How to Make Non-Toxic Dish Soap

 

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t, at some point in time, wash dishes – whether it be in the sink.. or with a dishwasher, or at least ask for help from their kids to do the task. Around here, it’s all I ever seem to do because 7 people eat constantly which means a stream of dishes all day long.

As if doing dishes isn’t bad enough, we have to pick a dish soap to help us wash those dishes. On an average trip to any given grocer, there are probably well over 25 varieties of dish soap available.

Sour apple

Triple berry

Grape rush

Obviously I’m guessing there but I’m partly right – there are many brands of dish soap, and some are heavily scented to appeal to the consumer so that you can turn around and purchase the item. 

What you may not realize is that the very dish soap that you are using is full of toxic ingredients that are unsafe for yourself and family, all hiding under the word “fragrance“.

Isn’t fragrance just a smell?

For as long as you can remember, you have probably been purchasing items with fragrance – dish soap, detergent, lotions, deodorant, the list could go on and on.

Most of those items you purchase out of second nature – you have used them for years, you love them and so you buy them. For others, you may have been driven to purchase with a sale or coupon… and in some cases, perhaps it was something recommended by a family member or friend.

While these items are serving a purpose in your life, they are also triggering reactions from allergies to harmful effects that you may not even be aware of.    What you probably may not realize is that the simple fragrance”is something that is made up of over 100 secret chemicals of which are considered to be trade secret to companies.

Aren’t these items regulated?

Unfortunately they are.. but they aren’t.   Fragrance ingredients are considered to be trade secrets and property of the manufacturer. And under the Fair Packaging and Label Act, companies are not required to disclose trade secrets.  While you would assume that they want to be as open and honest as possible, manufacturers don’t want to disclose these ingredients because it may lead to a more educated public, which could (in turn) affect their sales.

These ingredients can contribute largely to everything from hormone disruption to cancer to asthma, even skin irritation.    These toxic synthetic chemicals can build up in your bloodstream – they can affect you, and even more… they can affect your baby, especially for those mammas that are pregnant.

Chances are… that may prompt you to look at your items in a different light. 

You would think that items that are marketed as eco-friendly and, geared towards baby would be safer – right? But unfortunately that is far from the truth.

Look up your  brand of dish soap on EWG by heading here – and don’t assume that fragrance free is better.. because in many cases they aren’t. Manufacturers can use toxic chemicals to suppress the fragrance making them just as harmful.

The best thing you can do is be an informed consumer – avoid purchasing, and learn how to DIY (or, opt for better non-toxic varieties).

Believe it or not, making your own is SO easy. .. and requires just a few, simple ingredients. We did a video for those of you who are visual.

Don’t have Thieves Cleaner? You can go without – but we really LOVE the extra cleaning power it gives.

Thieves Cleaner is a plant based cleaner that is safe for kids and pets – one 14 oz bottle lasts for several months because you use a single capful at a time.

Find out how you can score Thieves Cleaner and get started with Essential Oils so you , too, can ditch toxic chemicals from your family and learn how to DIY.

See 16 DIYs you can do for your home and garden by heading here.