Cleaning House: The Fight to Rid Our Homes of Toxic Chemicals

by Lindsay Dahl

From the front lines of the movement for safer products, environmental health expert Lindsay Dahl takes us on her journey from skeptic to activist, exposing the secret forces that keep toxic chemicals in our homes, bodies, and environment—showing us how to fight back and keep our families safe.

In Cleaning House, Lindsay Dahl shows how seemingly innocuous items—everything from toys to common beauty and cleaning products—can include toxic chemicals, thanks to a consistent failure of regulation in the United States. The scientific research linking toxic chemicals in products to rising rates of cancer and reproductive harms is as strong as the science that led to banning lead from gasoline, PBCs, and DDT. But with varying degrees of protective guardrails in place for the everyday items, consumers are tasked with playing toxic-chemical detective and those unable to afford safer products are left hanging in the balance. Through vivid storytelling and robust scientific evidence, Dahl makes a compelling case that a safer world will only arrive through systemic change. We must turn off the tap of toxic chemicals before they make their way into our homes and bodies—and here she shows you how.

Drawing on Dahl’s extensive experience as a lobbyist, product formulator, and a parent, she unravels the shocking web of political and cultural factors that landed us here and are key to solving this massive public health crisis. Dahl takes readers behind the scenes as a young but determined lobbyist fighting powerful chemical industry players, which she discovered are replicating Big Tobacco’s disinformation playbook by downplaying the harms of the toxic chemicals they continue to profit from. And she introduces readers to the brilliant scientists doing ground-breaking research, legislators passing life-saving laws, forward-thinking business leaders, communities facing the highest level of exposure to toxic chemical pollution, and parents from all political stripes who have joined the fight for a safer world.

Told through a compelling David and Goliath narrative, Cleaning House dares to take a pragmatic and science-based approach to the concept of clean living, in a time where the wellness movement is threatened by partisan politics and misinformation. It is an essential read for anyone who wants a safer home and a safer future for our children.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Environment, Business

288 pages, Hardcover

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this from the author/publisher and it is phenomenal! I was captivated by the writing, the research, and the way in which it effectively tells the store of the toxic chemicals in all of our products and how companies are knowingly using them for profit. You don’t need to be a chemist to read and understand the information. It’s a quick read and very engaging.

[Kaila Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay has been on the front lines of policy change from lobbying to working with businesses trying to make a difference. If you're looking for the inside scoop to see how it works, this is the book for you! She gives you tons of first hand experience and tells it like it is. You won't be disappointed because you'll feel like you're chatting with a friend.

[Meesh Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% must read for everyone who cares about if not others’ health, their own and their family’s health. evocative, timely, incredibly important work that anyone and everyone should take a part of. If you live in the US especially, please read this!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a lot of notes while listening to this – whoops. But this was such a great, science-based, non-judgmental book from a person I came to respect a lot. Not because of her accomplishments, which are many, but because of her determination, objectivity, well-roundedness, and sincerity.


My favorite part was the last chapter called Take Action, all the very practical ways we can do something about these issues.

The very first suggestion is:

- Buy half of what you typically consume. (!!!) "This is the best and highest impact way you can help reduce the demand for and use of toxic chemicals. It's also the simplest. We, including myself, buy too much shit... Buy secondhand. Repair products, like we used to." I couldn't agree more.

- Look for specific certifications. While imperfect, these are the best way to assess ingredient safety and contaminants.
* EWG Verified for beauty and personal care products. (There's also an app.)
* MadeSafe for other product categories like children's toys and cleaners.
* EPA Safer Choice for cleaners and other household products.
* Clean Label Project which tests supplements and protein powder for over 200 common contaminants.
* Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold Material Health, for furniture and building materials.
* Green Screen Certified, for various product categories.

