02A fairly recent study found that traces of highly toxic chemicals, including dangerous substances like phenols and flame retardants, are almost universally present in the dust that accumulates in our homes.
The researchers concluded that these chemicals are produced by a wide range of building materials and household products. This sobering study shows just how dangerous our homes are. In the modern era, the atmosphere is filled with microscopic chemicals that could have a long-term negative impact on our health.
It is important to remove as many toxic and health-damaging chemicals and products from your home as possible. Use these helpful environmental medicine tips to detox your home naturally and protect your family from the long-term effects of chemical exposure.
Cleaning Environmentally Toxic Products in Your Home: 6 Tips
1. Assess your home’s exposure to toxic chemicals
The first step in strengthening your home against heavy metal toxicity and other environmental threats is to take stock of potential trouble spots that are already threatening your home. In some cases, it could be aging paint that was applied before your family moved into your current home, or improperly installed building materials, such as aging insulation, that could potentially expose your family to threats. physical and mental health. Start your home’s natural detox process by making a list of all the ways your home may already be compromised by dangerous chemicals. This will make it easier to find solutions to make your home a safer place to live.
2. Find natural alternatives to the most common cleaning products
What do most window cleaners, bathroom tile cleaners and furniture cleaners have in common? They contain toxic chemicals whose consumption is dangerous for humans. It’s one of the most telling aspects of a convenience-driven modern age: We’re quite willing to store large containers of poison in our homes if they’ve been labeled as cleaning supplies. There is a long list of all-natural and organic cleaning solutions today that can replace toxic cleaning products. Strategic use of baking soda and white vinegar, for example, can replace common cleaning products. Taking the time to replace every toxic chemical with a natural equivalent is just one way to naturally detox your home.
3. Beware of treated synthetic materials
Most families don’t think about the impact of modern conveniences on their health. This is especially true when it comes to household items made from synthetic materials, like fashionable plastic kitchen utensils. Just as some plastic bowls are not recommended to be microwaved (due to the risk of chemicals leaking into the food), families should carefully assess synthetic materials that present a risk of toxicity in the house. Cookware coated with a non-stick coating or food preservation products made of Teflon, which contains perfluorinated chemicals linked to cancer and other environmental toxicity issues, are prime examples.
4. Identify replacement products for harmful pet care items
Don’t forget your loyal pet by replacing harmful cleaning products with natural, non-toxic alternatives. Many pet cleaning products can be harmful not only to your pet, but also to your family members, especially if these products are accidentally consumed. Families have every interest in not putting household members at risk by taking this risk. Fortunately, natural pet products have never been more plentiful. You may have to keep looking online, but be aware that if you’re thinking of a pet care product, someone is selling an organic, non-toxic version of that product. These products are intended to meet the needs of pets, whether it is tick and flea infestations or the long-term maintenance of the animal’s coat. It may take some trial and error to find the most effective alternatives, but this is a step towards a safer and healthier home.
5. Don’t forget your refrigerator
Many of the examples on this list have encouraged readers to follow a rule of thumb: if it’s not safe to eat, it’s probably not safe in your home in the first place. This attitude should also apply to the foods in your refrigerator. The more foods wrapped in plastic and artificially prepared in the refrigerator, the more the family is exposed to potentially dangerous and toxic chemicals. Ditching highly processed foods in favor of organic produce is an essential way to get the house back in shape after years of toxic storage. This change has been proven to have many health benefits for the whole family.
6. Limit overall household consumption
It makes perfect sense when you think about it. Studies have shown that the more waste we produce at home, the more likely family members are to be exposed to their share of toxic chemicals. This exposure can be extremely minimal, but the danger lies in the repeated consumption of toxic chemicals by family members and the accumulation of this toxicity over time.
That’s why it’s so smart to examine your home through an environmental medicine lens. Learn how to identify possible alternatives to the toxic chemicals found in common household products, for better health and a healthier mind.
