Spring is popularly known as the moment to do a “spring clean,” a deep clean of the entire house, as well as a momentous effort to de-clutter and rid ourselves of things. This was particularly true of last year, where charity shops were inundated with bundles of bin bags and homes were left glistening like never before. It is a beautiful initiative and one that honours the home as though it were a temple.
Yet there is a dark side to the so-called spring clean: it often involves products that are laden with harsh chemicals, which eventually find their way into rivers and – somewhat ironically – dirty the natural environment.
The products that we use to wash our dishes, toilets, sinks, showers/baths, laundry, and ourselves enter the sewage system through the connected pipes, being transported to the nearest wastewater treatment plant (WWT). Sadly, our WWTs do not have the necessary facilities to rid the wastewater of such chemicals, meaning that when the WWT discharges the “purified” water back into a waterway, it is also releasing toxic chemicals. If products such as Fairy’s dishwashing liquid, Persil non bio detergent capsules, Flash spray with bleach, Bold 2 in 1 washing powder and Ariel explicitly state that they are “harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects,” then surely we shouldn’t be admitting them into the aquatic environment?
The argument goes that by the time that the chemicals have entered waterways, they are in fact diluted. Under this narrative, the label is considered nothing less than a precautionary warning to prevent people from pouring such products directly into a waterway. Nonetheless, although deemed “biodegradable”, the chemicals used take up to 28 days to break down, within which time the residues from such detergents and surfactants can build and cause serious damage to humans, animals and the environment. Labelling such products as "biodegradable" and safe as long as "diluted" might thus be considered problematic, for it allows such companies to continue the use of harsh chemicals at the expense of nature's wellbeing.
We believe it is time to take a stand – it is time to use our consumer’s choice for the benefit of the planet, opting for companies and products that have the environment at their heart, rather than the desire for profit. A clean home should not mean a dirty river. Opt for eco-friendly and natural products, or make your own, to take a significant step towards protecting and improving the health of rivers.
*
Dishwashing Liquid:
NB: It is best to use refill schemes where possible to minimise waste.
Dishwasher Tablets:
NB: Buying phosphate-free dishwasher tablets is particularly important, as phosphate feeds algae and phytoplankton in rivers, which in turn can lead to algal blooms, starve the flora and fauna of light and oxygen and – in extreme cases – to rivers devoid of life.
Laundry Detergents:
Multipurpose Cleaners:
Elm Kind 10% discount code: FORM
Toilet Cleaners:
Elm Kind 10% discount code: FORM
Hand Soap:
Hand Sanitiser:
Herbalosophy (made by Rachael Stevens in Forest Row)
Shampoo & Conditioner:
Toothpaste:
