(Why)Your Cleaner Might Be Killing You
“It has been demonstrated that early exposure to large doses of cleaning chemicals can result in detrimental and long-term respiratory function, increasing the risk of childhood asthma as a consequence of epithelial lung cell damage mediated through the innate immune pathways. Bleach, glutaraldehyde, and ethanol are known to cause respiratory irritation, exacerbate existing asthma present, or trigger what is known as “occupational asthma.”
- Hidaya Aliouche for news-medical.net
I recently read a very informative article written by H. Aliouche about the health effects of over-sanitization.
People are getting sicker from unknown autoimmune diseases every day. It surprises me how we don't connect the dots between our worsening health and the harmful effects of cleaning chemicals and excessive cleanliness.
According to H.A. some of the areas affected in our bodies are:
Impaired respiratory function
Liver and kidney damage
Metabolic health and obesity
Thyroid function
Reproductive health
Brain health
The microbiome
I just don't get it.
Why is more focus not put on ridding our homes of toxicity that are making us ill?
Isn't it common sense?
Yes, it is, but as they say, out of sight, out of mind. And to add, a recent world event that put an increased focus on over-sanitising as the norm, has not exactly helped. It is ironic, in a way, that an increased - often times obsessive - focus on staying germ free has created a breeding ground for super bugs and in the process, damaging our health even more.
Is it me or does it seem like we got it all wrong?
When I started my research before launching Cove and Coast, I saw plenty of cleaning companies around using eco friendly products. Yet none offering 100% non toxic, eco friendly cleans with a sustainable business model. Like zero. And I noticed a lot advertising “sanitation cleans”. I dug into that rabbit hole too and was shocked.
My mum, who spent the best of her 20’s and 30’s in and out of hospitals, always said that if you aren’t sick going in (to the hospital), you will be by the time you are leaving. She caught infection after infection in the hospital wards. Life threatening infections being the reason she was granted a life time pension at 35 and not because of the actual medical issue she was initially admitted to hospital for.
I always thought that was kind of weird. Aren’t hospitals cleaned and sanitised all the time and with commercial grade products to bout? So…wouldn’t logic have it that they then are the cleanest, and most (bad) bacteria free places on the planet?
I’m just gonna leave that right there for you to ponder.
And just so we are clear, I commend and applaud our medical staff in this country. Workers on the front lines have it tough and this is not about their competence. It’s about cleaning products.
And then there is the whole “eco product” thing.
It’s all good and well using non toxic, eco friendly products. Thing is, that’s just one part of the equation.
If the the tools used and how the business is run doesn’t follow suit, there is simply nothing eco friendly about the cleaning.
A bit like buying a vegan burger at one of the big fast food chains. It might make you feel better about your choices for a while but what about all the commercial farming they do for their other food items on the menu? Commercial agriculture is the leading source of pollution in many countries*. So while it might taste nice, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s the greener choice. It’s not.
So it begs the question. How do I know if a business is GREEN? and therefore sustainable with minimal impact?
Here are a few questions to ponder over:
Does the business recycle their bottles? Or throw them away?
Do they buy cleaning agents in bulk to reduce packaging and waste?
Are the tools used re-used, made from recycled or biodegradable materials? Are they washable?
Have they researched and found better alternatives for situations where strong chemicals are normally the go to? Or do they cheat to still deliver the promised results?
Do they live by their own eco-friendly standards or is it just in the business?
All these questions are incredibly important and are the difference between a TRUE eco friendly, non toxic cleaning business and one that simply says they are to be in the “mix” or “on trend”.
But that’s all I saw. And the reason WHY became very clear.
Because it’s hard.
You have to do a lot of research, find alternative non toxic solutions to cleaning problems and not least, tools that tick the sustainable criteria that work - if you’ve ever tried to deep clean a home with years of calcium and mineral build up, ovens full of grease and floors so sticky you could grow roots if you stand still for too long, with baking soda and vinegar alone, you know what I mean. You will be there for days. Not hours. And your arms will want to fall off and your back will hate you for the rest of your life.
So finding products that are strong enough to make a dent, to make a viable business model (that means profitable) AND scaleable, is hard.
I tried making my own products just like they do on those fancy Tik Toks. They were awesome. For one person. But if you have a team of 10 cleaners and they all have to measure out chemicals (yes, they are still chemicals even if non toxic, it’s a fact) on a daily basis to get the job done, you are in for a shit storm. Because there’s this thing called consistency in business that clients really like. And as a business owner, so do we.
I’m sure you are getting the jist.
Going the different route, being the trailblazer is always an uphill battle and comes with lots of challenges. Running a small business is already difficult so I understand why most take the easier way. Financially it makes sense.
But being a bit of a tree hugger and having suffered from health issues (those fun ones no doctor can give you any answers to), I didn’t want to add to the problem. I wanted to be part of the solution.
Knowing that using harsh, toxic chemicals can essentially trigger cancer cells in another human's body, someones’ child, is motivation enough. We all carry them, it’s just a matter of what we are exposed to how they develop, if at all.
Once you understand that concept, it’s very very difficult to ever use bleach or sanitization products again. It’s the once you know, you know and you can’t “un-know” it kind-a-thing.
The good news is that you don’t have to.
There are a plethora of better, safer options on the market these days and although it’s still a challenge to find tools that are greener options, the industry has come a long way. We use an Australian product called For All. It’s excellent and if you decide to try it I sadly don’t make a commission. I just want to help you create a safer and healthier home for your family.
If you got this far, thank you for caring enough to read all this to the end. We truly are on a bit of a mission and need all the support we can get.
As a mum, and someone who cares about leaving our children a home, Cove and Coast want to help make that happen. We may be small, and our direct impact may be tiny, but if we can change a few habits, make our local homes safer while spreading the message, maybe even save a life or two, it’s all worth it to me.
I didn’t start Cove and Coast Cleaning Co to be yet another l”ost in the crowd” service based business. I wanted it to be purposeful, have a vision and a positive impact on our community as a whole. I want Cove and Coast to be a a brand synonymous with integrity, heart and community.
Nearly 500 cleans and counting (June 2024) I’d say we are well on our way.
Read the full article here which includes numerous scientific references - Hidaya is a professional and explains the science much better than I ever could. Well worth the read.
*source: WWF link here
