So what is the connection between cleaning products and endometriosis you may wonder. They seem so safe, after all, they’re used for cleaning! For improving the home we live in; the clothes we wear; even out bodies.

Let’s look at those 3 areas separately and how the products you use may be making your endometriosis worse.

Your home

I definitely appreciate a nice, clean home. In fact, I like it so much that I pay a professional to clean my house every week. And it is not the cleanliness of the home that we need to consider, it is what we use to clean that can cause major issues.

Most cleaning products that are specifically for cleaning the home are full of strong chemicals. These chemicals not only attack your immune system (read more about the role of your immune system in your endometriosis) but can also affect your microbiome (read more about the importance of a healthy microbiome here). And of even more concern is that they can alter our genetics.

The worst culprit is chlorine, found in many disinfectants. Chlorine creates dioxin, which is just about the most toxic substance in the world. Chlorine reduces the production of hydrochloric acid, making your digestion less effective. And it kills the good bacteria in the gut as well as omega 3 fatty acids.

So what should you use instead? You know, good old vinegar and bicarb soda do an excellent cleaning job, cost much less, and don’t create the health problems that chlorine does.

Your clothes

It is such a lovely feeling to put on nicely washed clothes that are soft and smell beautifully fresh. Unfortunately, most of us use fabric softeners to achieve this experience.

And what you may not know is that fabric softeners contain artificial fragrances plus chemicals to bind them. And these are toxic: they can kill nerve and brain cells. The biggest concern is that fabric softener puts a coat on your washing that is very difficult to wash out. Your clothes (and bedding, don’t forget those) are in constant contact with the skin. The skin absorbs chemicals really well, so they enter the body constantly.

I highly recommend you don’t use fabric softener at all! And to take it even further, consider buying washing powder that is a natural product.

Your body

As I’ve said above, the skin is very good at absorbing chemicals. It may look like an intact membrane, but it is actually quite porous. That means that any products you use that come in contact with the skin should ideally be chemical free. Think about shampoo, conditioner, creams and lotions, perfumes, nail polish, make-up remover, and make-up.

Try switching over to natural alternatives. Before you buy, check the list of ingredients. And if you use tampons make sure they are not bleached with chlorine.

The main reason cleaning products and endometriosis are not a the best buddies is because of the toxic chemicals in them that interfere with your immune system, besides directly doing damage to cells.

In next week’s blog I’ll talk about some of the invisible toxins in your environment you are exposed to that affect the immune system.