When it comes to cleaning glass, Windex is a household name, trusted by millions of people. But what helps to make it so effective is Ammonia, which if ingested can cause mouth and throat irritation, upset stomach, and vomiting. Even brief contact with the skin can cause redness and irritation. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want that around my kids.
In fact, Windex was asked in 2020 to remove the “non-toxic” claim from their labels by the National Advertising Division as they face a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that in addition to Ammonia, Windex products contain butylphenyl methylpropional, linalool, 2-hexoxyethanol, and isopropanolamine, all of which are toxic and cause varying illnesses and ailments.
Windex is a prime example of a well-known and generally trusted household cleaning product that has come under scrutiny for relying on toxic chemical ingredients. But there are so many other cleaners that rely on Chlorine Bleach, Ammonia, Formaldehyde, Phthalates, Abrasives, Phosphates, Parabens, and Quaternary Disinfectants in order to get results. And yet all of these cleaning agents are toxic to humans and animals!
I used to scuff at the idea that my beloved bleach was really “that bad.” Nothing works better to clean my toilet bowls, and it’s not like I’m touching it with my bare hands!
But the University of Bergen in Norway conducted a study over 20 years that found that cleaning just once a week with traditional household cleaners was as damaging as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for the same period of time. Lung capacity was severely depleted just from inhaling things like bleach and ammonia, and absorbing them through the skin is just as dangerous (*cough* bleach wipes *cough*).
So how do you go about replacing your Windex with a safer alternative that you can trust to be just as effective?
Time to Do Some Research
A little time put in at the front end can save you a lot of confusion and money over the years to come. It’s time to start researching companies and products that use safe ingredients and still get the job done.
Luckily, some of these brands can be easily found at grocery stores, like Seventh Generation, Honest Company, and Method. Not all brands make all types of cleaners, so you may need to find a few trusted favorites to cover all the bases. And while one brand may make your perfect countertop spray, you may find out that their laundry detergent is full of irritants and allergens – so make sure you research each product before you purchase.
I also found myself balking at the price of many “clean” household products; in some cases, I was paying twice as much as I had been before, and that’s a hard pill to swallow. In fact, for many of us, it is not sustainable in our weekly budgets.
When I discovered Melaleuca’s EcoSense line, I breathed a sigh of relief. Many of their products, like the Clear Power Glass Cleaner, are 12x concentrated. That means I dilute them with water at home, saving me money and eliminating many future orders. Melaleuca never uses caustic chemicals, relying instead on plant-derived, biodegradable ingredients – specifically meant to be safe for use around children.
Once you find a brand that checks all the boxes, you want to know that the products will work as well as the ones you’ve become accustomed to. Melaleuca reviews are glowing, and their customer retention rate of 97% really says it all. Melaleuca has been around since 1985, so they’re not a new brand that will disappear in a few years.
An Investment in Better Health
Doing research, changing out your cleaning products, and rewriting your budget are not fun activities. But take heart in knowing that the effort you’re putting in now is an investment in better health for you, your family, and the environment. Your children will grow up knowing brands that you can safely recommend that they use around their families one day. You can change the cycle of chemical exposure starting now.
