Comet disinfectant cleanser is just one of several products sold that are meant to “gently” scour our bathtubs, showers, sinks, and tile. Others include Ajax, SoftScrub, and more. These cleaners are effective because they rely on chlorine bleach, and/or a bunch of other chemicals that are often not even listed on the label (which is somehow legal).A chemical analysis of Comet Disinfectant
environmental toxins
The Truth About Organic Dry Cleaning
As you probably know, traditional dry cleaning involves toxic chemicals. Dry cleaners use tetrachloroethylene (commonly known as "perc"), which is classified as a probable human carcinogen, with exposure conferring an increased risk of cervical and esophageal cancers, lymphoma, vision problems, and Parkinson's disease. Perc enters the bloodstream via respiration or through skin absorption, and it
5 Weird Places Toxins Are Lurking
We all know the health risked posed by environmental toxins, and you probably do a pretty good job of avoiding many of them--you buy organic food, wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoo from the health food store, and serve your child filtered water from a BPA-free sippy cup. Annoyingly, toxins may be lurking even in some places you feel sure are safe. Don't be duped by the following sneaky
5 Super Easy Ways to Create a Safer Prenatal Environment for Your Baby
When I was pregnant with my second child, I realized that all the clichés about how different the prenatal period is the second time around were really spot on.I barely could keep track of which week of pregnancy I was in, at 8.5 months pregnant I had not yet taken any baby clothes/blankets out of storage (let alone buy something new for the little guy), and had no idea where the ultrasound
How to Avoid Phthalates (Even Though You Can’t Avoid Phthalates)
I recently wrote this article for my Huffington Post blog.If you’re like me, you’re already failing at most of your New Year’s resolutions (I’m still not making my bed every day, and I haven’t been to a yoga class yet in January). One goal that I am tackling in earnest? Banishing phthalates from my home once and for all. I’ve always advised readers to avoid these chemicals, and this year it
What’s Wrong with Sodium Lauryl & Sodium Laureth Sulfate?
This is Gimme the Good Stuff's simple primer on sodium lauryl sulfate and its nefarious cousin, sodium laureth sulfate. Sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is a surfactant (for simplicity’s sake, think of a surfactant as something that creates bubbles in dish soap, toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel, etc.). There is conflicting evidence, but my research has made me believe that SLS is not a
5 Tips for a Safer Prenatal Beauty Routine
I recently wrote the following guest blog post for a local parenting website.How do I know which skin- and hair-care products are truly safe to use while I am pregnant? Answer: As you probably suspect, many beauty products advertised as “natural” or "organic" contain lots of questionable chemicals in their ingredients lists. Sadly, this is even true for those products marketed specifically
Natural Mineral-Based Sunblocks Linked to Melanoma
Choosing a sunscreen that is truly safe has become an increasingly confusing endeavor. And now, a new study shows that the type of sunscreen often touted as the safest may raise the risk of melanoma!Zinc oxide=free radicals=DNA damage=melanoma? According to this study, zinc oxide--an ingredient commonly used in natural sunscreens--undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to ultraviolet
