How To Eliminate Toxic Chemicals From Your Home
You probably think of your home as a safe, warm space you can go to get away from the world at the end of the day. But when it comes down to it, your home probably isn’t as safe as you think. Even if your house is clean, it’s likely filled with any number of toxic chemicals you may actually be adding to by the products you use and habits you keep. And unfortunately, some of the biggest offenders are actually from some of the most commonly used household products, such as laundry detergent, surface cleaner, toilet deodorizer, candles and air fresheners, and hygiene products. If you’re ready to detox your home and eliminate as many of the toxins from your home as you can, follow these steps to create a cleaner, safer environment for you and your family.
Mix Your Own Cleaning Supplies
Commercial cleaning products are full of toxins that pollute the home every time they are used and can cause everything from skin irritation to hormonal imbalance and infertility. They are especially threatening because you not only absorb them through your skin, but you also breathe them in. Reduce the toxins in your body and house by mixing your own cleaning supplies.
The ingredients in most cleaning products you’ll want to avoid include artificial colors, artificial fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, and chlorine. Baking soda and white vinegar are two of the simplest home cleaners you can use for a variety of purposes around your home. Adding drops of essential oils can add an extra element of cleaning power, and they smell good without the hazard of other cleaners.
Continue reading to learn how to use your windows to reduce toxins.
Open Your Windows Often
Indoor air quality can also influence your health as well as your family’s. To help control the air quality in your home and reduce toxins in the air, create more ventilation and open your windows often. This practice is especially important if you are cooking or cleaning. In fact, one study found cooking even just one meal on a gas stove can actually produce levels of nitrogen dioxide in your home the EPA considers unsafe.
If you’re concerned about the return pollution from open windows, you can control air quality in a few other ways. Install a trickle vent to purify the air inside your home. An exhaust fan in the kitchen is also an essential safety component in every home. Finally, always be sure to vent any air from the bathroom to reduce excess moisture and control mold and mildew growth to minimize toxins.
Continue reading to learn what detectors can reduce toxins in the home.
Install Carbon Monoxide And Other Detectors
Carbon monoxide is another dangerous toxin that can pollute your home without you knowing it. Several household devices, including your fuel-fired furnace, gas dryer, and gas stove, produce carbon monoxide. If left unchecked, carbon monoxide entering the home through a leak or another performance issue can lead to injury and even death.
The best method of protecting your family and yourself is to install carbon monoxide and other detectors. These detectors are designed to alert you of any unusual levels of carbon monoxide and other toxins in your home. When installing your devices, be sure to get a reliable one. Also keep in mind if your detector is more than five years old, it may need to be replaced.
Continue to learn what cleaning routine can help with reducing toxins.
Thoroughly Clean Your Home Every Season
Most homeowners do a decent job of keeping their homes relatively clean with some regularity. However, most of this weekly or daily cleaning is simply maintenance cleaning that doesn’t really deep clean the home and get rid of toxic chemicals and germs building up. To really detox your home, thoroughly clean your home every season.
A cleaning like this should be top to bottom and, of course, utilize non-toxic cleaning products. Clean everything from the countertops to the walls, baseboards, floors, drains, and upholstery. Also, take the time to check the detectors in your home to ensure they are working correctly.
Get A Home Inspection To Look For Toxins
If you or your family members keep getting sick without explanation or have recently experienced an uptick in allergies, you may have toxins hiding in your home. One of the best ways to eliminate the most common causes of frequent sickness and allergies is to get a home inspection to look for toxins. If you’re tempted to do a quick check of your home yourself, remember a professional company will be better equipped to both find and deal with toxins.
Mold, radon, and asbestos are three of the biggest offenders, particularly in older homes. Mold can form almost anywhere in homes and can cause issues such as general congestion, eye irritation, and shortness of breath. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer and can leak into your home through cracks in the floors and walls. Asbestos, which can cause cancer along with lung issues, is most commonly found in insulation and other building materials used before 1980. If an inspection reveals any of these toxins, you should follow the removal instructions outlined by your inspection company as soon as possible.