Fragrances in Cleaning Products

 Art provided by Fox Hunter Studios

I often hear the comment, "But I don't feel like my house is clean if it doesn't smell like anything."

The question is, what does clean smell like?

Answer: Nothing.

We have been programmed to believe that cleaning products need to smell of lemons and pine trees and fairydust. But, have you ever stopped to ask yourself what's in cleaning products that bring out those scents?

Phthalates are the chemicals found in products to bring us that so-called fresh scent. Sometimes, they aren't listed as phthalate but as "fragrance" on the bottle. That's just code for a dangerous chemical that is a probable carcinogen (among other dangers). Be careful! Phthalates are not only found in cleaning products. You can find them in personal care products, baby products, aerosols, in plastics and packaging. Yup.

What can you do?

• Look for "phthalate-free" or "fragrance-free" on your product labels.

• Try getting used to not having a scent while you clean. Make it a challenge! Use any homemade products you wish. After a while, your nose will not require a scent to mean the house is clean. In fact, your body will understand that clean is just that - clean. Clean of toxins, clean of irritants, clean of fake pines!

• If you really like the scent of lemons? Then, resort to pure essential oils. A drop of lemon or tea tree oil in Basic H2 will do the trick while keeping you safe.