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Are these common toxic household products making you sick? It’s 2023 – and to say that we live in a world of convenience is an understatement. Almost everything we need in our homes is a click (or tap) away. With the popularity of delivery services like Amazon, UberEats, DoorDash, & InstaCart, everything we want is literally at our fingertips.
But there seems to be a major disconnect happening. We’re so far removed from the days when it took time & hard work to clean our homes without toxic chemicals, or even to make meals from scratch.
Our household cleaners and products are all pre-made, and from a laundry list of ingredients we don’t know and can’t pronounce. Pre-made food is now the norm, and it’s filled with junk that’s meant to preserve shelf life…and it’s making us sick.
Yes, it’s convenient. But at what cost?
Toxic Household Products and the Real Price of Convenience
I wasn’t reading labels for many years. I was trusting that what I was bringing in was safe, especially if it said “natural,” “green,” or “organic.” After all, shouldn’t I trust these companies when they say their product is natural & safe?

Commercially Made “Natural” or “Green” Products: Safe, or Unsafe?
After some eye opening research, the simple answer is: No.
Did you know that there are certain words used in “green” marketing that are designed to entice you & trick you at the same time?
MadeSafe.org warns to “Beware of Greenwashing. Claims like “all natural,” “green,” and “clean” do not have standard legal or regulatory definitions. Instead, they’re usually self-declared terms that are used for marketing purposes, as opposed to reflecting the safety and sustainability of the ingredients.”
So…these companies are making their selling points that their toxic household products are “all natural,” “green,” or “clean”…and they’re lying about it?
What else are they lying about?
How about the fact that most of the ingredients in their products are damaging to our health, for one – as if that isn’t enough.
Are These Toxic Household Products Making You Sick?
I’ve complied a short list of commonly used products that I know are likely affecting your overall health. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. So if you’re like me, this toxic household products list is going to both shock you, and piss you off a bit.
I hope this post opens your eyes to the wild reality we’re living in. Here we go – hold on to your britches, folks!

1. Air Fresheners
Heads Up: Your favorite air freshener is probably toxic.
Many air fresheners contain many many chemicals that can irritate your your nose & lungs, and cause a wide range of health issues. And if you’re buying the air fresheners that say “natural” on the label, I’ve got some bad news: they’re not good for you either.
In a study conducted on air fresheners by members of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the findings were quite shocking. 86% of the products that were advertised as “natural” or “green” were tested & found to contain phthalates.
What Are Phthalates?
Phthalates are: “… a class of chemicals that are used to make plastics, primarily polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl), flexible. The chemicals also serve various functions in cosmetics, personal care, and cleaning products.”
Why are they bad? Phthalates can cause:
- Early onset of puberty.
- Interference with the male reproductive tract/ development.
- Interference with the natural functioning of the hormone system.
- Reproductive and genital defects.
- Lower testosterone levels in adolescent males.
- Lower sperm count in adult males
Not to mention, phthalates are likely not the only thing in these types of products to worry about.
Air Fresheners to Avoid – Ditch these Toxic Items ASAP
Whether you use scented aerosol sprays (some of them rhyme with words like “Trade” and “Wheeze”), scented wall plug-ins, or even if you put an air freshener hanger in your car, the chemicals in these can be damaging to your health.
Per MadeSafe.org: “…Because they (air fresheners) contain ingredients that are associated with various health effects, our constant exposure to air fresheners is cause for concern. Researchers have measured and identified air freshener chemicals that are linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, and effects from endocrine disruption. Not to mention a large portion of the population experiences headaches and respiratory difficulty from exposure to fragrance.”
Additionally, check out this partial list of chemicals commonly found in air fresheners:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Benzene
- formaldehyde
- toluene
- phthalates
- and more
View the full article and the more extensive chemical list here. Read on to #2 for my suggestions on what to use instead of air fresheners!

2. Scented Candles
If you’re using scented candles – especially those made with petroleum-based wax, paraffin, or gel – they’re likely emitting nasty toxic chemicals like toluene and benzene, just to name a couple.
The New York Post just put out an article early in 2023 titled, “Candles release toxic chemicals that go ‘directly to our lungs’: expert” with findings based upon the research of Dr. Svetlana Stevanovic, a professor at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds in Victoria.
“Nearly all fragrance ingredients in a candle are volatile organic compounds, air pollutants that are found in common household products such as paint, furniture polish and wallpaper,” stated Brooke Kate, the author of the article.
I think we’re already seeing a pattern here – those volatile organic compounds are common in “scented” items.
What about “natural” candles?: Soy and beeswax are popular “natural” alternatives, and while they are typically safer than other types of candles, they still have the potential to cause harm. Part of the issue with candles stems from the fact that they are burned in more confined spaces – putting particulates in the air that irritate the nose and lungs.
Additionally, some candles advertised as “natural” are not. Oftentimes candles made by large manufacturers (for example, that big candle company that everyone loves – you know who I’m talking about), are not even remotely “natural.”
However, if you’re buying from a person or small business that makes their own candles using clearly sourced ingredients, I find them a lot more trustworthy. If you can’t find a clear list of ingredients, just ask them about it. Small businesses tend to be more responsive to their customers!
What Should You Use Instead of Chemical Filled Air Fresheners and Candles?
- Make your own homemade potpourri bowls, jars, or sachets using dried spices (such as cinnamon sticks, rosemary, lavender, sage, clove, or thyme), dried flowers, or dried fruit rinds (such as lemon or orange)
- You can also make a stovetop simmering potpourri with fruits and spices!
- Diffuse Essential oils. I only recommend pure therapeutic grade essential oils – and the only company I recommend with that quality is Young Living
- New to essential oils, or Young Living? Learn more about Young Living here
- Make a Homemade Room Spray (see recipe below)
3. Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softeners

