Here at Good Change we understand that keeping a clean home while juggling work or family responsibilities can be a real challenge. But what if we told you that there's a simple yet powerful change you can make to our cleaning routine that will make your life easier and benefit your loved ones?
It's time to uncover the hidden dangers lurking in your cleaning products and discover the path to a healthier, cleaner home. Join the plastic-free cleaning revolution and discover why making the switch to natural cleaners is essential for your family's well-being.
Key Questions we’ll address:
What are Microplastics?
Do I really need to worry about them?
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What can I do to reduce microplastics in my home?
What are Microplastics?
The Tiny Trouble-Makers - Microplastics are minuscule plastic particles, less than 5mm in size, that result from plastic products breaking down over time. These can even be 10 times thinner than a strand of human hair! (anything smaller than this is called nano-plastic). This means they're often invisible to the human eye.
Many of the products we use daily are made from plastic, things like the blue Chux cloth you’ll find under many sinks, or a plastic scrubbing brush. Whenever you wipe your bench, or scrub your dishes (or worse your food!) you’re leaving a trail of microplastics, too small for the eye to see.
Why should you be concerned with Microplastics?
There are many sources that claim that Microplastics don’t impact human health, but that’s probably because there’s no direct evidence yet. However what we do know is that these tiny trouble-makers can, and do, enter our bodies through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, posing potential risks to our health.
Not only that but Microplastics have a detrimental effect on our environment too. They go down our sinks and out to sea, polluting our oceans, harming marine life and then making their way back to our plates through the food chain!
The Sneaky Side Effects:
There are more than 10,000 different chemicals that are used to alter a plastic product’s physical properties. As plastics degrade into Microplastics, these chemicals likely remain, and can then be leached into our bodies. These chemicals may disrupt our hormone systems, leading to potential reproductive issues and affecting the development of children. They may also accumulate toxic chemicals from the environment, like pesticides and flame retardants and then act as carriers for them when they enter our bodies.
Microplastics can also be abrasive, which means that cleaning with plastic products can actually damage your belongings. Whether it’s your non-stick pots & pans or your taps, Microplastics can slowly destroy the protective coating and permanently damage them.
Reducing Microplastics in your home
While we can’t control all sources of microplastics, we can control the products we choose for our homes. By eliminating plastic-based cleaning products, you can significantly reduce the presence of microplastics in your living space.
Every time you scrub your dishes or wipe you bench with a plastic-based product, you’re increasing the amount of microplastics in your home. Simply swap your plastic brush for our Wooden Dish Brush, or your blue Chux cloth for our Eco Cloths and you prevent the release of a significant amount of microplastics in your home.
Our Eco Scrub is a great first line of defence against grime in your bathroom and kitchen (sometimes you might still need a Steelo for baked on, stubborn bits of food!)
By choosing natural & eco-friendly alternatives, you can play your part in preventing the spread of microplastics, while keeping your family safe at the same time.
Another big cause of Microplastic pollution is clothing!
Every time we wear or wash synthetic fabrics (like polyester or nylon) we release microplastics in our homes or our waterways. To minimise this pollution, opt for natural fibres like organic cotton, hemp, or bamboo when purchasing new clothing or linens. These materials are biodegradable and don't release microplastics like synthetic fabrics do.
Single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, disposable cutlery, and cleaning bottles, contribute significantly to the Microplastic crisis as they break down.
Reduce your consumption of single-use plastics by using reusable alternatives like cloth bags, bamboo utensils or our very own Bottle For Good™.
By adopting these eco-friendly choices, you can contribute to a reduction in microplastics that's generated from plastic waste.
The Key Takeaways
Making the switch to natural products is a simple yet powerful way to protect your family's health and contribute to a cleaner world. Plastic-based cleaners and clothing are probably bad for your health, and definitely bad for the planet!
It's been estimated that the average person consumes 5 grams of microplastics (that's about the size of a credit card!) each week.
We think it's important that we all do what we can to reduce this, and switching to natural products wherever possible is a great way to do this. If we all make small changes like this, it adds up to create a big impact!
By understanding the dangers of microplastics and choosing eco-friendly alternatives like Good Change's natural cleaning products, you can enjoy a clean home while making a positive impact.
Embrace the plastic-free cleaning revolution and create a healthier, safer environment for your loved ones!
