Getting all those dishes clean can be a chore, but more importantly, leaving a harsh chemical residue on them from the dish soaps we use can be harmful to our health. You may think, “Why do I need to worry about the soap I use to wash my dishes? I am not eating them or putting them on my body.”
That is correct, you aren't eating the plate for lunch; however, you do put food ON your dishes, the food picks up the detergent residue on the dishes and then you ingest the food. That means that you ARE ingesting the detergent. You also inhale the chemicals as the dishwasher releases them during washing.  The fact that the entire family uses dishes makes it very important to make sure your kitchen products are safe for everyone.

8 Toxic Chemicals In Conventional Dish Soap
Let’s face it, doing the dishes is a part of daily life and while that may be the case, exposure to some very common and toxic chemicals shouldn’t be. When was the last time you looked at the ingredients in your dish detergent? Can you not only pronounce, but understand what each one of them is and does? Odds are you’re like me and can maybe pronounce half of them, but that’s as far as I get. To help you live a greener and healthier lifestyle we’ve come up with a list of eight ingredients (aka chemicals) you should avoid in your dish detergents.
1. Phosphates
These are often used as a water-softening mineral and act as a fertilizer in water and are hazardous to consume for both ourselves and marine life. If concentrations of this type of chemical are too high in water, they can deplete oxygen levels and promote the growth of certain algae which are toxic to consume. Try switching to a brand that is phosphate free to avoid inadvertently raising the level of this chemical in our water supply.
2. Triclosan
This type of synthetic chemical is often added to dish detergents due to its antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties. This is the chemical that often qualifies a cleaner as “antibacterial”. However, this chemical is hazardous to our hormones and disrupts our body’s natural thyroid and endocrin systems. This chemical is also often attributed to the growth of “superbugs” since it bioaccumulates in the human body.
3. SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)/SLES (sodium laureth sulfate)
This type of chemical is what gives your dish detergent its foamy property and allows it to cut through grease. While the bubbles are nice to see, they aren’t nice to absorb. This chemical absorbs through your skin and can lead to 1,4-dioxane contamination. It’s also been known to cause rashes and allergic reactions.
4. Fragrance
Any given fragrance mixture can contain up to 3,000 chemicals. Which, over time can coat themselves onto plates, forks, cups etc. and eventually be ingested. We recommend going with a dish detergent that gets its fragrance from natural essential oils.
5. DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine)
These chemicals have been found to disrupt hormones in the human body and are known for creating nitrates and nitrosamines. There is also a risk of developing 1,4-dioxane contamination if you’re regularly exposed to these types of chemicals.
6. Chlorine
Also known as sodium dichloroisocyanurate, this chemical has ben listed on both the EPA’s Community Right-To-Know list and the 1990 Clean Air Act. It is extremely toxic to fish and releases chlorine into the air when it’s being used to clean your dishes.
7. Formaldehyde
This chemical is a known carcinogen and might appear on your detergent label as methanol, methyl aldehyde and methylene oxide. It’s added to detergents along with preservatives so that overtime it is slowly released as a preventative to bacterial contamination. However, concentrations of this chemical are toxic within the human body.
8. Ammonia
This chemical is extremely toxic and should be avoided. Many people aren’t aware that ammonia, even if in “trace” amounts, is present in their dish detergents. If combined with bleach to create a cleaning solution, the two will release fumes that can cause damage to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin.

Naturally derived and plant-based, Thieves Dish Soap cleans with the power of pure essential oils, leaving dishes sparkling clean with no residue. Enhanced with Jade Lemon and Bergamot essential oils, it has a fresh citrus scent that makes daily chores a little brighter. With no sulfates, phosphates, dyes, or perfumes, it’s gentle on your skin and won’t over-dry your hands.

Stretching the Thieves Dish Soap
Here’s an awesome trick I’ve learned to help make mine last a little longer. When my new bottle of dish soap arrives I divide it equally between three bottles. I also like to take it one step further and add 2 tsp of baking soda to each, fill with water and give it a gentle shake.
Still the same strong Thieves cleaning power we love plus the soapy suds to help out on those hard to clean yucky dishes!