- Shop at retailers leading the way. Mind the Store ranks retailers annually based on the strength of their policies to remove toxic chemicals from their shelves. Although a top ranking doesn't ensure that all of a retailer's products are clean, you're voting with your dollar to support those who are stepping up and taking this issue seriously. (RetailerReportCard.org)

- Prioritize. Focus on products that are larger sources of exposure to the most toxic chemicals... couches, mattresses, cookware. If your budget can cover only some clean beauty products, prioritize the ones that stay on your skin all day like lotion, and worry less about those that rinse off.

- Ask brands to participate in the Chemical Footprint Project, the only comprehensive third party assessment of a company's chemical safety program. See brands with the best-rated chemical safety programs: ChemicalFootprint.org

- Email or comment on a brand's social media pages these questions: Do you have plans to seek any of these certifications: EWG Verified, MadeSafe, EPA Safer Choice, or Clean Label Project?

- Email and call Congress about this issue. Highest-impact ways to communicate with Congress:
Send a personal email through the contact form on the site for your US Senators and House Representative. These forms directly route your email to the staff member who is leading consumer safety and health issues for your elected officials. There are so few people who take the time to drop a personal email that these communications hold a lot of weight. The note can be as simple as this:

"I am a constituent and I learned about how toxic chemicals can be found in our consumer products, air, and water. I strongly urge you to stand up for and support legislation that would empower the EPA and FDA to protect consumers.
Please take action to:
1. Ban the most toxic chemicals such as PFAS, which are linked to widespread harm to human health and the environment.
2. Support efforts to close gaps in federal laws overseeing personal care and cosmetic safety, including those that close the fragrance loophole and hold the beauty industry supply chain accountable for harmful contaminants.
3. Establish health protective limits on heavy metals and other contaminants in cosmetics and supplements.
4. Ensure that regulatory agencies responsible for protecting human health and the environment from harmful exposures are adequately resourced with funding and staff to do their job effectively.
I look forward to hearing back from you on this important issue."

- Vote, and first learn about where the candidates stand on consumer safety issues. You can contact them directly on their campaign websites.
- Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper. Include a clear ask from the elected officials.
- Donate to environmental organizations.
- Follow Environmental Health News (EHN.org) a daily roundup of breaking science and news articles covering environmental health topics. They are non-partisan and non-profit.

I've read sooo much over the past several years about endocrine disruptors, but this is one of the best descriptions I've come across:

"Hormones are like keys that open locked doors, and thanks to thousands of years of evolution, they are finely tuned to open certain doors at certain times – so we can hit puberty at the right time, grow a healthy baby, and so on. The problem is that our bodies don't know the difference between natural hormones, created by our bodies, and synthetic ones, like the BPA in a baby bottle. Synthetic chemicals like phthalates and BPA are scrambling the signals, opening doors that should stay locked, and locking ones that should be open. It's like giving a set of master keys to a monkey".


Other favorite quotes:

"I'm just like anyone else, trying to find a happy medium. I'm not perfect, and I don't expect anyone else to be... perfectionism is part of what's wrong with today's approach. Perfect really can be the enemy of good. The pursuit of perfection is futile, and can make you want to give up altogether. So I'm good with 'good'."

"I am telling the true and incredible tale of consumer safety so we can write the happy ending together. The ultimate goal is to remove toxic chemicals at the source so that we don't have to consult "safe" shopping lists or try to decipher whether the latest news headline is fearmongering or legit science. Your time and energy are too precious to spend on that."

"I also dispelled the myth that all chemicals were toxic... I'd learned that when people wake up to this issue, a small subset can become obsessed with trying to control all exposures, which is neither realistic nor healthy. I'd even offer examples of chemicals that actually helped us stay healthy... and safer preservatives that keep mold and bacteria at bay. I'd noticed an uptick on social media of posts labeling all chemicals as bad, and anything natural as good. And I'd seen the flipside: the argument that all chemicals were fine, and anyone warning that they weren't was fearmongering. These black and white views of our chemical world were not only inaccurate, but dangerous."

