The benefits of organic food has been promoted for years and something that most people have become familiar with. The more I hear about the storage of fresh food by supermarkets (hello chemicals, ripening agents and freezers!), the greater my focus has become on choosing local, organic produce.
Until recently though, I was totally ignorant about a bigger health problem – the chemicals in our typical skincare and cleaning products. I learnt at school that the skin is our largest organ, yet it never occurred to me that this has big implications on our health. I was so focussed on putting good stuff into my body via organic foods, that I totally forgot that our skin absorbs even MORE!
With this in mind, I began researching the chemicals found in cleaning products. A couple of key (scary!) things I learnt from my research were:
:: According to Choice Australia, bleach does NOT kill mould, it simply makes it invisible (yuck!!).
:: The laundry detergents and fabric softeners we use on our linen and clothes contain nasty chemicals that get absorbed into our bodies via our skin. We can also inhale chemicals when using surface sprays, air fresheners and other cleaning products. Links are being made between some of these chemicals and health concerns like hormone disruption, allergies, asthma and even cancer!
My obsession with “natural” cleaning products began…
Armed with vinegar and eucalyptus oil, I created my own multi-purpose spray. It did a better job than my previous surface spray and vinegar actually kills mould!
Then I discovered a brand called Eco Store in Renegade Collective Magazine (stocked at supermarkets or you can purchase online directly from their website). The prices were comparable to conventional products and they even have a range for babies. I tried the laundry detergent from Woolies, fell in love with the eucalyptus smell, and placed an order for my kitchen, laundry and bathroom!
My order from Eco Store!
Every product I have tried in the range has been amazing, even the natural shampoo and conditioner! The Eco Store website contains a wealth of information about how the products are made and the key ingredients, so I know they are safe. In addition, the business was established in New Zealand, so it is a good way to support local business rather than the international giants!
I am now totally in love with natural cleaning products and I am slowly phasing conventional products out of our home (I hate wasting things so I haven’t thrown out half used products). I have also been trying out natural and organic skincare products in an effort to reduce the chemicals I am exposing my body to (more on this in a future post).
Given the uncertainties surrounding the impact of chemicals on our bodies, I think we all owe it to ourselves to give natural products a go, particularly when in many cases they are just as cheap and available as the conventional products.
Will you give any “natural” products go?
Are you a “natural” product user already? I would love to hear what your favourite brands are so I can give them a go!
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