Do you know what’s in your cleaning products? Did you know that cleaning companies are only required to report the active ingredients or “ingredients of known concern” in the US? Moreover, neither does the US Government require that cleaning product manufacturers do testing on their goods. All of this causes a lot of uncertainty regarding cleaning products.
Although wiping down your counters with a handy dandy cleaning spray can seem harmless, keep in mind that we touch those surfaces constantly. If your home is anything like mine, food hits the surfaces as well as little hands and feet!
It’s important to understand the distinction between cleaning and disinfecting. In essence, cleaning removes dirt and germs whereas disinfecting kills bacteria and germs while leaving them behind. So as long as you keep your home clean, you’re still getting rid of the germs and bacteria you don’t want there. Unless you have a specific need for a disinfectant for a particular reason, an all-purpose cleaner will take care of all your cleaning needs.
While we are cleaning, we want to make sure the cleaner we are using is safe for our health. So, be sure to find a cleaner without the following ingredients:
Ethoxylated Ingredients (prefixes PEG- and poly-, suffixes -eth and -oxynol)
Ethoxylation is a chemical process using ethylene oxide (EtO) to turn alcohol, acid, or triglyceride oil into a surfactant. This makes products interact better with each other and make them more effective cleaners. The biggest problem with these ingredients is their process of ethoxylation because it produces traces of 1,4-dioxane, ethylene oxide, both known carcinogens. It also produces polyethylene glycol compounds (PEGs).
California Proposition 65 lists ethylene oxide as a known developmental toxicant, and it also lists 1,4-dioxane as a cancer-causing ingredient. 1,4 Dioxane has been shown to be harmful to a developing fetus, as well as increased incidences in nasal cavity, gall bladder, and liver tumors after exposure in animal studies.
The prefixes and suffixes above will help to identify ethoxylated ingredients but here is a list of others found in common household, beauty, and self-care products:
- Acrylates/Steareth-20 Itaconate Copolymer
- Ammonium Capryleth Sulfate
- Ammonium Pareth-25 Sulfate
- Ammonium Myreth Sulfate
- Ceteareth -20
- Cocamidopropyl Betaines
- Disteareth-75 IPDI, -100 IPDI
- Emulsifying Wax NF
- Isosteareth-20
- Steareth – 2, -4, 10, 16, -20, 21
- Isosteareth -2, -10, -20
- Magnesium Laureth Sulfate
- Magnesium Oleth Sulfate
- PEG’s – ingredients listed as a polyethylene glycol or with a PEG- prefix such as PEG-20, PEG-40
- Phenoxyethanol
- Polyoxyethylene
- Polysorbate-20, -40, -60, -80
- Steareth-2, -4, -10, -16, -20, -21
- Sodium Coceth Sulfate
- Sodium Deceth Sulfate
- Sodium Oleth Sulfate
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Myreth Sulfate
- Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
- Zinc Coceth Sulfate
Fragrance
This is made using several lab-generated compounds that are combined to produce a certain scent. (Chemicals aren’t always bad, but we need to make sure that they are safe, therefore all components should be disclosed—which is not always the case with scent.) This vague ingredient name may include a variety of distinct compounds, including phthalates. As this term is a “trade secret” companies are not obligated to disclose the specific ingredients or formulations used to manufacture a particular scent. Be on the lookout for an ingredient list and the phrase “fragrance” while inspecting cleaning products (if there is an ingredient list). If you see a scent on the list but no disclosure (i.e. a blend of essential oils), it’s time to move on.
Bleach/Chlorine Bleach
Another element in several all-purpose cleaners is bleach, and some individuals may even use bleach direct or diluted while cleaning. When bleach fumes are breathed in they can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, and lead to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Bleach may be hazardous to the environment when flushed down the toilet. In addition to the previously mentioned dangers, bleach may produce poisonous fumes when combines with acids or ammonia, making it extremely unsafe to store around pets and children.
Ammonia
Certain all-purpose cleaners include ammonia, and the fumes might irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Moreover, ammonia can cause wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Exposure to ammonia for an extended period of time or at high concentrations can also result in major health issues including lung damage or chemical burn. When flushed down the drain, ammonia may also be dangerous to aquatic life and the environment, so we obviously want to be considerate of that as well.
QUATs
All-purpose cleansers, and practically any cleaner you’ll buy on the market, frequently include quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATs). QUATs are commonly added to household products for their disinfecting properties but they can also be used as a surfactant. QUATs can disrupt key cellular processes and have been linked to a broad range of health issues including reproductive and development problems in animals. In one laboratory where studies were completed on mice, the staff switched from a chlorine-based disinfectant to QUATs, which resulted in fertility issues and neural tube defects in the mice. It has also been found that QUATs are resilient on surfaces, and it takes months to get rid of the residue. So, it is crucial not to use them on food preparation surfaces. They are related to a broad range of health issues that include skin and eye irritations, as well as respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies. Children are particularly at risk of developing complications. These chemical exposures have been linked to 5% of childhood cancer and 30% of childhood asthma.
Watch for ingredients that end in “ammonium chloride”, some examples are listed below:
- Alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride
- Didecyldimethylammonium chloride
- Dioctyldimethylammonium chloride
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Benzethonium chloride
- Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
- Behentrimonium chloride
- Cetrimonium chloride
- Stearalkonium chloride
- methylbenzethonium chloride
- cetylpyridinium chloride
- hexamethylenetetramine chloroallyl chloride (aka Quaternium-15)
Products that are labeled as “antimicrobial” or “antibacterial” most likely contain QUATs.
Phenols
Used in cleaning products to help cover odors. Used in all-purpose cleaners, detergents, and disinfectants. Contact with phenols can cause blisters, burns, and even severe skin damage in high concentrations.
Phthalates
For many years, I thought the only way to determine whether something was clean was the “fresh, clean” scent. I was easily duped by this marketing gimmick. As a result, our home used air fresheners often for a long time. The federal government does not presently test air fresheners for safety or force makers to adhere to any particular safety guidelines, claims the National Research Defense Council. Twelve of the 14 brands of air fresheners that the Defense Council tested for phthalates—a synthetic chemical that may be found in plastics and fragranced cleaning and cosmetic products—were present. Certain kinds are carcinogenic and perhaps connected to asthma. Phthalates can irritate the skin and eyes, and persistent contact may result in more significant health problems such as hormone disruption and impacts on the reproductive system and child development. Phthalates have been demonstrated to harm ecosystems and animal species because they may linger in the environment for a very long period.
Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEs)
Certain all-purpose cleansers contain a chemical called alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). APEs have been connected to endocrine system disturbances and have been demonstrated to harm reproductive and developmental health. They can degrade into compounds that are hazardous for the environment, including alkylphenols, and have been demonstrated to damage fish and other aquatic species. It has been established that these chemicals harm wildlife and ecosystems because they persist in the environment.
Alcohol
Several all-purpose cleansers use alcohol as a component, but studies have shown that it can have negative effects on both humans and the environment. Excessive levels of alcohol can cause drying and cracking of the skin as well as irritation of the skin, eyes, and lungs. Furthermore, it is combustible so alcohol may present a fire risk. If it contains ethyl alcohol this is not an ingredient to absolutely avoid as it is most harmful if ingested in large amounts. Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is considered broadly toxic and linked to birth defects following excessive oral ingestion. Potential risks from ethanol in personal care products are significantly smaller than the health risks posed by the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Diethanolamine (DEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA), and Triethanolamine (TEA)
All-purpose cleansers frequently include the ethanolamines diethanolamine (DEA), monoethanolamine (MEA), and triethanolamine (TEA). If you are exposed to these substances for an extended period of time, they may cause more severe health issues in addition to irritating your skin and eyes. Fish and other aquatic species have been found to be harmed by DEA, MEA, and TEA after they have been flushed down the drain. These substances can also combine with other substances to create carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Glycol Ethers
A class of solvents known as glycol ethers is frequently present in all-purpose cleansers. The eyes and skin can become irritated by glycol ethers, and sustained exposure to high quantities can result in more severe health problems, such as blood diseases. It has been established that these substances harm the reproductive and developmental systems.
Some common types of glycol ethers include:
- Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether
- Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether
- Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether
- Ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether
- Propylene glycol monomethyl ether
- Propylene glycol monopropyl ether
- Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether
- Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether
- Diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether
- Polyethylene glycol ether
- Butoxyethanol
Are you ready to get to it?
It would be great if we could just flip over a cleaning product and look for these ingredients on the back, but it’s not always that easy. Many cleaning companies don’t share a full list of ingredients on a package or use very vague terms to describe this ingredient. For example, phthalates may be one of many ingredients used to make the vague “fragrance” found on an ingredient list.
At this point, you may be wondering, “Nicole, thanks for the list, but how do I apply this to my life?” The good news is that you don’t need to memorize the list above or live in fear. The list above is simply for reference. Instead, this is the part I suggest focusing on, as this is where the change happens…
Take a look at the ingredients on your go-to cleaners by first taking out the cleaning supplies you presently use (the ones you use frequently). Try looking up the product’s ingredients online if there isn’t one listed on the packaging. Try to find any of the ingredients listed above. If it does contain any of these ingredients, then I would recommend swapping them out slowly as you run out of the products as to not overwhelm yourself into thinking you need to swap out everything all at once. If you would like help with what products to use here is a list of safe swaps.