Don’t kill the messenger – but dryer sheets & fabric softeners are terrible for you, your washer and dryer, and the environment (triple whammy).
Fabric softeners can irritate sensitive skin, cause respiratory issues and distress, & they also tend to leave a layer of residue on your clothes. Per Consumer Reports, using fabric softener and cause a wide array of issues even in addition to health issues, including: low absorption in towels, reduced flame resistance in children’s sleepwear, & mold and mildew growth in your washer.
And that’s not all. Guess what lovely chemicals you’re going to find in dryer sheets & fabric softeners?
VOC’s, among other harmful chemicals, of course. Chemicals that aren’t good for your lungs, or your skin.
What Should I use Instead of Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softeners?
Wool Dryer Balls
Using reusable wool dryer balls is a good alternative to dryer sheets and fabric softeners. You can find a wide variety of these on Amazon – make sure you’re choosing an organic one without fillers or alternatives.
And if you want your clothes to smell a little more fresh? Add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil to your dryer balls. My favorite is Lavender!
White Vinegar
Adding some white vinegar diluted with water can help to soften clothes, eliminate odors, & prevent mold and mildew.
While vinegar is great to use occasionally, it shouldn’t be used regularly. Vinegar is very acidic and can wear down some parts of your washing machine. For more details on the do’s & don’ts of using white vinegar in your washing machine, check out this article from Better Homes & Gardens.

4. Laundry Detergent
I know – this list is getting brutal. And before you think we’re getting in hippie tree hugging territory, just do a little Google search on why laundry detergent is bad for you, or toxic. You’ll come up with a long list of similar answers – and a multitude of sources that will tell you the truth about many of the leading brands of laundry detergent:
They contain harmful chemicals such as Sodium Laurel Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLS/ SLES), and this super creepy chemical: formahldehyde.
Yes. FORMAHLDEHYDE. The same stuff they use to preserve dead bodies. That’s gross.
Therefore, we can conclude that laundry detergent deserves a spot on this list of toxic household products.
There’s a whole laundry list of chemicals in addition to these that are known carcinogens and irritants. Yet they’re still being allowed in a majority of laundry detergents. And while some of the scent free / dye free detergents have shorter lists, many of them still have some nasty chemicals on their lists.
What to Use Instead of Traditional Laundry Detergent
- Homemade Laundry Detergent: make sure you’re using organic ingredients
- Natural Laundry Detergents: ALWAYS read your labels. A quick Google search on an ingredient you’re unfamiliar with can tell you everything you need to know.
- My Pick is Thieves Laundry Soap from Young Living: I like this because it’s made by a company I know and trust. This laundry soap doesn’t have chemical junk in it either. Plus I don’t have to make it myself – big plus there!

5. Bleach & Bleach-Based Cleaners
If nothing else has, I’m sure this will ruffle a few feathers: Bleach sucks.
Bleach, and products containing bleach, are hailed as THE holy grail of household cleaners. It’s sad That not-so-lovely burning scent of bleach in the air is what most people associate with home cleanliness.
But what is it doing to us?
It’s a no brainer that if you already have respiratory issues, you shouldn’t be using bleach. But even if you’re healthy, bleach fumes can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, and can cause major reactions to your skin. Prolonged use of bleach can cause even more issues for you.
What’s even more concerning is what happens when bleach is mixed with other cleaners.
When bleach is mixed with other cleaners, it can emit chlorine gas. Inhaling this gas poses major health risks. Some examples of these cleaners are:
- Drain cleaners
- Dish soaps
- Window cleaners
- Ammonia
Per BeyondToxics.org, “…Higher levels can cause chest pain, severe breathing problems, fluid in the lungs, pneumonia, and vomiting. Very high levels can cause death. ” Yikes. No thank you.
Personally, I’m very sensitive to bleach. Even using products that just contained bleach in my bathroom would have me coughing & leave me with an itchy, irritated throat. Learning more about chemicals and their effects on the body really prompted me to get away from products like this as much as possible
What Should You Use Instead of Bleach, and Bleach-Based Cleaning Products?
- White Vinegar (undiluted, or diluted with water)
- Baking Soda & Water
- Hydrogen Peroxide & Water
- Natural cleaners that are TRULY natural, such as Young Living’s Thieves Cleaner. Grab your full Thieves Home Cleaning Kit here
- You can start out with just the Thieves Cleaner, but the Thieves Home Cleaning Kit is honestly a mega bargain!
I’ll go ahead & add in that even if a cleaning product DOESN’T contain bleach, if it’s a commercially marketed “common” product, it’s probably got some nasty stuff in it.
And Again: Be careful with “green” or “natural” cleaning products – read your labels!
How to start getting rid of toxic household products
First off, I know you might be a little overwhelmed by this. It’s a tough pill to swallow – and it might feel daunting trying to think about all the habits you may need to change.
My Advice: Baby steps.
Start today by throwing out your candles & air fresheners. This weekend, buy new household cleaners. Take some time & research different laundry soaps. Check out some essential oils on your lunch break.
Start making small changes now, and by the end of the year you’ll have made your house a much healthier home.
If you’re ready to dive even further into getting rid of toxic household products, be sure to check out this post – How to Switch to Natural Products: Household & Hygiene Edition.
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