Dishwash
Level
Usage
Product Category
Health impact
Environmental Impact
Dishwash to avoid
Conscious alternatives
Things to know about Dishwash soap or liquid
If you've already made the switch to conscious food alternatives to keep your family healthier, that's awesome!
Have you ever considered what you're using to clean your cooking and eating utensils? It's possible that those cleaning products might be adding some not-so-safe chemicals to your food, and that's definitely something worth thinking about.
Are you sure that dishwash soap or liquid is safe for your family?
Have you ever looked at the label of dishwashing soap or liquid?
Did you find any ingredients mentioned?
None of the popular brands list any ingredients on their dish cleaning products. Now, here's something to think about:
- How can you be sure if this everyday use product is safe for you and your kids?
- Imagine if there's some residue left on the dishes even after rinsing, and that ends up mixing with your food. What's the risk involved there?
The thing is, brands take advantage of certain laws so they don't have to disclose the ingredients on their dish wash products. Sneaky or smart?
Some brands might provide that information on their websites if you dig deep enough, but many other brands don't even disclose ingredients there!
Since you're health-conscious, it makes total sense that you'd want to be mindful of what you're using at home, especially when it comes to cleaning the things you cook in and eat from.
After all, your family's safety is always your top priority!
Are there any ingredients in dish cleaning products that you should be concerned about?
This is a little technical, but we’ll break it down for you in simple terms how some ingredients impact your health and the environment. A more technical explanation is available below for those who are interested.
Here are some ingredients which are a bit of a concern.
- Sodium LAS: Even in small amounts, it could promote cancer cell growth in the colon and harm aquatic life.
- Disodium EDTA: It messes with skin cells, can affect reproductive health if consumed and poses risks to the environment.
- SLES: Banned in Europe due to contamination with a cancer-causing by-product.
- CI 19140 (Tartrazine): Damages immune system cells, increases cancer risk and harms aquatic life.
- CI 42051 (Patent Blue V): Banned as a food additive, causes allergies and harms aquatic species.
The bigger concern is that popular brands may not have been transparent about these potential risks, relying on clever marketing to create a false sense of safety.
Sodium LAS, even at the levels found in wastewater treatment plants, could actually promote the growth of cancer cells in the colon. You need to pay attention to the harmful effects of this stuff, even if it's in small amounts. Sodium LAS can be a real troublemaker for aquatic organisms, causing toxicity and harming aquatic life in the long run.
Disodium EDTA has been found to be cytotoxic and slightly genotoxic, which means it can mess with your skin cells and make them absorb chemicals more easily. Not good news, right? Plus, if consumed orally, it can cause issues with your reproductive and developmental health. When it comes to the environment, Disodium EDTA doesn't break down easily in regular wastewater treatment plants or in nature. That's not great for our water systems. Additionally, it is known to mobilise heavy metals, posing a risk to our groundwater.
SLES is another chemical you might want to avoid. It's already banned in Europe, so that's a red flag right there. The real concern is that SLES can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a by-product released during the production of SLES. It's known to cause cancer in humans.
CI 19140 or Tartrazine can cause damage to white blood cells, which are crucial for your immune system. It also increases the risk of developing tumours and cancer. Something we want to keep away from, right? When it comes to the environment, CI 19140 can be harmful to aquatic life, even at low concentrations. It messes with the development of embryos and larvae, leading to a reduction in their population over a period of time.
CI 42051, also known as Patent Blue V is banned as a food additive in both the US and Australia since it's considered unsafe for children and its tendency to cause allergies. But the trouble doesn't end there. In certain aquatic species, it reduces the hatching of eggs and the embryos that do develop show defects. In certain other organisms, it's known to cause mortality and mobility issues.
Were cleaning products always this dangerous?
It turns out that before World War II, people used soap for all kinds of cleaning. But during the war, the fats and oils used for soap-making were needed for making weapons and explosives.
So, scientists came up with a host of petrochemicals to replace natural ingredients in cleaning products. Guess what? Most of the cleaning products you use today are filled with these harmful petrochemicals. They're not just bad for your health, but they're also causing a lot of harm to the environment.
What did our ancestors use to clean dishes?
Our ancestors relied on natural materials to clean their dishes. One popular choice was ash, which has been used for centuries. Ash is pretty effective at getting rid of oil and grease because when ash mixes with oil, it actually creates a basic form of soap!
If you have been to any Indian village, you might have seen them using earth to clean their vessels.
How can you choose a safe dish cleaning product?
It's crucial to look for dish cleaning products that are transparent and clearly list the exact ingredients they use. Be cautious of terms like "non-toxic", “SLS free” or "plant-based" without specific details. Only when the ingredients are clearly mentioned on the label can you truly understand the long-term effects of being exposed to these chemicals.
Give preference to products that provide full disclosure about what they contain. That way, you can make a more informed and safer choice for yourself and the environment.
The other alternative is to make your own non-toxic dish cleaning product by following any of the DIY options available in the Conscious Living DIY Guide.
How do you benefit from using safer dish cleaning products?
Making the switch to safer dish cleaning products is not just good for you but for the world around you too!
Let's break down the benefits:
Improved Health: Safer products mean fewer nasty chemicals get mixed with your food, reducing the risk of allergies and long-term health issues for you and your family.
Environmentally Friendly: Choosing safer options helps reduce water pollution and its impact on aquatic life. It's a small but powerful step to keep harmful chemicals out of our water bodies, preserving the delicate balance of our ecosystems.
By demanding transparency and picking brands that disclose their ingredients, you're supporting manufacturers that prioritize your health and the environment. You also send a clear message to manufacturers to produce safer products and be more transparent if they want you to use their products.
Your conscious choice can inspire friends, family and your community to make similar changes, creating a positive ripple effect for a more sustainable future.