[Tula Karras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. If a thriller and a memoir and health exposé had a baby, it would be Cleaning House. If you want to understand how our chemical companies have taken over our bodies and homes, and how we can course correct away from the toxic dangers, this book is the blueprint. Dahl, who started out as a skeptic—not believing that the microscopic molecules in shampoo, sippy cups and shower curtains, could truly be linked to cancer, infertility and neurological harms—takes the reader on her journey as she uncovers the data, speaks to the scientists doing the research and meets families who are impacted. As a lobbyist (she helped pass the first BPA ban in the country), she takes you inside the halls of lawmakers who are being manipulated by Big Chemical. She reveals exactly how social media is making things worse, spreading misinformation, polarizing people and distracting us all from a goal we all share: A safer world to live in. After reading this, I scroll differently, I shop differently, and my conversations with people around the issue of toxic chemicals are more nuanced and hopeful (yes, hopeful).

[Christine Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you have been on this clean living journey for a while, are just getting started or are a skeptic, this book is a must read for all. In Cleaning House, Lindsay Dahl, environmental health expert, beautifully weaves together stories from personal experience as a parent, lobbyist, educator and product formulator. This book arms you with necessary information as to why the fight to rid our homes (and lives) of toxic chemicals is so important and is a health issue for all. As she writes, "wherever you are on this journey, it's the perfect starting point." I was privy to read this book before it officially launches August 5th and was so grateful for the chance to do so. Grab a copy your present and future self will thank you!

[Nicholas Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleaning House is eye-opening without being preachy. Smart, clear, practical and funny—it makes change feel doable.

[Marnie Dachis Marmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a long time to get through this one but important info and love all the resources in the back.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realize how good this would be, very well written and researched. I loved how the author brings us and we learn along with her career. I laughed a lot and felt like I was watching a thriller movie. This was the grounding from MAHA rhetoric that I needed. Must read.

[Erin Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I *thought* this book was going to be more of a "Here's what to buy and what not to buy and why; here's what to use and what not to use and why" type of book...but it's not at all, and I was pleasantly surprised at what it actually IS! What it IS is a fantastic narrative--a highly-engaging tale--about one woman's story of working to create safer products in the American market. The story is very easy to read, and it feels like a conversation with the author. It's a rare, inside look at what goes on behind the scenes by people working hard to increase our access to safer consumer products and decrease (or, better yet, eliminate all together) access to harmful products.

[Irina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I really enjoyed the author’s mini autobiography and the insider details and hurdles when it comes to lobbying Congress. I also really appreciated all of her suggestions and guidelines for safer products and smarter purchasing choices. The book was incredibly well-balanced.

[Regan Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay Dahl is my go-to resource for all things related to reducing our exposure to toxic chemicals. Her approach is practical, focused on progress, not perfection and she provides you easy steps you can take without replacing everything in your home. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to make healthier and safer choices in your home, whether you’re just starting out or if you’ve been on this journey for years.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Dey Street Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Cleaning House is just the sort of book that more people need to be exposed to. There’s a ton of information on all the chemicals that are in everyday items around the house. Lindsay Dahl was one of the people who pushed to have BPA plastics banned from baby bottles and canned goods, so yay, Lindsay! A lot of these toxic chemicals are now found in our food and water.

This book is a call to action for all of us worried about the prevalence of chemicals all around us. Since my first pregnancy, I’ve been pretty diligent about less toxic cleaners in the house, as well as less toxic food choices (like ultra-processed foods.) The fact that a lot of these chemical compounds are banned in other countries is telling, yet the current government is rolling back protections is insane.

Cleaning House offers everyday tips on how anyone can make changes; this practical guide shows the reader how they can make small, incremental changes to their consumer habits. Those reels and stories of people cleaning their floors with “cleaners” like Fabuloso, which is bad for a variety of reasons, make me crazy. Simply going back to vinegar and water is a much better solution. Small changes like that make a big difference!

This book is a wakeup call to those looking to make incremental progress on getting rid of all the chemical baddies in our homes.