Like to DIY?  Here's another recipe.
Liquid Dish Soap
Bring water to a boil and slowly blend in the liquid castile soap and essential oils. Add the washing soda, allow to cool, then pour into your desired container, be sure to shake this mixture before using.
* 20 Drops Lemon Essential Oil
* 5 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
* 10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
* 10 drops of Thieves
* 1 Cup Liquid Castile Soap
* 1 Cup Water
* 2 Tablespoons Washing or Baking Soda

For the Dishwasher - Thieves Automatic Dishwasher Powder
Thieves Dishwasher Detergent is one of the most versatile cleaning products! It's not just for dishes, think of it as an all-around cleaning powder! You can use it in toilets, bathtubs, sinks, ovens, and the laundry! It's made with plant-based ingredients, no harsh chemicals, and the main cleaning agent is derived from soapberries!
Soapberries grow in the wild without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides. They are hardy trees and are resistant to disease and insects.
The enzymes in the detergent help break down food particles and make it easier to clean!
When we say this detergent is clean, we mean it! It's formulated with:
-No dyes
-No synthetic surfactants
-No artificial fragrances
- No Phosphates
- No Chlorine
-Safe, sustainable formulation
-Environmentally friendly formula

Thieves Dishwasher Powder -- Grout Cleaner!
You can use this paste for grout in your shower, bathtub, around tiles, and in the sink!
Directions:
Mix around a 1/3 cup detergent with 1 capful of Thieves cleaner and mix until it forms into a paste. If the powder is still dry, add more cleaner.
Tip: use the paste quickly after you make it because it will start to harden up! If your paste does start to harden while you are cleaning, try cleaning with a damp rag!
Let the paste sit for a few minutes and then clean! Using a damp rag helps!

I just had the opportunity to watch the movie STINK!  and I am appalled.  I actually couldn't make it through on the first sitting because it made me so mad!  I know too many people with cancer and auto-immune diseases and endocrine issues. It is insanity. 

You NEED to watch this movie on Netflix.  https://www.netflix.com/title/80076581

It all started with a man that lost his wife to cancer and is raising his two girls alone. He bought Christmas Pajamas from the tween store JUSTICE and the clothes were coated in stinky chemicals --as most garments are, so he started contacting the company, the CEO, and the FDA to find out what chemicals were on the pajamas and discovered that they aren’t required by law to tell consumers what is on the clothes that we put on our children!!! Ultimately, he send them out to a lab to have them tested and found that there were several chemicals including chemicals that were banned from being used on Children’s pajamas 30 years ago!!! 😵 How does this happen in the USA?!? Please watch, I am beyond disgusted and angry by being lulled into a false sense of protection.
Here are some of the facts from the documentary:
🔻In 2009, the President's Cancer Panel Report announced cancer risks due to toxic chemicals were grossly underestimated and that "chemicals are devastating American lives."😵
🔻In the 1960s, a woman's lifetime cancer risk was 1 in 20. Today, it's 1 in 8.😷
🔻The FDA deans products “safe” for the public based on testing performed by the companies requesting their approval.🤑
🔻A company is not required by law to list all its ingredients, and how they label their product is not regulated by the FDA. 🤐
🔻"Fragrance" has countless hidden chemicals under this one term - a company is not required to tell you which ones. These chemicals are typically known endocrine and hormone disrupters, and in many cases may cause cancer.🤢
🔻When one reporter had her blood tested, the results showed hundreds of chemicals linked to cancer and heart disease.😱
🔻Studies on pregnant women have found hundreds of toxic chemicals in their bloodstreams and nearly all of those same chemicals were present in the baby's bloodstream - before birth. Many of them known as cancer causing chemicals!🤒
Women and girls use up to 20 products a day with fragrance.

