2 hidden killers in your home

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision," Helen Keller.

A recent study has revealed that dishwasher detergents and rinse aids can seriously damage the intestinal epithelium and cause inflammatory reactions.

This is especially true for professional rinsing agents containing ethoxylated alcohols.

Key facts about dishwasher detergents.

Toxicity:

Professional rinse aids are toxic even at low concentrations (up to 1:20,000), causing the death of intestinal cells.

Regular household detergents can also be toxic at high concentrations, but under typical use conditions (1:80,000), they are safe.

Gut epithelial barrier damage:

Rinse aids destroy the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. 

Residues of rinsing agents on dishes after washing in dishwashers retain toxic and barrier-damaging properties even at a dilution of 1:10.

Impact of gut epithelial barrier damage on health:

• allows pathogens and toxins to enter the body, causing inflammation and contributing to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

• allows allergens to enter the bloodstream, which can trigger or exacerbate allergic reactions and food allergies

• are associated with the development of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes

• can trigger an immune response against the body's own tissues, leading to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis

To protect intestinal health and prevent possible diseases, it is important to choose safe and natural detergents.

How to choose safer detergents:

• avoid detergents with ethoxylated alcohols

• use products containing natural ingredients, such as essential oils, plant extracts, and biodegradable components.

• for example, products based on citric acid, vinegar, and baking soda.

• avoid products containing harsh surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).

• choose detergents with a minimal number of ingredients. The fewer components, the lower the likelihood of potentially hazardous substances

• look for products with eco-certifications, such as EcoCert, USDA Organic, or EU Ecolabel, which confirm the product's safety and environmental friendliness

• consider making your own cleaning products. Simple recipes based on vinegar, citric acid, baking soda, and essential oils can be effective and safe

Examples of safe products:

Baking soda and vinegar mix: Effectively removes grease and grime without leaving harmful residues.

Citric acid: Excellent for dealing with scale and lime deposits.

Essential oils: Tea tree, lemon, or lavender oil can be added for disinfection and a pleasant scent.

And also the harm of laundry detergents has not disappeared:

• Laundry detergents typically contain hazardous ingredients, including: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES); 1,4-dioxane; NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate), and phosphates

• The typical American home contains 3-10 gallons of toxic household cleaning materials that can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, endocrine system disruption, and cancer

• The dangers of SLS alone have been documented in 16,000 studies

• 1,4-dioxane, aka dioxane, is a byproduct rather than an ingredient and is therefore not listed on any label. However, it's been found to be toxic to your brain, central nervous system, kidneys, liver and respiratory system, and 2/3rds of laundry detergents contain it

Here is only a small list of frequently encountered chemicals in the compositions of popular detergents. 👇

Skip the poison and make your own detergent at home.

There's a great recipe 👇

Quick note:

• for top loaders, use three tablespoons per load. Makes about 38 loads

• for HE washers, about half the normal amount is recommended which would be about 76 loads

• as with other detergents, it is recommended that you cut the amount used in half for HE machines

• be sure to check your owner’s manual – using certain types of laundry products in your HE machine may void your warranty

Warm regards,
Kos