Rewired

Have you ever paused to consider what’s really in the products you use everyday? Many household products contain harmful chemicals we never thought twice about questioning. We go to the store and pick out the products with the best looking packaging, or the best fragrance, without ever flipping it over to find out what’s actually inside. I know I did, but that all changed three years ago. In this blog series, I’ll share my journey of making non-toxic swaps in our home starting with a pivotal discovery about laundry detergent.

I’m inquisitive by nature. I want to know how things work, why things happen, how changing one thing can impact another, etc. Ask my husband and he’ll probably tell you having me around is like having a toddler in their “why” stage. He understandably gets frustrated when I question why he’s doing something a certain way, or my ADHD problem-solving kicks in and offers up an inventive alternative (many of which have never been properly tested, but hey you don’t know until you try, right?). I don’t do this to question his expertise, I truly just want to understand. Certain questions have left me researching late into the night to find some kind of answer that makes sense. If I don’t research, my brain resorts to worse case scenarios, or endless possibilities, and I quite literally can’t quiet my brain enough to sleep. This personality trait of mine kicked into overdrive when I was pregnant with our first baby.

The Spark

I read but never finished all the baby books, because frankly, that wouldn’t be very ADHD of me. I went down rabbit holes researching parenting methods, sleep training methods, breastfeeding vs. formula, safe sleep, and baby-led weaning vs. purees. I wanted to have all the information from many different sources so I could make the best decisions for my baby and my family. I’m also not someone who is easily influenced. I love to hear different perspectives, but I need to do my own research before I just blindly believe anything. This is especially true when it comes to my kids. There was one topic in particular that completely changed me, laundry detergent. I know it sounds silly, but stick with me on this one. I kept seeing advertising and had friends telling me all about how they used a special baby detergent called Dreft. Que the internal dialogue…why do babies need a different detergent? What was in the detergent that I was currently using that wasn’t considered “safe” for a baby’s sensitive skin? If the detergent I was using wasn’t safe for my baby, was it safe for me? Was Dreft really that different? At what point can my baby use the same detergent as me?

The Research

I couldn’t let it go. So, down the rabbit hole I went. I discovered that detergents contain fragrances, dyes, and harsh chemicals – substances that could irritate a baby’s skin. If you didn’t know, baby skin is about twenty times thinner than adult skin. So, it would make sense that the detergent we were using could be more irritating for a baby’s skin than adults, but could it still be irritating my skin? I also didn’t like the idea of having to use two different detergents depending on whose clothes we were washing. This was a whole new world for me. Up until I got pregnant, I bought laundry detergent based on the one that smelled the best, or had the best advertising for cleaning power to get the stains out of my husband’s work clothes.

During my research I found that the state of New York was actually in the process of banning laundry detergents if they contained more than a certain amount of 1,4-Dioxane. If you’re like me you’ve probably never heard of 1,4-Dioxane and if you looked at your laundry detergent you probably won’t see it listed as an ingredient, because it’s actually a byproduct. 1,4-Dioxane was found as a probable human carcinogen by the EPA. This led to more research into laundry detergent ingredients where I learned that many chemicals in detergents interfere with our body’s natural hormone production. Our hormones play a huge role in so many aspects of our life. By placing potential hormone disruptors on our largest organ, our skin, could lead to reproductive issues, liver and/or kidney damage, and potentially cancer. 

The fear took over and the stress became too much; my pregnancy hormones wanted to burn the whole house down and start over. Diving into the world of non-toxic living can be incredibly overwhelming. I found myself doomsday spiraling about the toxic products in our home, and social media certainly didn’t help ease my worries. There’s so much conflicting information out there. You get fear-based marketing from cleaning companies telling you your home won’t be clean without chemicals. Then there’s the all or nothing influencers who want to shame you for not purchasing what they think is the most non-toxic product. However, I soon realized that I couldn’t make all these changes at once; it simply wasn’t realistic. Non-toxic living is about progress, not perfection. I learned to take my time and approach this journey with grace, focusing on finding less toxic swaps for items as they ran out. This not only helped reduce waste but also allowed me to concentrate on one product at a time, making the process feel much more manageable.

I encourage everyone to do their own research and make the choices that are best for your family. Many of us aren’t chemists and we trust these companies to provide us with a safe product, but unfortunately creating a cheap and profitable one has become the priority. 

Our First Swap

My focus shifted from trying to find a detergent for my baby to finding a detergent that would be safer for my whole family. I decided to start with finding a better detergent – not a perfect one – aiming for something free from fragrances and dyes. We made the switch from Arm & Hammer Powerfully Clean to Tide Free & Clear. I knew it still wasn’t the best option, but it laid the foundation for more conscious choices going forward and gave me time to look into more non-toxic brands that weren’t readily available at a store near me. 

When we finally ran out of the Tide detergent, I found a non-toxic laundry detergent that I absolutely love – Puracy. It is manufactured in Austin, Texas, is free from sulfates, bleach, brighteners, and other harsh chemicals. It uses plant-powered enzymes to remove stains and odors. The best part is it actually works! We have been using Puracy for two years now, and have since started using their stain remover and liquid dish soap. Our laundry room swaps didn’t stop there though! I discontinued the use of scent beads and fabric softener altogether. I also replaced our dryer sheets with wool dryer balls. If you’re big on your clothes having a smell, you can add a few drops of essential oils onto the wool dryer balls. I personally like the Plant Therapy brand and purchased their laundry blends, but they also have a white linen scent depending on your preferences.

Moving Forward

It was because of my kids, that I discovered just how awful some of the products we were using actually were. I look at the ingredients on every single thing I buy now. This is not to say I avoid every little “bad” thing, but I’m more wary of products with long ingredient lists or ingredients I’m not familiar with. I will no longer blindly fall for “clean” marketing schemes or pretty packaging. I’m still making changes and don’t have it all figured out, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction to living a healthier life. As I continue to explore non-toxic swaps I’ll be sharing them here on my blog. As you follow along, I’d love to hear about your own experiences. What changes have you made? Are there any you’re considering?