Soft towels, fluffy fleeces and synthetic fabrics don’t cling. What’s not to like? Well, try skin irritation, increased flammability and environmental pollution, for starters. It seems the average bottle of fabric softener has a dark side.
The bird is now bones, the gravy glue, the roast veggies are on their way to becoming a source of winter fuel and as soon as everyone’s dinner has gone down a bit, it will be time to do the washing-up. If you are one of the 64 per cent of households in the UK that doesn’t own a dishwasher, chances are there will be a trusty bottle of Fairy Liquid by the sink to get the job of washing-up done.
Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. Nevertheless, in the hygiene stakes, antibacterial soaps are a ridiculous form of ‘overkill’.
A little mouthwash to make your tongue and gums feel fresh and clean? Beware, you may be swilling a mouthful of chemicals that will give you more to worry about than bad breath. Pat Thomas reports
Marketed as a superfood with almost magical properties, soya protein is found in almost everything we eat. It’s a shame its health claims aren’t worth a bean, says Pat Thomas
Many mainstream toiletries’ incompatible ingredients require chemicals to bind them together. Pat Thomas considers the alternatives to this unholy alliance
We get an entertaining selection of press releases each week at the Ecologist. Recently, however, amid claims for the greenest 4x4s ever, vegan-friendly breastmilk ice cream and strip-mining with a heart, one stood out.
Your recycled loo paper may be soft, strong and very, very long, but is it really all that green? Pat Thomas gets to the bottom of an issue of convenience
You don¡¯t have to choose between looking good and being healthy. In our regular look at cosmetic ingredients, Pat Thomas gives you the information you need to identify safer cosmetic and bodycare products.
No one should have to choose between looking good and being healthy, which is why each month we will be taking a critical look at the active ingredients in personal care products and asking why manufacturers continue to choose toxic ones over safer alternatives.
From synthetic fibres to lethal dioxins, some sanitary products are a lot less innocent
than those glossy television ads would have women believe. Pat Thomas reports
Want to make sex more sensual and fun? Having difficulty conceiving? Don’t reach for a lubricant to boost your love life, says Pat Thomas, it could harm your health and fertility
Mix flour, water and yeast and you’ve got a tasty loaf of bread. But make your bread the industrial way and you’ll end up eating more than you bargained for.
Metrosexual man cares about his appearance. He uses body sprays, hair gel, and fragrances. He maybe even eats salads. Does he give any thought as to what social norms have forced onto his skin?
Metrosexual man cares about his appearance. He uses body sprays, hair gel, and fragrances. He maybe even eats salads. Does he give any thought as to what social norms have forced onto his skin?
Beauty products. Few items are sold to us with more reassurances that they will be good for our health, appearance and well-being. Few items are so drastically misnamed. In this collection of 'Behind the Label' articles, we select five beauty products that shouldn't feature on your bathroom shelf...
