A woman coughing covers her mouth, appearing ill or irritated. In front of her are a spray bottle and a detergent bottle, against a light blue background with empty space above.

No toxic vibes here

Your guide to reducing daily chemical exposure

Explore expert-vetted essentials for a cleaner, safer everyday routine →

You might have heard the term “toxic load” tossed around lately, and we’re here to help clarify things a bit. When people refer to toxic load, they’re typically talking about the harmful chemicals that your body is exposed to on a daily basis. While our bodies are already designed to filter out what we do not need, the modern world throws a lot at us — and over time, even small exposures can add up.

The average person comes into contact with hundreds of chemicals every day, many of which are linked to hormone disruption, allergies, or long-term health effects[1]. According to the Environmental Working Group, products like conventional cleaners, air fresheners, and even antibacterial soaps can contain chemicals associated with asthma, endocrine disruption, or reproductive harm.[2] Switching to products with transparent ingredients, plant-based formulas, and third-party certifications (like EWG Verified™ or EPA Safer Choice) can drastically reduce unnecessary chemical exposure.

While we can’t control everything, we can make simple changes at home to reduce exposure and create a healthier environment for the people (and pets) we love most. Here’s a breakdown of the top product categories to start swapping out for safer alternatives.

What’s really in your cleaning stash?

Shop home care products that go beyond green

Not all natural cleaning products are created equal. In fact, many popular brands still contain preservatives, artificial fragrance, or undisclosed ingredients. Our best rec? Look for products that:
- Disclose every single ingredient (not just the active ones)
- Ditch synthetic fragrance in favor of essential oils or go fragrance-free
- Avoid quats, formaldehyde releasers, and chlorine bleach, all common ingredients found in antibacterial formulas

To make things easier, explore cleaning picks for every room at Grove. All of the products we carry are vetted for strict ingredient transparency and employ plant-based ingredients that clean effectively and safely.

A person in a yellow shirt sprays cleaner and wipes up a large pizza sauce spill on a white countertop. In the corner, there are bottles of Grove Co. all-purpose cleaner concentrate.

Discover better cleaning essentials for every room.

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It all comes out in the wash

Rethink your go-to laundry care

Whether you love or loathe laundry day, we think it’s worth knowing what’s in conventional laundry care products — and how to replace them with safer alternatives. Many popular detergents, dryer sheets, and scent boosters can contain ingredients linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and respiratory issues — not to mention plastic waste from pods and packaging. While you’re rethinking your laundry care, be sure to:
- Choose liquid or powder detergents free from dyes, synthetic fragrance, and optical brighteners (P.S. everything at Grove fits the bill!)
- Swap dryer sheets for reusable, sustainable wool dryer balls
- Use laundry boosters with simple, mineral-based ingredients like baking soda

A hand places a sheet into a front-load washing machine filled with laundry. Inset shows a Guppyfriend washing bag. A wicker basket with towels and a box of Grove Co. laundry detergent sheets is nearby.

Stock up on better laundry care.

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For healthier meals ahead

Upgrade your cookware and food storage collection

Nonstick pots and pans may be convenient, but many are coated with PFAS, a group of “forever chemicals” that don’t break down and can leach into your food through scratches and heat. Sadly, high exposure to PFAS has been linked to hormone disruption, liver issues, and possibly cancer.[1] Additionally, plastic food storage can also leach microplastics into food and in turn, your body. Here’s what we recommend when replacing kitchen picks with healthier alternatives:
- Look for cookware made from PFAS-free ceramic, stainless steel, or cast iron
- Avoid utensils or scrubbers that scratch coatings, opting for gentler wood or sponge
- Choose food storage in glass or stainless steel to cut back on microplastic exposure

Three black pots with gold handles on a stovetop, one filled with cooked rice, another with seafood and vegetables. Two wooden utensils are placed beside the pots. White subway tile backsplash.

Swap in safer, planet-friendly cookware and food storage.

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Go skin deep

Give everyone the gift of safer personal care

Your skin is your largest organ, and what you put on top of it is absorbed into your body as well. Many conventional personal care products (think: body wash, deodorant, moisturizers) contain parabens, phthalates, PEGs, and synthetic fragrances that can affect hormones and skin sensitivity over time. And to make things even more unfair, studies have shown that women have higher levels of parabens and phthalates in their bodies than men, largely due to cosmetic and hygiene product use.[6] When you’re starting to swap in cleaner, healthier personal care, look for:
- Products with short, recognizable ingredient lists
- Formulas free from petroleum-based preservatives and chemical sunscreens
- Scents made with essential oils or labeled as fragrance-free if you’re particularly sensitive

All of the personal care brands we carry are free from the 50+ now way ingredients for Grove and curated to be safe, effective, and transparent — so you can feel really good about everything you use, from head to toe.

A person with visible acne applies a white cream to their cheek. Next to the face is a gray bottle labeled “Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Overnight Serum.” The background is light beige.

Shop personal care that takes care of you.

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The Bottom Line

Reducing daily chemical exposure makes a big impact

No matter what your family looks like, reducing your daily toxic load means investing in everyone’s health in a big way. And the best part? Every small product swap you make sends a clear message to the less-than-transparent brands out there: We will not settle for anything less than body-safe and planet-friendly. Because we all deserve nothing less.

Sources

  1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). “Endocrine Disruptors.” https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm
  2. Environmental Working Group. “Cleaners Hall of Shame.” https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/
  3. American Academy of Pediatrics. “Chemical Exposures and Children’s Health.” https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/1/e20161210
  4. Grove Collaborative. “Microplastics’ Major Impact: From the Environment to Our Bodies.” https://homeplanet.grove.co/blog-posts/microplastics-major-impact-from-the-environment-to-our-bodies
  5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “PFAS Explained.” https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained
  6. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance.” https://www.safecosmetics.org
  7. Grove Collaborative. “Our Ingredient Standards.” https://www.grove.co/ingredients