Toxins in the Home: What’s Lurking in Your Cleaning and Scented Products?
Your home is meant to be a sanctuary, a place to unwind, feel safe, and nourish your health. But many everyday products we use to clean, freshen, or scent our homes can quietly disrupt our well-being.
From scented candles to plug-in air fresheners, conventional cleaning sprays to synthetic laundry detergents, our homes can quickly become a hidden source of toxic exposure.
Common Household Toxins: Where Are They Hiding?
Many everyday products designed to make our homes smell “fresh” or “clean” are actually a major source of hidden toxins. Some of the most common culprits include:
1. Scented Candles & Plug-In Air Fresheners
These often contain synthetic fragrances, paraffin wax, and phthalates. When burned or heated, they can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals into the air you breathe.
2. Cleaning Sprays & Disinfectants
Many contain ammonia, bleach, triclosan, and artificial scents. These ingredients are associated with respiratory irritation and hormonal disruption.
3. Laundry Products
Fabric softeners and fragranced detergents are loaded with artificial fragrances and preservatives that cling to clothes and linger on your skin.
4. Personal Care Products
Deodorants, body sprays, and perfumes often contain parabens, phthalates, and synthetic musks, which are readily absorbed through the skin and may interfere with hormonal regulation.
Health Implications: Why Should We Care?
So, why does this matter? Because regular exposure to these chemicals can add up over time, contributing to what’s known as your toxic load.
These exposures may be linked to a wide range of symptoms, including:
Headaches, migraines, and brain fog
Allergies, asthma, and respiratory irritation
Hormonal imbalances (thanks to endocrine-disrupting chemicals)
Skin irritation and flare-ups
Gut inflammation and disruption of the microbiome
Fatigue and low mood
For anyone already struggling with gut issues, these exposures can make symptoms worse and slow down the healing process.
What You Can Do Instead
The good news is you don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight. Start small and switch gradually to safer options.
Here are a few simple swaps:
Swap synthetic candles for pure beeswax varieties
Ditch plug-ins and synthetic air fresheners in favour of diffusers with pure essential oils
Use natural cleaning sprays with ingredients like vinegar, bicarb soda, and citrus
Switch to low-tox or fragrance-free laundry detergents
Replace synthetic perfumes with botanical-based fragrances or essential oil blends
Each swap helps reduce your toxic load and supports your body’s natural balance.
How We Can Help
Detoxing your home is just one part of the puzzle; detoxing your body is just as important.
At Gut Recovery Centre, we support you on both fronts:
Colonics: Help your body flush out built-up waste and toxins, supporting your body’s natural detox pathways.
Naturopathy: Get personalised advice on reducing your toxic load, repairing your gut, and supporting your body’s natural detox pathways.
Microbiome Testing: Discover how your gut responds to your environment and receive targeted support for enhanced resilience.
We also stock a curated range of low-tox products in our clinic and online, including enema kits, gut-friendly teas, natural deodorants, and skincare, to help make the switch easier.
You can explore these in person at the clinic or through our online shop.
Our Low Tox Home Favourites
We love Kindred Self Essential Oils. We use these in the clinic to help keep the space smelling fresh and to help clients relax before, during, and after their appointments.
If you are looking for cleaner cleaning products, we can make some recommendations through Vital.ly—it’s an online health food shop and our go-to spot for practitioner-approved products!
You’ll need to sign up with us first by clicking the button below, and then we can make recommendations for you. If you already have a Vital.ly account with another practitioner, you can search for the products we mention when you place your next order. Please check with them to ensure they are a good fit for you.
It’s About Progress, Not Perfection
Going low-tox doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with the products you use most often and go from there.
Your body is already working hard to keep you healthy; give it the support it deserves by reducing your exposure wherever possible.
Book a naturopathy consult or colonic and take the next step toward reducing your toxic load from the inside out.
Remember to love your guts — we do.