[Kyle Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book via my wife, who has been way ahead of me on staying up to speed in the world of consumer product safety. And this book does an excellent job of putting in perspective how difficult it has been to stay up to speed. Reading the book made me think back to when I was growing up and there was a continual drumbeat of news reports of consumer products and ingredients linked to cancer and the running joke was “everything gives you cancer.” Well, turns out that’s closer to the truth than any of us were aware of and people like the author have been spending their careers trying to make us more alert to the reality and put pressure on companies and the government to improve transparency and reduce the risk of the products we buy every day.

Quick synopsis of the book; the author started out of college trying to advocate for change to improve the environment and instead by way of a happenstance conversation was introduced to the dangers lurking within consumer products. Interestingly, some of the toxic chemicals we’re now as a general population more aware of (e.g. BPA, PFAS, phthalates, VOCs) were known problems 20 years ago, but it just took a lot of time and advocacy work to bring them to the public consciousness. The author chronicles her journey from doing state advocacy in Minnesota to working for a nonprofit group lobbying at the federal level and then ultimately doing lobbying on behalf of Beautycounter, a cosmetics company that aimed to develop beauty products that worked well while upholding rigorous health and safety standards.

I think one of the hardest things for me to wrap my head around over the course of reading the book is how reactive consumer safety responsiveness is. It’s easy to fall into the trap of saying to yourself, “well, if ‘x’ were so toxic and unhealthy, I can’t imagine that it would be sold in every retail store in America and basically every person I know owns/uses/eats it.” But it turns out that is not how it works and not a very smart way to approach buying things in this country and instead it takes a lot of mental energy to vet products to limit exposure to unnecessary toxins. But also, how lame is that? In the words of the author, “we must remove the burden of asking people to be their own federal agencies and put the onus where it belongs: on our government and companies to do better.”

Lots of little tidbits in here were interesting; flame retardant? dumb and counterproductive. Dollar stores? Often carry products that got rejected from the Target and Walmarts of the world for being too toxic. BPA free? Not necessarily much better because of ‘unfortunate substitutes’ and you’re better off steering clear of plastic when possible. Also, if the book reads a little too “and then I did this, and then I did this, and then this happened” for you (which, fair point…I feel you), it wouldn’t be the worst thing to just skim the book until you get to the “you” and “take action” sections because those have concise guides for what to look for/avoid when making buying decisions for a wide range of products and summarize the overall gist of the book. That said, I didn’t find this book preachy or super negative as can often be the case in this genre, so I was captivated by how the regulatory landscape has evolved on this issue and happily got through the book quickly. Lastly, the book was a refreshing contrast to the typical lanes that these arguments go into, either a sanctimonious “perfectionist” or else a “dismisser” that wants life to be simple and argues that it’s a waste of time to think about this stuff. Rather, it was an efficient read to make myself a much more well-informed consumer.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this Book! Normally I have to force myself to read this genre. But I (and several of my friends) have devoured it in a just few days. It reads more like a thriller or mystery novel than non-fiction. There are so many twists and turns but what is most fascinating to me-it’s not all gloom and doom like books I’ve read on climate change, for instance. Take aways: In the US we clearly prioritize profits over people, there are a disgusting amount of toxic chemicals available at stores especially when compared to Europe BUT Grassroots movements really work—aka SHOW UP at rallies and protests, call your elected officials, stay engaged. You may think that certain things like buying a couch or mattress, or mascara has the EPA watching out for us, keeping the most toxic chemicals out of what we buy, WRONG…but its easy to avoid at stores once you know what you’re looking to avoid. If you know me, you know I would rather smell musty than Tide. I would rather be well inside than look good on the outside at parties. My cousin died from a cancer caused by lawn chemicals. I was exposed to chlorine poisoning when I was a swimmer. As many of us do: I have many relatives with cancer. I have known since I was a young girl to be careful-since the 70s and for that I am grateful but this book has given me NEXT STEPS. Very grateful reader! —Martha

[Lisbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different read from what I am use to, but I have to say I learned a plethora of new information. Cleaning House by Lindsay Dahl is a powerful and accessible exploration of the toxic chemicals in everyday household products, that you may never have imagined—and how in the US items with these toxins are being allowed and sold. Dahl is an activist and clean beauty executive, that talks about her personal experience, and her effort to make a change. The book is both eye-opening and empowering, offering practical tips for ways of living safer. Dahl shows readers how small choices and action can lead to meaningful change, and how we can make a difference no matter how small it is. It's a must-read for anyone because it makes you aware of your surroundings.


Lindsay Dahl, thank you for all that you do! For making our world safer for our future generations. You have made me aware of my surrounds. I went to the store, the other day, and was actually searching for items that were Phthalate free. I also just heard in the news that in Europe a key ingredient in gel polish was banned. After reading this book, I truly learned to become more aware of my surroundings.

Thank you Goodreads for letting me enter the daily giveaway and win. I had the honor to read this amazing book!

[Lara Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! Lindsay Dahl and I both work within the environmental health/safer products space, albeit in different capacities. We've both noticed the way the conversation about "toxins," "chemicals," and "clean living" has become polarized over the last few years, to the degree that people seem more intent on fighting about it than actually reading the literature. People are either quick to dismiss the issue entirely (using scare quotes around these words to imply they're not real) or are overhyping and sensationalizing the data, all to sell a supplement or detox teas.

Lindsay does an excellent job of telling this story, along with the story of how chemical policy gets passed, and what obstacles are often in the way of stronger regulations.

If you've seen the polarized and extreme hot takes about environmental chemicals online and know there must be a grounded, balanced middle, Cleaning House is a must-read!

This book is honestly a must-read for the folks at both ends of those extreme perspectives too and will hopefully pull them into a more accurate and tempered view of this critically important topic.

[Kathleen Schuler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a day. This well-written book is both informative and fascinating! I enjoyed reading about Lindsay Dahl’s journey from young advocate/lobbyist to national expert and policy leader in clean ingredients and safer products. I loved the way Lindsay wove in her personal story, as she skillfully related the complex history of chemical ingredients in our products and why we should all be concerned. Hearing about carcinogenic chemicals in consumer products can stoke fear, but Cleaning House does a great job of balancing potentially scary information with science and solutions. While the book includes helpful consumer tips, the author emphasizes that it takes more than consumer awareness to rid our products of toxic chemicals. Lindsay says we need to “… put the onus where it belongs: on our government and companies to do better.” Whether you are familiar with this issue or are just starting to get informed, I recommend this book as essential reading for our roles as both citizens and consumers.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read. It is a common-sense yet moving exploration of the toxins we encounter on a daily basis, and an explanation of how Dahl and others worked to get them labeled or banned. The book is part narrative (including Dahl’s fight to get BPA banned from baby bottles) and part guide. I was moved to tears by some of the stories Dahl’s shares. I also really appreciate the guidance Dahl gives at the end of the book for how to avoid the worst toxins in common products. It’s definitely helped me think through which products I might want to replace. While I wish the in-text citations had been clearer and some guidance had been more developed and specific, this is still a fantastic resource much-needed today! I give it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dey Street Books for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

[Stacy Leverty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as a mother of little children, yogi and minimalist. My favorite quote was something like "We should not have to have our doctorate in biology to understand the chemicals in our everyday products". It is so hard to navigate all products with greenwashing, this book gives practical and real tips to take this into our local communities. Lindsay is also very inspiring and makes me want to do more locally to ban chemicals! My son has ADHD and he now knows that he cant have dyes so he asks me constantly, "can I have this? does this have dye?". Why cant all of our food be safe for our kids, why cant we be more like Europe and ban more ingredients that harm our kids, why do companies make their products so colorful. So many questions with no answers but Lindsay helps me feel better knowing shes already helped ban 30 chemicals and is working on more!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. The author outright says she has a vested interest in pushing this agenda and also that she thinks stories about people are better than scientific facts at convincing people. Personally, I want facts, hard data, statistics, and scientific studies that are peer reviewed. I also do believe that the companies and paid congress members are lying to us and doing as little as possible to help people and make sure we all stay healthy. But falling into crazy conspiracy theories with just hearsay is not the way to go (RFKjr👀) I would like this more if it had more actual science and scientists in the book. I agree with the author that this stuff is bad but she doesn’t actually give me much to base it on.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read this...for our healthier future...and our children's...