I am beyond grateful that my family has spent the last year ditching & switching from some of these harmful chemicals! 🙌 I know I can’t change what I can’t control but I vow to change MY Tiny World and I hope that you will want to change yours!👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Please download an app, that can scan the products in your everyday life and see what's inside. It Is YOUR responsibility to make informed choices - your future and the future of your family depends on it. 🌱❤️


More resources about Fragrance:

https://thechalkboardmag.com/secret-life-of-fragrance-the-toxic-truth-we-need-to-talk-about
https://www.womensvoices.org/greenscreen-for-safer-chemicals-list-translator-scores-for-fragrance-chemicals/


From the FDA website:
Some individuals may be allergic or sensitive to certain ingredients in cosmetics, food, or other products, even if those ingredients are safe for most people. Some components of fragrance formulas may have a potential to cause allergic reactions or sensitivities for some people. 
FDA does not have the same legal authority to require allergen labeling for cosmetics as for food.  So, if you are concerned about fragrance sensitivities, you may want to choose products that are fragrance free, and check the ingredient list carefully. If consumers have questions, they may choose to contact the manufacturer directly. 

During June July & August we are swapping and sharing! In my Cups Overflowing Young Living Member’s community we are all learning and sharing with each other about chemical awareness and making choices to swap out for safer products in our home. In this series I will give ideas for products to buy or make to fit your budget and family’s needs. 💕
There is a contest with prizes for those of you playing along at home! Summer Swap details

Your mouth is very absorbent so anything in your toothpaste has a direct line to your bloodstream.
Conventional toothpaste commonly contains the following ingredients which can be harmful to your health.
Fluoride: There have been 34 human and 100 animal studies linking fluoride to brain damage, lower IQ in children, health-related issues like thyroid disease, arthritis, dementia, immune system issues and even infertility. BUT I NEED FLOURIDE, DONT I? NO! Do your research! The added risks outweigh the perceived benefits. Also, EOs can be really effective at remineralization as well, if we get the junk out of the way.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS: Makes your toothpaste foamy. Ditch the foam! we don't need it to be clean. SLS is registered as an insecticide and industrial degreaser.
Artificial Sweeteners: Avoid! Avoid!
Triclosan: This chemical is linked to antibiotic resistance and endocrine disruption and was BANNED from hand sanitizers but is still in toothpaste!
Young living has 4 different naturally derived toothpastes with NO fluoride, sulfates, dyes, synthetic colorants, or artificial colorants. My favorite is the Detarome Plus, it's a little more minty and smooth. Others love Aromabright.

DIY Oral Care
DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste
+ 3 T solid coconut oil
+ 3 T boiling water (may need more for thinning)
+ 3/4 t real salt
+ 1 t baking soda
+ 2 T bentonite clay
+ 1/4 t thieves oil
+ 1/4 t peppermint oil
+ high quality plastic squeeze tubes, 3 oz

Mouthwash
In glass container like a mason jar, add the following:
1/3 bottle Thieves mouthwash
2/3 good filtered water
2 drops peppermint
Shake shake!!!

Hand soap can be loaded with things that are harmful to our bodies - SLS and Fragrances can be endocrine disrupters. I thought I was choosing safe “green” products but after I researched them I learned that common “clean” brands still have so many harmful things in them! Watch out for greenwashing, friends!

Alternatives!
Buy: Thieves Foaming Hand Soap or Lavender Foaming Hand Soap

Make: DIY Foaming soap! Very cost effective!!
What you’ll need:
Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap - Unscented Baby https://amzn.to/2XFLUGg
Foaming Pumps https://amzn.to/2Gyl4ZK
Vitamin E Oil https://amzn.to/2GHaeSu
10-15 drops Essential oils of your choice! I like lavender lemon peppermint or Thieves!

How-to video: (its’s public)
https://www.facebook.com/lisamarieyau/videos/10109138883580927?s=8611339&sfns=mo

These make really nice gifts and it’s so easy to keep refilling, less waste!