How to Rid Your Home of Toxins & Live Healthier

We’re all about clean, non-toxic, body care products at Pharmacopia because we know they’re better for you—and for the environment. But what about other products that you use in your home say cleaning products and even candles you light for much-needed relaxation time?

When you consider that about 90 percent of our time is spent indoors, and that homes today are becoming more energy efficient, chances are you’re probably breathing in the known toxins from products used in the home. As a result, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, these toxins are 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside. Many of these products are not obvious to most of us. These are the products used day in and day out that, over time, and unrealized by many, can trigger health problems. What’s more, once they wash down the drain, they’re not great for the environment either. And that’s not okay.

Research shows that toxins in personal care products and in home products can trigger health problems like asthma, headaches, cancer, and other health conditions. In fact, according to the Environmental Working Group, about 53 percent of home cleaning products are formulated with ingredients—namely volatile organic compounds or VOCs—that can harm the lungs, and about 22 percent contain chemicals known to cause asthma. Say what? In our minds, it’s just not worth it!

Toxic chemicals in home products

You may think that you can just look at a home product’s label to discover all the toxins inside, but this is sadly not the case. Ingredient labels are mandatory for food, cosmetics, and drugs but not for cleaning products (Yes, we agree, this is crazy!) Since target="_blank"manufacturers aren’t required to disclose all the ingredients inside, they don’t. That’s why you have to be more aware and selective about what you buy or use in your home.

This includes air fresheners, laundry products including dryer sheets, and cleaning products like drain cleaners, toilet cleaners, and antibacterial products.

The types of chemicals, according to the Environmental Working Group, that are common in home products include:

• Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid that evaporates quickly when exposed to air. It’s also a toxic volatile organic compound (VOC). VOCs can cause headaches, irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat, nausea and even damage to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system. Benzene is found in many laundry detergents and dryer sheets (among many others). According to the American Cancer Society, benzene can cause leukemia and other blood cancers. This toxin is also found in most spray products, including spray deodorants and hair sprays.

• Chloroform can be found in fumes from chlorine bleach products. It’s a suspected carcinogen.

• Formaldehyde is used as a preservative in cleaning products. It’s a known carcinogen. It’s found in everything from dish soaps and dishwasher cleaning gel packs to laundry detergents, oven cleaners, and toilet cleaners.

• Quaternary ammonium compounds like benzalkonium chloride are found in fabric softeners and antibacterial spray cleansers. These may cause asthma.

• Sodium borate (a.k.a. borax and boric acid) is added to many cleaning products. It has been found to disrupt the hormonal system.

And these are just a few of the toxins found in home products. It’s definitely not worth it to put your health at risk with these ingredients.

Say NO to toxins in your body care products! Choose better-for-you Pharmacopia products instead.

Six healthier home alternatives

We’re big believers at Pharmacopia that there are healthier alternatives that get the job done—and better. That’s why we use only better-for-you natural ingredients in our entire Pharmacopia body care line. And it’s why we steer clear of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic colors and fragrances. (Learn more about our clean beauty promise.)

Here are a few healthier home alternatives:

Instead of all-purpose cleaners, try lemon juice. Lemon juice is a natural antibacterial and antiseptic and natural bleaching agent. The citrus scent is also energizing. (We should know… our Citrus better-for-you body care products are consistent bestsellers!)

Try mixing 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of hot water. Add to a spray bottle, and spray down walls, baseboards, and surfaces in your home. A word of caution: don’t use lemon juice to clean natural stone counters or floors or brass-plated items as it can corrode them. Another way to use lemons: cut a lemon in half, sprinkle with kosher salt, and use it to clean cutting boards.

Instead of using an air freshener or toxic candle, try an essential oil diffuser. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and your room will smell fresher. For cars, you can also add some dried herbs like lavender, mint, or rosemary to a paper tea filter and leave it in the car. Also, because candles can give off volatile organic compounds from their petroleum-based wax, look for candles made from soy wax or beeswax that are clean burning with no parabens, phthalates, or dyes.

Instead of dryer sheets, use a wool dryer ball with essential oils. Add a few drops of an essential oil to these dryer balls (like all our Pharmacopia products, you can find these dryer balls on amazon), and your laundry will be smelling fresh in no time. Plus, you’ll be saving those dryer sheets from ending up in the landfill.

Learn more about the healing benefits of essential oils in our Better-for-You Blog.

Instead of an antibacterial spray or wipe, try tea tree oil. This essential oil is a recognized safe and effective antibacterial agent that may be even more effective than chemical antibacterial ingredients. To try it, mix 10 drops of tea tree oil with 2 cups of hot water and a ½ cup of distilled white vinegar and add to a spray bottle or use on a cloth to wipe down surfaces. (Note: use vinegar cautiously on granite or marble as it can erode the stone.)

You can also mix tea tree oil, hot water, and a little baking soda to clean and disinfect your sinks or mix it with hot water to help keep mold out of your shower. (A good ratio is 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil to 1 cup of water; this solution should last for up to a year.)

Instead of abrasive bleach-based tub cleaners, try baking soda. Baking soda helps to naturally absorb odors and works as an abrasive cleaner, particularly when mixed with distilled white vinegar. To create an effective natural cleaning solution, mix 1 cup of warm water, 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, 1 cup of a natural, all-purpose soap like castille soap or a natural dish detergent, and 3 1/3 cups of baking soda.

Instead of ammonia-based window cleaners, try distilled white vinegar. Just mix ¼ cup distilled white vinegar, with 1 cup of water, 3 drops of natural dish detergent, and 3 to 4 drops of your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle. Then just spray on this natural window cleaner, and wipe down as usual.

If you are using store-bought products, look for natural ingredients from companies you trust and know are greener and better for you—and the environment. (We like Seventh Generation, Green Llama, and Ecos, to name just a few.) And, whenever possible, choose products that are free from synthetic scents as these may potentially contain volatile organic compounds. What you’ll find from going greener at home is that you may feel better, just as you do when using Pharmacopia’s clean beauty products.