Toxic Trespassers: Ingredients to Avoid at the Cottage

Cottage owners are emotionally and financially invested in maintaining and preserving the natural beauty of our treasured Lakelands. We take pride in our “corner of paradise.” Yet, as global citizens, we’ve become increasingly aware of our carbon footprint and the pressing need to modify our habits and behaviors so that what we cherish will last.

As a professional provider of lakefront accommodations, Kennisis Cottage Rentals Inc. is responsible for placing hundreds of visitors a year on our many shores. Therefore, it is essential our guests follow specific rules when visiting cottage country. We encourage our visitors to use chemical-free household products and follow the basic guidelines of cottage living to ensure the well-being of our community. This blog post will take a closer look at the most important considerations for vacationers and provide recommendations on how to best create a safe and healthy cottage experience.

Basic Guidelines for Cottage Care

1. Observe the capacity limits and stagger water use to avoid saturating the tile bed. 
2. Avoid pouring fat, oils, and grease down the drain.
3. Stay away from chlorine bleach or chemical drain openers. 
4. Opt for phosphate-free products.
5. Refrain from using liquid fabric softeners and toilet bowl cleaners.
   
6. Septic systems need bacteria to function, so it’s important to avoid anti-bacterial additives.
7. Don’t flush anything other than water, waste, and toilet paper.
   (NO paper towels, baby or hand wipes, or feminine products)

PRO TIP: If your laundry pods contain PVA (petroleum-based plastic), they are NOT biodegradable.

What about the chemicals in the cleaning and household products we use? Often, these products contain toxic ingredients that can harm not only our health but also the environment. Many cleaning products contain ammonium quaternary compounds, active in disinfectant sprays, antibacterial cleaners, and wipes. These chemicals are registered as pesticides and linked to cancer and reproductive disorders. Yes, those very same ones we used continuously on all surfaces at the height of the pandemic!

Although we read the packages before buying our food, we don’t always choose our detergent and cleaning products with the same diligence. We may prefer the non-toxic, biodegradable advantage, but what we often fail to realize is that many of our everyday purchases do not disclose their dangerous ingredients, and if they do, there is no “use at your own risk” warning label.

Toxic Ingredients to Watch Out For

• • Fragrance
  • Synthetic dyes
  • Corrosive sodium hypochlorite
  • Phosphates
  • Polyacrylates
  • Surfactants like petroleum distillate (naphthas)
  • Dioxane (to create more suds)
  • Ammonium quaternary compounds
  • Plus a couple more eight-syllable words I can’t pronounce

These chemicals can lead to a range of health problems, from throat irritation and inflammation to hormone disruptions, respiratory ailments, and even long-term ailments.

Beyond the human health concerns, synthetic chemical ingredients are toxic to aquatic life and the health of a lake. A simple example is phosphates which contribute to algae blooms that steal oxygen from the water. Harsh dyes and artificial fragrances leached from groundwater lead to dead zones devoid of marine life. 

We may have drilled wells and UV systems at our cottages, but for many, our drinking water is lake water, and the local health departments do not test for hazardous chemicals, only bacterial compounds.

The good news is that there are a lot of natural and organic options to choose from, including plant-based and cruelty-free products with compostable packaging. However, it’s important to be mindful of “greenwashing” (misleading claims about a product’s environmental benefits). As with the food we buy, words like ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ can be deceiving. Read the fine print to be sure they live up to their claims as environmentally friendly options. 

A Few Chemical-Free Alternatives to Consider

• Eco-friendly laundry strips: These concentrated, hypoallergenic power cleaners are packed into tiny, pre-measured strips of liquid-less laundry detergent. As an added bonus, they keep laundry jugs out of the landfill.
• Reusable dryer balls: These are a safer and cheaper alternative to dryer sheets and can be used over and over again.
• Natural soap and vinegar: A mixture of vinegar and a drop of dish soap is a great natural alternative to traditional cleaning products.
• Baking soda does wonders on a kitchen sink!

If you are satisfied that aromatic dryer sheets with dipalmethyl hydroxyethylammoinum methosulfate are good for you, best consult Doctor Google. If using them hasn’t given you a migraine, I guarantee reading about them will.

Here are a few natural-source product lines: Tru Earth, Nature Clean, Seventh Generation, Nature Clean, Elva’s, and All Naturals.

Chatelaine magazine does a nice product overview here.

As consumers, we have power. We also have a responsibility to protect the environment and the health of our communities. By being mindful of the chemicals in the cleaning and household products we use, we can make a positive impact on all life around us.

“Just say no” to products that endanger our families and our planet.