Not all companies are forthcoming about including ingredients on their packaging. In Australia, companies must legally list ingredients on skin and body care labels, yet there is no legal requirement to disclose ingredients on household cleaning products. Some cruelty-free brands proactively do, but the majority of commercial brands don’t. They market themselves as “trusted for generations” and many hold awards for being trusted brands. While they don’t include ingredients on their labels, what they do include (in fine print on the back of the package at the very bottom) is a hazard warning and poison control details!

Other brands claim their products are “all natural” or “derived from natural sources” but do not disclose how ingredients are sourced, extracted, or manufactured. For instance, parabens occur in nature (they can be found in blueberries), but it’s unlikely these companies are sourcing parabens from blueberries to put into their highly-toxic cleaning products.

If you’ve never done this, have a look at some of the products in your home – whether they be beauty, cleaning, or laundry products. Below are a just a few of the many ingredients commonly found in everyday products that you may want to be aware of. Not only are they harmful to humans, but many are also toxic to animals and the environment.*

Aluminium Chlorohydrate – a light metal found in antiperspirants and used to block pores to reduce sweating; accumulates in the body (brain, kidneys, liver), and affects absorption of minerals and neurological systems

BHT/BHA (Butylated Hydroxytoluene/Butylated Hydroxyanisole) – used as synthetic preservatives and antioxidants; may cause headaches/migraines, allergic reactions, and aggressive behaviour (BHA is listed as a possible human carcinogen while long-term exposure to BHT has demonstrated toxicity to mice, causing liver, lung, thyroid and kidney issues)

Cocamidopropyl Betaine – synthetic ingredient used as a foaming agent in products like baby wash and shampoo; can cause contact dermatitis as well as skin and eye irritation

Diethylene glycol – found in window cleaners; negatively affects endocrine (hormone) processes and foetal development

Formaldehyde – used in spray and wick deodorisers; known respiratory irritant and carcinogen

Fragrances – oftentimes petroleum-based and found in deodorant, moisturiser and hand wash, as well as shampoo, laundry and cleaning products; can cause respiratory and skin irritation, headaches, sneezing and watery eyes

Parabens – synthetic preservative found in a variety of products ranging from body care to toothpaste; these are known endocrine (hormone) disruptors and may also cause skin irritations including hives, eczema, and rashes

Petroleum – solvent found in many body and cleaning products; damages mucous membranes and contributes to the depletion of non-renewable resources

Phenols – found in many disinfectants and toilet bowl cleaners; toxic to the respiratory and circulatory systems

By no means is this a complete list of all the harmful chemicals found in “trusted” products. This may seem scary, but the good news is that you can make many of your own DIY products at home using simple ingredients like bicarb soda, vinegar and essential oils that are safe, affordable, and effective (and you won’t need to protect yourself with surgical gloves and face masks to use them!).

Here are just a few of my favourite DIY recipes. I always recommend using glass or stainless steel containers and high-quality, therapeutic grade essential oils. It’s also good practice to patch test to ensure no staining/discolouration (surfaces) or sensitivities (skin) occur.

Multi-purpose spray

500ml glass spray bottle

60ml (¼ cup) white or cleaning vinegar

400ml (1 ¾ cups) water

30 drops total essential oil

Combine, shake before each use and wipe surface clean with damp cloth

I like to use the following: Lemon and Lavender; Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Wild Orange; Lemon, Tea Tree and Clove + one drop Oregano

Glass/window cleaner

500ml glass spray bottle

340ml (1 ½ cups) distilled water

120ml (½ cup) white or cleaning vinegar

8 drops lemon essential oil

Tip: for a streak-free finish, wipe surface dry with old newspaper

Mould/mildew cleaner

500ml glass spray bottle

500ml (2 cups) white or cleaning vinegar

10 drops each wild orange, clove and tea tree essential oils

5 drops Oregano essential oil

Spray on mould-affected area and let sit 5-10 minutes. Wipe off with damp cloth or rinse with water. (This one is best not to use on granite surfaces. If using on grout, be sure to wipe/rinse rather than spray and stay.)

Toilet bowl cleaner

½ cup bicarbonate soda

60ml (¼ cup) white or cleaning vinegar

10 drops tea tree essential oil

Mix ingredients to dissolve bicarb soda, add to toilet, let sit 10-15 minutes, scrub with toilet brush and flush

Body wash

Glass pump bottle

120ml (½ cup) unscented castile soap

60ml (¼ cup) vegetable glycerin

45ml (3 tablespoons) fractionated coconut oil

10-15 drops total essential oil

Shake before each use to combine

I like to use oils like lavender, lemongrass, palmarosa and roman chamomile. for a more masculine aroma, use oils like cedarwood, cypress and sandalwood.

Hand wash

500ml glass bottle with pump top

2 tablespoons castile soap

1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil

10 drops each lavender and tea tree essential oil

Top with water and shake before each use to combine

Deodorant

1 teaspoon shea butter, softened (you can easily omit this if you don’t have it)

¼ cup coconut oil, softened

¼ cup total of bicarb/baking soda + cornstarch (you can also use arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch)

20-30 drops essential oil

Mix to combine and place in refrigerator for about an hour to set

I like to use a combination of essential oils including tea tree, lavender, roman chamomile and lemongrass. Be mindful of using citrus oils, as they contain photosensitive properties and may cause skin irritation or temporarily darken the skin if exposed to sun.

Chesty rub

¼ - ½ cup coconut oil, melted

10 drops respiratory blend essential oil

5 drops frankincense essential oil

5 drops cardamom essential oil

Combine all ingredients and put in refrigerator until set. Rub on chest to assist with cough and congestion.

The possibilities for DIY products are endless. Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun! Your body will thank you for it.

*More information can be sourced from the Environmental Working Group

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