We can be exposed to endocrine disruptors from many directions – from our cosmetics, our shampoos and shower gels, our stressful lifestyles, our food, packagings, and from our home cleaning products. That last one we often dismiss, as we assume that to get our homes properly disinfected we need to use harsh bleach and chemical laden cleaners. We can sometimes assume that anything else just won’t do the job right.
But using these products several times a week and living with their residue around your home over a lifetime can cause hormonal health issues that negatively impact your periods, fertility, mood and more.
Research shows that many of the chemicals found in everyday house-cleaning products are bio-accumulative and very toxic, which means that once in your system, they actually stay in your system and allow for increased free radical damage, which makes you more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases and cancers.
Hidden harm in your so-called “green” cleaning products
That said, so-call “green” household cleaners are much popular now than they used to be, with many women making the swap to avoid using potentially hazardous and poisonous chemicals that harm the environment and their families. However, it might surprise you to know that not all “green” cleaners you might find at big box stores are all that they claim to be and some can even be just as bad as conventional cleaners. That’s because unfortunately there are no laws in place that demand companies are transparent about all of the ingredients in products. This means they can make false claims about how environmentally and health-friendly they are.
I know this sounds a little confusing, which is why I want to share with you how I personally clean my home and where I purchase all the natural, hormone-safe products I choose to use around my family.
On Day 3 of my free 4-Day Hormone Detox plan I ask women to do a “clean sweep” of all of the health stressors you will find in your laundry room, cleaning product store cupboards, under the sink, and elsewhere. It’s important to understand that it’s not just about detoxing your diet, you also need to take a long, hard look at many of the other things you do each day that might need some reexamination for the sake of your hormones.
Replace/Reset your conventional home cleaning products with hormone safe alternatives
Before I dive into what I use to clean, I’ll first share where I buy all my favorite products.
I’ve recently become obsessed with an amazing new company called Thrive Market. Thrive is a cross between Costco meets Whole Foods online – think Costco wholesale pricing on Whole Foods quality foods and brands with the convenience of purchasing through Amazon. They have the BEST prices on a lot of our non-perishable staples and household items. In particular, I’ve bought all of the natural, hormone-safe cleaning products I share below on Thrive Market.
Thrive is the first socially conscious online marketplace offering the world’s best-selling natural and organic products at wholesale prices. For less than $5 a month ($59.95 annually), members can shop 2,500 of the highest quality food, supplements, home, personal care, and beauty products from more than 400 of the best brands on the market, all delivered straight to their doors at 25-50% below retail prices.
I’m not a fan for signing up for things without trying them first and I’m guessing you aren’t either. That’s why Thrive has offered our FLO community:
- a FREE 2-Month Trial to Thrive Market
- 25% off your first order
(I’m totally serious!)
I did a side by side comparison of many of the products I share below, and not only are they less expensive than the same organic and natural products on Amazon or at my local stores, but they are often cheaper than the conventional alternative.
So take a look below, make your shopping list, and order on Thrive today!
Instead of this: Conventional brand or big box kitchen and bathroom cleaners
Use this: Seventh Generation cleaning products. I use these on everything from the toilet to the kitchen sink. With concentrated thyme oil as a central ingredient they make a good degreaser too, plus they smell great!
Instead of this: Tide-style laundry detergent.
Use this: Orange Oil multi-use cleaner, which can also help you with cleaning the dishes, mirrors, and the toilet bowl. Or try out the Seventh Generation Free & Clear detergent.
Instead of this: Tide or other harsh spot stain removers.
Use this: Hydrogen peroxide will get any stain out, even from a pure white shirt. Pour some of the stain and then wash in the washer as normal.
Instead of this: Bleach products like Ajax and Comet.
Use this: Arm and Hammer baking soda. I use baking soda in my laundry loads to keep my clothes crisp, clean, and fresh – I add one cup on top of the clothes themselves and then wash as normal with the above detergents. I also use it to disinfect the floors – a mix of baking soda and water will kill bacteria because it neutralizes the acid they produce. It’s completely non-toxic – in fact I even suggest using it to treat greasy hair!
Instead of this: Swiffer WetJet and all similar products.
Use this: Steam vacuum! We fill our Hoover Power Scrub with a mix of water and baking soda and use it to deep clean our wood and tile flooring. It can also be used on rugs and carpets. It keeps all my house floors squeaky clean with hot hot steam, which is so important to me now my daughter is crawling.
Instead of this: Glade Plug-Ins.
Use this: Electronic essential oil diffusers provide a beautiful house-wide scent, plus you’re getting all the health benefits of the oils, which you can tailor to your specific needs whether that’s for concentration in your home office or to relax in the evening.
Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!
to your FLO,
Alisa
Good things come in threes:
I want to hear from you!
First, what cleaning products do you use?
Second, will you follow any of these replace/reset suggestions?
Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article using the social buttons below 🙂
Want to get your cleaning products at wholesale prices?
Register at Thrive Market as a new member before and receive:
- a FREE 2-Month Trial to Thrive Market
- 25% off your next order
Click here to start saving now!
Thank you! I also make cleaning my own products with vinegar, borax, baking soda, essential oils, and Dr. Bronners Castile soap – there are good books with recipes for soft scrubs and furniture polish and more …I was inspired years ago when my sons were young and I wanted to teach them how to clean but none of us could breathe in the room with the toxic garbage sold for cleaning so I researched and we made products which are like little experiments the kids love too. The effort is minimal and the return great… House always smells amazing…. Thank you again -Jen
I use dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar. Molly’s Suds laundry detergent and borax. What hoover power scrub do you use? I google it and most seem only for carpet.
I was using “natural cleaners” like seventh generation until I checked ewg.com and found that many of their products weren’t as healthy as I had thought. Now I use Norwex products and clean 99% of bacteria with water and high quality microfiber. No more guessing about harmful ingredients.
Curious…Do you use the Murphy’s Orange Oil soap in the washing machine? Sounds like a good way to go, to cut down on numbers of products needed, but using a wood cleaner seems so counter-intuitive!
Hi Sharon, I would go with a product like Molly’s Suds!
ALisa