10 Household Items You Should Ditch Forever
Glad Wrap
It’s convenient, I know. It saves your sandwiches and keeps your avocado fresh. Yet this cheap, plastic wrap is contributing to our plastic crisis, is extremely tricky and expensive to recycle, and contains harmful toxins that pollute our planet as it breaks down. So what’s the alternative? I’m glad you asked! Start creating the habit of using glass jars and containers for food storage. And for items that just need to be covered, check out the amazing range of food wraps at Flora & Fauna or your local low-waste store.Air Freshener
Did you know that one-quarter of the ingredients in air fresheners are classified as toxic or hazardous? Shocking, I know. These synthetic fragrances and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not regulated – we continue to use them, unaware that they may be contributing to migraines, respiratory disorders, immune issues or even cancer. Lucky for us this is an easy swap. Invest in some high quality essential oils and a diffuser to leave your house smelling just like heaven!Antibacterial Pump Soaps
Antibacterial pump soaps are a double whammy when it comes to bad household items. Their plastic containers are resource intensive to make, and don’t break down in our landfills. On top of that, most antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, a chemical that functions as an endocrine disrupter. There are plenty of natural alternatives on the market – as a general rule of thumb, if you can’t pronounce the ingredient then don’t buy it!Cleaning Products
Most conventional cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that cause adverse health effects, and also degrade our ecosystems. Some of these chemicals cause immediate reactions, like skin irritation, headaches and stomach upset; others are associated with chronic or long-term disease. Many are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors that wreak havoc on the immune system and result in a variety of inflammations in the body. Keep an eye out for fragrance, bleach and phthalates (to name a few). If you’re ready to ditch the chemicals, check out this guide to natural cleaning.Wet Wipes
Wet wipes contain nasty chemicals, they actually spread bacteria and they are made of plastic, so they don’t break down in our landfill. When they make their way into our water systems, animals consume them and die. The alternative is simple. If you’re using them for your body or to clean your children, swap them out for reusable cotton pads or face washers. If you use them for cleaning purposes, invest in some high-quality, reusable cloths.Insect Repellent
It’s not an Aussie summer without outdoor BBQs – of course it goes without saying that our insect repellent comes too. The problem is that most repellents contain active ingredients, such as DEET, which, whilst effective at stopping the mozzies, causes damage to our nervous system, skin reactions, seizures, and is a feared carcinogen. These chemicals leach into our native flora and fauna, wreaking havoc on our ecosystems. Empty cans have also been deemed hazardous. Top tip? Use purification essential oil instead of insect repellent. It’s made from plants, is chemical free, and does a tip top job of keeping mozzies away!Pads and Tampons
I know I sound like a broken record on this one, but there simply is no need to still be using disposable sanitary products! On average, a woman uses 25 tampons each cycle, or 300 every year. All of these end up in landfill, not to mention the plastic packaging they come in. Thankfully there is an epic alternative – the menstrual cup. They cost about $50, last for 10 years, are great for the environment and can be left in all day! If you’re looking to try one, I’d recommend giving the Hello Cup a go.Mothballs
I have distinct memories of being a kid and having Mum warn me not to touch the mothballs in the closet. But apart from that, I rarely gave it a second thought. Not long ago I was doing some digging and found out that mothballs are almost entirely made up of one of two chemicals: naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (PDCB). If you really want to freak yourself out, check out this article on the dangers of these two toxins. A natural alternative is to use cedarwood chips, lavender or cloves essential oil – these will deter the nasty little buggers from ruining your cloths.Disposable Cleaning Cloths
Disposable cleaning cloths are primarily made from synthetic materials. This means they are not really biodegradable, and end up overflowing in our landfills. A much greener alternative is to purchase a set of microfiber cloths that can be regularly washed to avoid bacteria build-up. They’re better for you, and better for the planet.Sunscreen
The whole sunscreen debate is quite ironic. How is it that when you slip, slop, slap at the beach, you’re actually contributing to the destruction of the beautiful coral reefs offshore. There are 4 chemicals in sunscreen which are responsible for this problem – parabens, benzophenone, cinnamate and camphor. They effectively bleach the coral reefs, stripping them of their defence mechanisms and setting them up to be more susceptible to disease. Make a change and opt for eco-friendly, reef safe brands. Help protect the planet we love.