The author, Lindsay Dahl is an incredible researcher, activist and fighter! For all of us, she's helping everyone with her research, insightful diagnosis of this toxic environment and whistle-blowing declarations...she's a force to be reckoned with for all of us...

If there's ever a book that needs to be read...for everyone's benefit...this is it! You just can't imagine what you'll uncover...and the feelings you'll discover...after reading this deeply researched and explosive material!

Highly Recommended!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this more than words can ever say. Not only do i finally have someone answers to questions I have asked for years, but also it has inspired me that I can do more than what I am already doing to make sure me and my husband live just a little longer.
All the information was easy to absorb, well structured, and unbiased that I really enjoyed going through this. Learning so much and getting an activist with experience perspective on what these companies are like.
Plan on buying my own copy in the future to loan out, recommend and utilize in my own life. Thank you, we needed this.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleaning House completely changed the way I look at the stuff in my home. Lindsay Dahl shines a light on the hidden hazards in things we use every single day—from toys to makeup to cleaning supplies—and somehow makes it both fascinating and easy to digest. Instead of leaving me feeling overwhelmed, she gives real, doable steps to make healthier choices for my family. Her mix of solid research and down-to-earth advice makes this book a total standout. I’ve already started making changes, and I feel so much better knowing I’m creating a safer space for the people I love. Highly recommend!

[Melissa Ivie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for a science backed way to understand how chemicals in, on and around us can affect us. Written as a memoir, it is an easy read with the last chapter full of helpful information to use when purchasing products, reaching out to companies, and most importantly making actionable change through reaching out to our officials and demanding regulations be set in place to protect us.

[Mary Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Lindsay for a long time and trust what she shares and has to say (as a skeptic, I appreciate that she always looks to science and shares peer reviewed information). This book is essential reading for anyone that wants a safer home. Lindsay continues to be a trusted resource in my life and I am so grateful for the information in this book. As a new mom, doing all the research can feel daunting and I have found the resources she shares extremely user friendly and doable.

[Matthew Fedde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little hesitant. Other books in this realm are not only dry and written by an ego, but also make you feel bad about how many things you're doing wrong. This is nothing like those books. I sincerely appreciate the pragmatism and permission to avoid the traps of all-or-nothing thinking, and just be a human trying to do your best for yourself, your family, and the world. All the wonderful stories and anecdotes kept me coming back for more.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So grateful for voices like Lindsay's who can cut through the noise and shed light on important topics like toxic chemicals. She has a way of weaving her long history of fighting against the industry and astounding scientific insight together through humor, heart-warming stories, and cold, hard facts. In this day and age, we need books like Cleaning House to help us understand the fight we are up against and provide easy, maintainable action items.

[Becky of Becky's Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleaning House by Lindsay Dahl is an engaging read. The story shares about the toxic chemicals in everyday products, the author's journey and experience as a lobbyist and advocate for safer products, and how you can help make changes for the better. The book reads very conversationally and the author's knowledge and with make for a good read. I highly recommend.
I was gifted a copy and not required to write a positive review.

[L Northern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the Silent Spring for our digital generation. I loved how easy this book was to read and how the author introduced us to experts (mostly women) working on the front lines to address toxic chemical pollution. The book also presses us to think twice about how we consume information (hint it shouldn't just be social media). HIGHLY recommend. Great for book clubs.