Toxins lurk everywhere. They’re in the bathroom, in the pantry, even in your child’s room. Some of them, like ammonia and bleach, are obvious. Others with long, unpronounceable chemical names are hidden in your lotions, laundry detergents, toys, and food. While it’s nearly impossible to live completely toxic-free, it’s important to be aware of what you are putting on and in your body to maintain good health. The research team at Green Irene offers the following steps to minimize your exposure to toxins at home.
Clean Naturally
All household cleaners that contain known hazardous chemicals must carry a warning label that spells out potential risks. They can irritate your nose, skin, eyes and lungs, and even can be poisonous. Fortunately, effective and less-toxic cleaning products are available. Look for products with the Green Seal logo, or products that are free of phosphates, ammonia, butyl ethers, chlorine bleach, colorings or dyes, and synthetic fragrances. Use products that are 100% biodegradable and scented with only pure essential oils. The US Government maintains a database of household product ingredients. Check out http://tinyurl.com/g3jf4.
Cleaning includes laundry, and the dirty truth is that traditional detergents contain chemicals and fragrances that pollute waterways, and can cause skin allergies or disrupt hormones. Laundry detergents cannot be certified organic, so purchase those that are biodegradable, botanically based, hypoallergenic, and free of phosphate, chlorine, petroleum, fragrance and synthetic dyes. And instead of dryer sheets, opt for dryer balls, which eliminate the need for chemically-laden dryer sheets. Is dry cleaning part of your laundry routine? Most professional dry cleaners use perchloroethylene (PERC), which has been linked to cancer and reproductive damage. About 85% of the nation’s estimated 36,000 dry-cleaning shops still use PERC as their primary solvent, but many cleaners have started to embrace the environmentally preferable choice for dry cleaning: wet cleaning. With this method, garments are washed with water and biodegradable detergents in computerized machines that carefully control variables like agitation.
Buy Organic
Food, soap, shampoo and cosmetics contain many untested additives. Foods and personal care products that are certified organic are free of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and generally are much healthier to eat or put on your skin.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sets the guidelines for the organic label. The 100 percent Organic label means that products can only contain organically produced ingredients. Watch for the label on produce, dairy and packaged items.
Organic isn’t just for food and grocery products. Pesticides and fertilizers are sprayed onto conventional fibers such as cotton. Look for organic and naturally-dyed cotton, bamboo, tencel, and wool in clothing and soft goods.
Watch Out For Plastics
Plastic containers are handy, but the chemicals used to manufacture them can be harmful to human health. While they are hard to avoid, you can significantly reduce your use of plastics. Stainless steel water bottles are a great replacement for plastic bottled water. When you store food, use glass or ceramic containers or foil that can be reused or recycled. Avoid using plastic containers and cling wrap in the microwave, as chemical leaching is associated with heat.
Many household items are made of #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride or vinyl) and can leach harmful chemicals. Phthalates are added to make the PVC soft for use in chewable infant toys like teething rings. Heavy metals like lead and cadmium are added to make rigid PVC more durable for use in older children's toys. Look for PVC-free and lead-free toys.
Filter It
Filters are an effective way to purify your air and water, but know what to look for before you buy a filter. To filter the air in your home, look for high-quality HEPA air systems, which filter odors, gases and chemicals and remove 99.97% of airborne particles. To maintain clean air, avoid traditional paraffin candles, which are petroleum-based. Opt for soy-based candles scented with essential oils.
It’s also important to filter your water. Shower and bathtub filters remove chlorine and other chemicals that can irritate your skin. And use a premium 10-stage water filtration system, not just a carbon filter, to remove virtually every harmful contaminant or chemical from your drinking water.
While you can’t remove every toxin from your home, it is a very achievable goal to greatly reduce the amount of toxins in your living space. If the toxins we encounter in our everyday lives contribute to confusion, dizziness, headaches, and lack of concentration, just think about how your life will change if you cut a lot of these toxins out! It’s worth it to take these simple steps. For more information about how to remove toxins from your life, e-mail me for a free Toxic-Free Living Guide.
Local Green Irene Eco-Consultant Kevin Thompson provided this article. He helps the Central New York communities implement proven green solutions in their homes and starts them on the path to a healthier, safer and more sustainable lifestyle. Thompson is an exclusive contributor to Eagle Newspapers. Contact him at greeneru@yahoo.com, or visit greenirene.com/kevincazenovia for more information.
