Cleaning House - by Lindsay Dahl (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"Through fast paced storytelling, Cleaning House shows us how activism and grassroots power is the only thing strong enough to take the chemical industry head on. Cleaning House is the story of everyday activists, social justice leaders, angry moms, and Dahl's journey from skeptic to the front lines of the environmental health movement. This book should remind us--what and who we are fighting for--and to not back down when the going gets tough." -- Erin Brockovich, environmental activist & author of Superman's Not Coming

"Cleaning House is essential reading for everyone who wants to ensure the products they bring into their home are safe for their family and the environment. The unfortunate reality is many cleaning and personal care products still contain dangerous chemicals. This book is a brilliant guide on how to stay safe when there's no one else to protect you." -- Jeffrey Hollender, Co-Founder & former CEO, Seventh Generation

"With a perfect blend of credible science, advocacy, and personal storytelling, Cleaning House exposes the systemic failures that allow harmful chemicals into our bodies, impacting our fertility. Dahl's work is both eye-opening and empowering, providing the knowledge and tools we need to demand safer products and policies for future generations." -- Dr. Lora Shahine, author, reproductive endocrinologist & fellow with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology

"Cleaning House is a cautionary tale about how misinformation and partisan politics can threaten our environment and public health. Dahl shows how powerful we can be when we work together to ensure key consumer safety protections are not rolled back. A must-read for our generation and poignant reminder that bipartisan progress is still possible." -- Manish Bapna, President and CEO of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)

"In a world where our environment is more important than ever, Dahl helps us take agency in the place closest to us--our homes. Cleaning House sheds light on the burden we have placed on busy parents' shoulders, unfairly asking them to navigate a complicated marketplace. Dahl brings us hope and provides an actionable roadmap as a path forward." -- Eve Rodsky, NYT bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space