When it comes to reducing waste and our ecological footprint, we have no choice but to look at household products.
Not only is it possible to find a phenomenal variety of cleaning products in stores today, each with a distinct purpose, but this variety is also accompanied by just as many chemicals and container shapes.
The question is: do we really need all this variety? Obviously, the answer is no!
Hazard symbols
You may also wish to continue using the proposed products, but I would first draw your attention to the symbols. Health Canada makes available a reference manual for the Chemicals Regulations, which can be relatively arduous to read! However, if one of these hazard symbols is found on the container, you already have a big clue about the toxicity of this product on your health and on the health of the environment!
Synthetic fragrancesFirst of all, avoid all products with synthetic fragrances (good luck with the big-box product!), which contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have a direct impact on health. These are carbon-containing gases and vapors, such as gasoline vapors and solvents. The effects of VOCs vary widely depending on the nature of the pollutant. They range from olfactory discomfort to mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, as well as irritation and reduced respiratory capacity.
Artificial, chemically-produced colorants are singled out as being totally unnecessary, if only to give us an illusion of color.
These dyes are often derived from petrochemicals and can be contaminated with traces of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and lead, which are themselves toxic to the environment and to human beings.
They can damage the nervous system and cause other adverse health effects when absorbed through the skin or ingested as residues.
Endless list of ingredients
Who says it takes an endless list of ingredients to wash a house? Many of the ingredients in household products have been studied and found to be either irritants, allergens or to wipe out all bacteria, even those essential to our immune system. Here's a list of the most common ingredients to avoid:
Hydrochloric acid - Oxalic acid - Sulfamic acid - Alkyl ethoxylates - Enzisothiazo-linone - Butoxyethanol - Benzalkonium chloride : Didecylmethyl-ammonium chloride - Ethanolamine - Ethoxydiglycol (DEGEE)- Hydrogen peroxide- Lyral (or hydroxyisohexyl 3 cyclohexene carboxaldehyde) - Sodium hypochlorite- Sodium hydroxide- Lodopropynylbutyl carbamate- Sodium metaperiodate- Methylchloroisothiazolinone- Methylisothiazolinone-Phenoxyetahnol
We suggest you take a look around your home and evaluate the household products you use, their composition and their usefulness. This is the first step to making a change! Next, a minimalist and ecological approach will certainly reduce the number of ingredients. We're talking here about baking soda, household vinegar, black soap or Marseille soap and citric acid. With these ingredients, you're good to go for almost anything in your home.
Ecologically yours,
