Issue 4: Toxic-Free Bathroom
Issue 4: Toxic-Free Bathroom
Getting the toxins out of your bathroom cleaning products and alternative methods
So far we've covered better ways to wash and dry your laundry and how to clean your kitchen without using toxic chemicals. Today, we're going to change up the cleaning products you might have for your bathroom.
Hopefully, by now, you are suspicious of all conventional cleaning products. I'll cover a few of the conventional cleaning products here and then we'll get into some better methods and alternatives for cleaning the bathroom.
The Toxic Products:
Scrubbing Bubbles:
This is a basic bathroom cleaner. This brand, by SC Johnson, offers cleaning products for all areas of the bathroom. On their website they say that Scrubbing Bubbles makes cleaning the bathroom "worry free." Well, if you ask me, there's a lot to worry about with these products.
Alcohol Ethoxylates, Diethylene Glycol Propyl Ether, Dipropylene Glycol Butyl Ether: including Phenols, P-Nonyl, Ethylene Oxide, and 1,4-Dioxane.
Concerns with these ingredients include aquatic toxicity, developmental, reproductive, and endocrine effects, systemic and organ effects, vision damage, cancer, damage to DNA, respiratory effects, nervous system effects, skin irritation and allergies, and digestive system effects.
Fragrance: we covered this in a previous issue of this substack. But a reminder that it's highly likely to cause allergic reactions and skin irritations.
These chemicals are the ones in Scrubbing Bubbles Action Tub and Shower Scrubber. I DO NOT want this in the tub where I bathe my children. Worry free? I don't think so.
For cleaning toilets, let's take a look at another common bathroom cleaning product.
Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner Clinging Bleach Gel, Ocean Mist:
Sodium Hypochlorite: the main concerns for this ingredient include respiratory effects, vision damage, systemic and organ effects, skin irritation, allergies, and skin damage, developmental, digestive, kidney, urinary, reproductive, and endocrine effects, and cancer.
Colors: governmental enforceable restrictions, skin allergies, developmental, endocrine, and reproductive effects.
Preservatives: skin irritation, allergies, and damage, respiratory effects, systemic, organ, developmental, endocrine, and reproductive effects, and chronic water toxicity.
Sodium Hydroxide: respiratory effects, skin irritation, allergies, and damage.
Fragrance
These are the worst of the ingredients in this product. My main concerns with this product are the damage it does to our water when flushed. We obviously don't come into close contact with a toilet bowl, but these chemicals get into our water and accumulate. There is also a lot of concern when it comes to inhaling these chemicals. No good.
What To Use Instead:
A lot of what I covered in the kitchen issue last time can be applied to the bathroom. Here's a breakdown of how I clean my bathrooms. I'll post the recipes for the cleaning products below. You can also find them in Issue 3 (linked here).
Breaking Down Bathroom Cleaning:
Mirrors and surfaces I want to sanitize: my homemade window cleaner.
Bathroom countertops: all-purpose spray cleaner.
Bathroom sink: all-purpose scrub. This also works great on faucets.
Tub and shower walls: all-purpose scrub.
Toilet bowl:
flush first then sprinkle in some baking soda around the inside of the bowl and into the water.
Add white vinegar on top of the baking soda and let sit while you clean the rest of the bathroom.
When ready, use a regular toilet brush to clean the bowl.
If you have a water ring, use a pumice stone and scrub it out.
Toilet exterior: all-purpose spray cleaner.
Shower doors: we don't have shower doors, but I think the window cleaner would work just fine on them.
Floors: steam mop.
RECIPES:
All-purpose cleaner:
1/2 cup washing soda
8 cups (2 litres) warm water
Mix together and store in a sealed container or spray bottle.
All-purpose scrub:
Baking soda
Dish soap
Water
Vegetable glycerin (optional)
There are no exact measurements here because the consistency will depend on the soap you use. The amount will depend on how much you need.
Mix a little dish soap with the baking soda to make a paste. If too thick or not mixing well, add a tiny bit of water. Use right away or add 1 tsp vegetable glycerin to preserve it for about a month. Store in a sealed glass container.
Window/mirror cleaner:
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 tbsp white vinegar
Water
Pour the rubbing alcohol and the white vinegar into a 16oz bottle. Fill the rest up with tap water.
PRODUCT SUGGESTIONS:
Nothing is going to be as clean as making your own products. But here is a good alternative for the all-purpose spray if you don't want to make your own. These are affiliate links, so even though it doesn't change your cost, it does provide me with a commission if you purchase.
All-purpose spray: Ecos All-Purpose Cleaner, Orange https://amzn.to/2Z5aXsf
Shark Steam Mop: https://amzn.to/3o5Mu0H
Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a hazard to your health and it doesn't have to be expensive. Next week I'll cover some basics for around the home. We're almost done with the cleaning section of toxic-free living! After this section, I'll take you through your personal care products. Thanks for reading.
-Angel