Cleaning your home: Going toxin-free has never been easier

In the backdrop of the pandemic, many of us have become a little bit obsessed with hygiene and cleanliness, and this has meant focusing on keeping our homes cleaner than ever.

Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a clean house. Fresh smelling, sparkling and virus free. But have you ever thought about what’s actually in your cleaning products and whether they leave more than just a nice smell?

Why should we be concerned?

Common ingredients in conventional household cleaning products can effectively pollute the air in our homes and there is growing concern that this is impacting our health with rising incidences of cancer and asthma.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside the typical home is on average 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside and, in extreme cases, 100 times more contaminated largely because of household cleaners and pesticides.

Interestingly, in the EU and the UK the only ingredients that are required to be biodegradable in cleaning products are “surfactants” (agents used to increase spreading and wetting properties) – all other substances (including microplastics) are not restricted (Ethical Consumer, 2021). Sadly, this is evident when you look at your cleaning product labels and find “hazardous” or “corrosive” warnings.

What is the solution?

Fortunately for us, there are a growing number of non-toxic cleaning products now available.

As recommended by The Ethical Consumer, the products to look out for are those that do not contain toxic chemicals such as chlorine, triclosan, parabens or phthalates. 

Which non-toxic products actually work?

Eco-Homemaker, an online shopping platform, is on a mission to make your life easier when it comes to eco-friendly shopping for your family. They stock refillable non-toxic cleaning products such as a bleach alternative, anti-bac surface cleaners, oven cleaner, glass cleaner and floor cleaner – and all have been meticulously tried and tested so you can be assured of their effectiveness.