According to the American Cancer Society, only 5-10% of all cancer cases are related to genetics. That means that up to 95% of cancer cases are within our control. Our lifestyle choices – what we eat, our surrounding environment, how we treat our bodies, what we put in our bodies, and yes, what we put on them – have the power to greatly influences our chances of being diagnosed with cancer and many other illnesses.

We are surrounded by toxins everywhere, and the chemical cleaning products to which we expose our bodies are a major offender.  Because here’s the thing … chemicals build up in our bodies over time.  They don’t simply detox because our bodies are so overworked trying to process them, especially if we are constantly bombarding them with more chemicals on a regular basis.  It’s called bio-accumulation, and it’s real, friends.

While we’ll never be able to completely eliminate our exposure to chemicals, we can do our best to control what happens in our own homes.  When we ditch the chemicals, one by one, we create a cleaner, healthier environment for our families.  One easy way to make the switch is with our laundry products.

Go Fragrance-Free.  Start by switching to dye-free/fragrance-free detergents or detergents that are made with natural ingredients.  It’s easy to find free and clear versions of most detergents in the big box stores.  Use your THINK DIRTY app to find one that has a safe rating.  I also love the Thieves Laundry Soap or Clean People as a safe alternative.  You want those “nice-smelling” detergents out of your home because that synthetic fragrance (or perfume) is a blanket term for over 3500 ingredients (not just one simple ingredient) that are not regulated by the FDA. Companies aren’t required to disclose these chemical ingredients because they’re considered a proprietary “trade secret.” If companies did disclose what the fragrances consisted of, the ingredient list would likely be a mile long.

We need to care about getting fragrances out of our homes because they can include a super load of extremely toxic chemicals that should be avoided whenever possible.  Not only were our bodies not designed to process them, they are often petroleum derivatives that are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) – hazardous chemicals that are known to cause a host of problems, including cancer and learning disabilities. Because our Endocrine System is responsible for our mood, growth, metabolism, sexual development, and reproduction, this is especially concerning. These chemicals can mimic the hormones in our body, which then interfere with our natural hormones. By tricking our Endocrine System into mistaking EDCs for our real hormones, they disrupt normal functions and can produce many potential side effects, including obesity, diabetes, infertility, and birth defects. What’s even scarier is that EDCs are mutagens, meaning they can actually change our DNA. Talk about being genetically modified!

Replace dryer sheets & fabric softeners.  That “laundry smell” from dryer sheets is actually volatile organic compounds (carbon based chemicals that evaporate at room temperature). They are some of the most toxic things we can have in our homes. Chemicals used in fabric softener-manufacturing operations cover your clothes with a fine layer of (toxic) lubrication, which can, indeed, soften fabrics and render them free of static cling. However, to mask the smell of the chemicals, companies add synthetic fragrances that are chocked full of those 3500+ ingredients that aren’t regulated by the FDA. These chemical substances are not only on our clothing, but on sheets and pillowcases, towels and washcloths – everything!  Additionally, they are a significant contributor to indoor air pollution.

Opt for wool dryer balls.  Instead of the conventional fabric softener and dryer sheets, switch to WOOL DRYER BALLS.  Dryer balls are reusable and they fluff up your laundry, prevent clothes from clumping, increase air circulation, and cut down the amount of time it takes your clothes to dry. In fact, they can cut your drying time by as much as 25%!  Just pop them in your dryer with a couple drops of your favorite Essential Oils (Citrus Fresh is a perfect choice because of its fresh, clean scent).  A set of wool dryer balls costs about $10-15 and can last for years – they are well worth the investment.

A static electricity tip is to secure a safety pin to one of the wool balls while it’s in the dryer and to lower the heat setting of your dryer. It’s not a perfect fix in the height of winter static cling, but it helps to bring down the amount of static.  And I’d much rather deal with a bit of static clean knowing that my clothing and linens are safe and free of chemicals.

If you truly just prefer dryer sheets, Clean People has a safe alternative that is really great.

Eliminate stains with safe alternatives.  I mentioned Clean People a few times above because I love their products.  They have an incredible stain remover that has absolutely saved a bunch of our garments from being ruined with stubborn stains.  Likewise, they have an awesome bleach alternative that gets excellent reviews. If you are searching for safe, alternative products, give them a try!