If you’re trying to create a cleaner, safer home, you probably look at ingredient labels. You might already be avoiding bleach or synthetic fragrance, but there’s a lot more lurking under the surface of everyday products.

At Emerald Prairie Home, we’ve made it our mission to eliminate what we call the Nasty Nine - nine toxic chemical categories that are far too common in household and personal care products. These ingredients are known to disrupt hormones, trigger allergies, irritate skin and lungs, and harm the environment. And worst of all? Most of them are still hiding in the brands you see on store shelves.

Let’s break them down, one by one.

🧪 1. Quats (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds)

Found in: Disinfectant sprays, wipes, and fabric softeners
Look for: Ingredients ending in “-onium” (like benzalkonium chloride)
Why it matters: Linked to asthma, hormone disruption, and reproductive harm. They’re also toxic to aquatic life and don’t break down easily in the environment.

🌸 2. Fragrance (a.k.a. “Parfum”)

Found in: Air fresheners, laundry detergent, dish soap, personal care products
Look for: “Fragrance,” “parfum,” or “scent” — especially with no ingredient breakdown
Why it matters: Often hides phthalates and other hormone-disrupting chemicals. Fragrances are a leading trigger for allergies and migraines, and they accumulate in your body over time.

🚫 3. Phthalates

Found in: Scented products, air fresheners, plastics, and personal care
Look for: DBP, DEHP, DMP, DEP (or hidden within “fragrance”)
Why it matters: Known endocrine disruptors, phthalates are linked to developmental issues, reproductive harm, and reduced fertility.

🧼 4. Phenols (including Triclosan)

Found in: “Antibacterial” soaps, disinfectants, toothpaste, and hand sanitizers
Look for: Phenol, Triclosan, Triclocarban
Why it matters: These chemicals have been tied to hormone disruption, thyroid issues, and antibiotic resistance—plus they’re harmful to marine ecosystems.

💨 5. Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach)

Found in: Toilet bowl cleaners, surface sprays, laundry whiteners
Look for: Sodium hypochlorite or chlorine bleach
Why it matters: Bleach can irritate lungs and skin, especially for people with asthma or sensitivities. It also creates toxic byproducts that flow into waterways.

🫧 6. Ammonia

Found in: Glass, oven, and floor cleaners
Look for: Ammonia, ammonium hydroxide
Why it matters: Ammonia is a strong respiratory irritant and can form toxic chloramine gases when mixed with bleach.

🧪 7. Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA)

Found in: Foaming soaps, cleaners, and personal care products
Look for: Monoethanolamine (MEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA)
Why it matters: These chemicals are linked to organ toxicity and may increase the risk of certain cancers when used long-term.

⚠️ 8. Formaldehyde Releasers

Found in: Liquid soaps, baby wipes, and shampoos
Look for: DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, bronopol
Why it matters: These preservatives slowly release formaldehyde—a known carcinogen and allergen—into your products over time.

🎨 9. Synthetic Dyes and Colorants

Found in: Laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet bowl cleaners, and cosmetics
Look for: FD&C Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and similar labels
Why it matters: Often petroleum-based, synthetic dyes are linked to skin irritation, allergic reactions, and environmental pollution.

So… Why Does This Matter?

Because you deserve better.

At Emerald Prairie Home, we never use any of the Nasty Nine. Our cleaning and personal care products are made with safe, proven ingredients - like hypochlorous acid (HOCl) - to deliver the performance you expect, without the toxic tradeoffs.

We’re also proudly Leaping Bunny Certified, so you can feel good knowing that nothing we make is ever tested on animals.

💚 A Cleaner Future, From Surface to Self

Whether you’re cleaning your counters, freshening up your laundry, or misting your skin, we believe in full transparency, intentional ingredients, and a better kind of clean: for you, your home, and the planet.

Ready to ditch the Nasty Nine?

Explore our full line of clean, conscious products here →