If you’ve got kids, pets or both, you’re probably already conscientious about limiting the chemicals you bring into your home–especially when it comes to cleaning products. Like lots of parents, you make an effort to buy natural cleaning solutions for everyday use and save the harsh toxic cleaners like bleach for heavy-duty disasters. But did you know that many of those products labeled “natural” are actually not non-toxic? While they may avoid some of the more dangerous chemicals like bleach and ammonia, products from brands top “natural” brands all contain toxic ingredients.
Frustrating right? You think you’re doing due diligence, scrutinizing labels to make the safest choice for your family. But the fact is, there are certain words companies use to get around having to disclose toxic ingredients. Here are the three to look out for:
“Natural”
You probably guessed this one already based on the intro. Just remember: natural does not mean non-toxic. Companies use this word because there are no federal regulations that dictate standards for products labeled as “natural.” What’s more, manufacturers of cleaning products are not required to disclose all of their products’ ingredients on their packaging labels. This makes it very hard to know what’s hiding in your so-called “natural” cleaner, and in fact, many cleaners labeled as “natural” contain toxic fragrances, dyes, preservatives, allergens & irritants. Many of these products contain botanical-based ingredients like thymol that sound safe but that are actually known allergens.
“Fragrance”
What a pleasant word. Fragrances make things smell nice…they can’t be bad for you right? Well guess what? Fragrances are linked to a staggering number of health risks. Research studies have shown that chemicals used to make fragrances are classified as allergens, hormone disruptors, asthma triggers, neurotoxins & carcinogens. And fragrances commonly contain phthalates –chemicals that help the scents last longer. You might want to sit down for this one: Health risks for phthalates include cancer, human reproductive and developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption, birth defects & respiratory problems. And don’t be fooled by “natural fragrances” either. Those can be just as toxic and trigger all kinds of allergic reactions. But the kicker is, manufacturers are not required to list their fragrance ingredients on product labels because fragrances are considered to be “trade secrets.” Just know when you see the word “fragrance” on the label, it can be hiding a cocktail of more than 100 toxic ingredients. To be safe, your best bet is to buy products that are fragrance-free.
“Botanical”
Botanical ingredients are those derived from plants (herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, leaves or seeds). The word “Botanicals” gives the impression that the product is safe because, hey, the ingredients come from plants and plants are organic. But when you see a specific botanical ingredient, do your own research because many aren’t as safe as you think. For example, citrus and pine oil cleaners emit chemicals called terpenes that can form formaldehyde when they react with ozone in the air. Or some essential oils contain substances like eugenol and limonene, which can trigger allergic reactions. Not to mention, there is no way of knowing what percentage of the product is actually made from botanicals because companies are not required to disclose that information.
Eliminate the guesswork
If deciphering ingredient labels and doing your own research seems overly complicated and time-consuming, instead try Force of Nature. It’s a revolutionary new product that has zero harmful chemicals, fragrances, dyes, preservatives, allergens or irritants. Made with just salt, water and vinegar, it powers through grease, grime, soap scum & odors as effectively as Clorox, Windex, Formula 409, Scrubbing Bubbles, Febreze & Resolve, but without the nasty chemicals you don’t want around your children & pets.
And unlike some of those other companies, we’re fully transparent about what’s in our product and how it works. We basically took an industrial grade technology used in green cleaning, food preservation and wound and eye care products and shrunk it down to a small household appliance roughly the size of a sports water bottle. It uses electricity to turn 3 simple ingredients – salt, water and vinegar – into a non-toxic cleaner as effective as bleach. It’s so gentle you can use it to clean things like pacifiers, baby toys, cutting boards and make-up brushes without even needing to rinse afterward.
This one product replaces bleach, deodorizers, kitchen, bathroom, glass and rug cleaners. Even better, it only costs 8¢ an ounce for subscribers. Just think of all the money you’ll save! And right now, you can save even more because for a limited time we’re offering 40% off and free shipping. You won’t believe how easy it is to keep your home clean and toxic chemical-free!
