environmental toxin
- May be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane
Ethylene Glycol
- Low harm unless ingested, which then can affect the central nervous system, heart and kidneys
- Air pollutant causing lung and eye irritation
- Can be absorbed into the skin, but is unlikely
Undisclosed Fragrance/Parfum
- Potentially hundreds of hidden ingredients, many of which can be irritants, allergens or phthalates
- Companies do not have to disclose the formula for the “fragrance”, therefore you don’t know what is actually in the product
Benezophenone
- Possible carcinogen (causes cancer)
- Endocrine/hormone disruptor
Dyes
- Added to give color to the product
- Some include the ingredient Benzidine, which is a known carcinogen (causes cancer)
- Linked to cause mood disorders, such as ADHD
Dimethicone and Ethanolamine
- Irritant to the skin, eyes, immune system and respiratory tract
Alkyl Dimethyl Benzl Ammonym Chordies
- Highly toxic to human health
- Linked to asthma, allergies and more
Benzyl Salcylate and Butylphenyl Methylpropional
- Toxic to immune system
- Endocrine/hormone disruptor
Bleach
- Lung, skin and eye irritant
- Can lead to acute or long-term chemical pneumonitis, which can progress to stiffness of lungs and respiratory failure
- If ingested by contaminated food, it can cause damage to lining of the stomach and cause esophageal gastric burns
Top 7 Safe All Purpose/Multi Purpose Cleaner brands:
BRANCH BASICS
A respectable, sustainable and safe company. I would recommend this again and again. This is a very affordable, high quality option. You use a little bit of the concentrate and fill the bottles with water. It will last you forever! Check out their website here. Definitely worth the cost.
EVERSPRING
Can be bought on Amazon and at many convenient stores such as Target, Walmart and Whole Foods. Click here to view.
ECOS
Can easily be purchased on Amazon. Click here to view.
ATTITUDE
Can be found on Amazon. Click here to view.
PURACY
Can be purchased on Amazon or local grocery stores. Click here to view.
9 ELEMENTS
Can be found on Amazon. Click here to view.
HONEST COMPANY
This company is eco friendly and safe! With their multi-purpose cleaner, you can refill the bottle with their cleaning tablets to save on waste. Click here to view.
Follow The 80/20 Rule!
I’m a firm believer in the 80/20 rule when it comes to your health.
80% of the time, make healthy choices. 20% of the time, it’s okay to relax a bit.
Not everything has to be perfect! All you have to do is try your best and intentionally make choices that make sense for your life. Try to use the most safe and healthy products to your knowledge.
It’s never too late to make changes and try out something new!
I’m here to help and support you. Let’s create a healthy, less toxic community and take our power back!
References
(2021, October 20). Ethylene Glycol. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750031.html#:~:text=Ethylene%20glycol%20has%20a%20sweet,Ingesting%20enough%20can%20cause%20death.
(2022, November 28). Household air pollution. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/household-air-pollution-and-health
Is Bleach Toxic? Effects of Chlorine Bleach. Is Bleach Harmful for You and the Environment. Sani Professional. https://saniprofessional.com/is-bleach-toxic/
Sagedie, L. (2019, April 09). Best Natural & Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaners 2022. Mamavation. https://www.mamavation.com/product-investigations/non-toxic-all-purpose-cleaners.html