Why We Stopped Using Murphy Oil Soap in Our Home

I’m a sucker for nostalgia, so several years ago when I was on the hunt for a more eco-friendly cleaning product I naturally gravitated to Murphy Oil Soap. I remember my Nana using it around the house when I was growing up. It was part of her cleaning arsenal, particularly her annual “wipe down the walls” ritual where every spring she (with help) literally wiped down every wall in the house – top-to-bottom. Even when she was in her 90s you could catch her up on a stool (she wasn’t supposed to be climbing) wiping down walls or cleaning windows.

Murphy Oil Soap is rated C by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Although it is not a Green Certified product, it ranges within low concern for the environment as well as development and reproductive toxicity. Likewise, there are some concerns about asthma/respiratory effects and skin allergies and irritation which is linked to the Murphy Oil Soap ingredient, Citronella oil.

The makers of Murphy Oil Soap, the Colgate-Palmolive Company, fully-disclosed the cleaner’s ingredients within their 2015 material safety data sheet. It lists sodium hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda, a strong alkali used in everyday products including soaps and detergents, commercial drain and oven cleaners, as well as pain relievers such as aspirin. This ingredient is on the hazardous substance list in several states.

All-in-all, Murphy Oil Soap is biodegradable and free of phosphates, ammonia, and bleach – which makes it much safer than many cleaning products on the market.

So why did I choose to stop using it?

While reviewing the toxicological information in its material safety sheet, I learned that the oral and dermal toxicity of sodium hydroxide and citronella were tested on animals. LD50 is the amount of the substance given at once to cause the death of one-half (50%) of the test animal group.

I have read that Colgate-Palmolive only tests on animals when required by law, but cannot find documentation to support that claim. However, according to The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics animal testing is not required by law. Regardless, I’m not comfortable using products that I know are tested on animals and I certainly don’t think it’s necessary to test products on animals that are already proven to be harmful.

As for me and my family, we’re switching to Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds.

#DoItYourself #HealthyLivingFYI