Toxic Chemicals in Household Products

(Please read our disclaimer)
In 2013 the World Health Organization warned that many synthetic chemicals found in household products are endocrine (hormone) disrupters and may be causing cancers, birth defects, and other developmental disorders. They urgently called for more research to better understand what hormone-disrupting chemicals are doing to our health. Entering the search term "endocrine disrupters" in Google Scholar brings up 69,200 results. Scientists are definitely concerned.
Birth Defects

In 2017 a study found that common household chemicals lead to birth defects in mice. This article explains that results in mice "raises a big red flag that these chemicals may be toxic to humans as well." The chemicals in question are quaternary ammonium compounds, otherwise known as "quats" and are commonly used in disinfectants, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and some hair care products. The researchers discovered that birth defects occurred when either parent was exposed, not just the mother, drawing attention that birth defects can also come from a father's chemical exposure.
Male Fertility and Health

According to USA Today a new study found that men are producing less sperm. These findings raise concern not just for male fertility but also for male health. The article states that men with lower sperm counts are more susceptible to some cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and early death. Possible causes for this trend may be a mother who smoked while pregnant, obesity, pesticide use, and chemicals that disrupt hormones and the glands that produce hormones.

The Melaleuca Wellness Guide tells us that, for most of us, our greatest exposure to chemicals is right in our own homes! We breathe chemical vapors from household products in the air. We absorb chemicals into our skin while using household products to clean our homes or make our bodies clean and smell good. And we swallow small amounts of chemicals when we gargle, or when we eat food from dishes that have been cleaned with chemicals and still contain a thin residue.
A Safer Alternative

The EcoSense lines of household cleaners do not depend on harsh alkaline chemical reactions. Instead soil is dissolved and rinsed away by the use of natural enzymes, solvents, and surfactants. They do not contain surface damaging abrasives, bleach, ammonia, phosphates, or glycol ethers. And they do not contain quats, and they are not packaged with the endocrine disrupting chemicals BPA or phthalates.
One Last Note

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are common. They are even reported to be found on cash register receipts.

It takes a little effort and knowledge to choose safer products. By switching to cleaners and personal care products that are not full of toxins, we can reduce the stress on our detox system, possibly leading to a healthier life.

For more information see our publications: Let's Stop Poisoning Our Children! pamphlet and our Let's Stop Poisoning Our Children! booklet.

~ Richard M Barry

Safer Household Products Success Stories

I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer (in 1999) just 4 months after I joined Melaleuca. I had surgery followed by six months of chemotherapy. The chemo was brutal! I'd be fine for a day after the chemo and then I'd get sick and that would last almost until it was time for my next treatment and each time it got worse. At that time I had barely started with Melaleuca and was ordering very few products per month, just enough to meet my points commitment. When I got home from the hospital one of the first things I did was order a savings pack. It was not as complete as we have nowadays but I wanted every chemical out of my house. I feel that chemicals were part of the reason I developed the cancer but removing them had an added benefit. I didn't get as sick as I was warned I would. I could clean my house and wash my clothes without having to turn away from the harsh chemical smell.

Because I didn't get as sick, my body didn't suffer as much as the medical staff expected, though it was still pretty bad. We didn't have our wonderful Peak Performance Pack at the time but I took what supplements we did have. The doctors were pleased that I came through stronger than many patients and I hadn't had to put off a treatment because I was too weak. I know it was because I made my home safer by getting rid of all those chemicals. It's been 20 years now. I've survived a cancer that has a very poor survival rate. Why? I believe because of Melaleuca and our safer products.

~ Darbra

Why do I love The Melaleuca Wellness Guide? I've been using this book as a reference since I started with Melaleuca almost 20 years ago and it's never let me down. It's my go-to guide for everything from a bleeding nose to migraines to cat accidents - anything I've encountered. I don't know what I would do without it.

~ D.E.

Our health was bad before we found Melaleuca. My husband used to get bronchitis five to six times a year, followed by a lingering cough that lasted three to six weeks, and muscle cramps to his chest from coughing. He was "tired of always being sick". I had frequent headaches and our toddler had eczema. It got so bad that he was screaming in the shower. The first year we switched to the EcoSense line, his bronchitis was down to twice a year and once every 2 to 3 years, but never lasted over a week. No more lingering coughs and cramps. My son and I were healed almost immediately on the first week. I never thought I'd get a kick talking about how amazing a bathroom cleaner can be! I don't have to use masks and gloves. And I don't get sinusitis, sore throat, brain fog and headache after cleaning our bathrooms. I'm glad that I let my friend share Melaleuca with me or who knows when we would have realized that it's the bleach, ammonia and other harmful chemicals in our household cleaning products that was slowly killing us.

~ Naomi

I find it hard to believe that people still are using toxic chemicals in their homes! But that is my "why" because my mission is to help those people get toxics OUT OF THEIR HOMES! And Melaleuca offers an opportunity to do just that with their great referral program. When I clean my home or car I'm happy to know that I am not POISONING myself! Melaleuca is truly safer for your home!

~ Beth

When my daughter was born, she was put in a breathing tent for six days as a newborn at only ten days old. She was sick from the start and stayed on oral allergy meds, and breathing treatments twice a day for almost three years. Once I learned to reduce the toxins she was exposed to by eliminating all of them from her bath items, laundry care, our cleaning cabinet and what I used to scent the air and carpet, her health took a total turn around. She is full grown now and has no memory of ever being sick, and no evidence to show she ever was. It was a simple change of where I do my everyday shopping that protected her and gave her amazing health.

~ Jennifer

I have been shopping with Melaleuca for four years and when I first started shopping here, my allergies were so bad. When my first purchase came, I put the other caustic products in the closet. Then after 6 months of using Melaleuca products, I decided to take out the other stuff and spray my house with the "air freshener" and wash the floor with Pine Sol. I immediately began sneezing and my throat was tightening up and itching! But that's not all, even my dogs were sneezing! That was it! I threw the other products out and haven't bought anything else but Melaleuca since! I have been pretty much allergy free since then! It feels amazing! Thanks Melaleuca!

~ Angel

When my first grandbaby was only a few months old his mother miraculously discovered that he had food and environmental allergies. She immediately changed her diet while breastfeeding but did not know the extent of his environmental allergies for quite some time. One day while living with them for a short while, I sprayed a common well known disinfectant in the air. After coming downstairs my grandson's breathing changed almost immediately before our eyes, and we all quickly realized that he needed a breathing treatment. After tracing what he had eaten a few minutes before we knew it was not food but that it had to be attributed to his coming in contact with the aerosol contaminants that were on my clothing. Immediately I switched to Melaleuca products and household cleaners, and that ugly incident never happened again. It is actually the reason why I became a faithful customer. The products have been significant to a safer non-toxic atmosphere in my home.

~ Patricia

My father who has emphysema and is on oxygen had just gotten a new dishwasher. Instead of waiting to order Melaleuca's Diamond Brite, he went to the store and purchased a dishwashing detergent. Unfortunately, he opened the dishwasher and a lot of steam laden with chemicals enveloped his face. This resulted in a very bad reaction where he could barely breathe and he almost ended up in the emergency room that night. I am thankful I found Melaleuca and its safer-green products, and that I was able to pass the information to my parents so they can use them and have cleaner air to breath in their home.

~ Wanda

I LOVE our non-toxic cleaning products! Specifically the Tough & Tender. How I can use it on my counters and floors and THEN spray it on my little guys hands and wipe his face off with it and not worry about any harmful chemicals! And using the Sol-U-Guard Botanical on his high chair tray and knowing it is safely disinfected! Love our products!

~ Amanda