From Guest Blogger Lisa Smalls: Four Steps to Removing Toxic Chemicals from Your Home

There are 500-1000 chemicals in the average home. Toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, asbestos, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), flame retardants and BPA are found in a number of common household items including, paper products, paints, bathroom cleaners, water bottles and many more.

Although exposure to small doses of these chemicals may not be harmful, in combination or in large amounts, these toxins can cause a number of irritations to our body. This includes impacts to our respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems.

Just as we detox our bodies from sugar or caffeine every once in a while, it is beneficial to detox your home from harmful chemicals. Not only does this improve your health and safety, home detoxing your home also lowers your carbon footprint.

Here are four practical ways to remove toxic chemicals from your home:

1. Know what your products are made of

Now more than ever, consumers are demanding to know what their products are made of  — from household cleaners to female hygiene products. When it comes to bringing new products into your home, be picky about the brands you choose. That means buying from brands that clearly disclose what is in their products.

When it comes to shopping for non-toxic household items here are a few rules of thumb:

• Shop for biodegradable household cleaning products that disclose all ingredients used and don’t use fragrance
• Avoid aerosol spray cans
• Avoid spraying pesticides – address the root of the problem instead, (i.e., not leaving food out)
• Buy non-PVC paint
• Shop for BPA-free plastics
• Cut back on cans 

2. Clean your house regularly

When is the last time you dusted your home? A study conducted by the NRDC found that 90% of dust samples collected contained toxic chemicals. In fact, the study found roughly 45 different types of chemicals across five main chemical classes. Some of these chemicals include phthalates, flame retardants, fragrances and environmental phenols.

Other toxins lurking in your home come from biological pollutants – aka bacteria, viruses, pollen and dust mites to name a few. Did you know one of the most common breeding grounds for dust mites is your mattress? That’s because they love to thrive in wet, warm climates. Gross we know.

Dust mites, in particular, are one of the most powerful biological allergens; however, all biological pollutants can trigger infection illnesses, allergies and some types of asthma.

All this to say, when detoxing your home, one crucial step is to clean. Simply running the vacuum and dusting those hard to reach spaces once every two weeks will make a huge difference in eliminating toxins lurking in dust.

3. Add indoor plants to improve indoor air quality

Did you know indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air? According to the EPA, sources of indoor air pollutants include asbestos, VOCs, formaldehyde, and more.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids. They are found on common household items like paints, solvents, wood preservatives, aerosol sprays, moth repellents, air fresheners, disinfectants and even your dry-cleaned clothing. Asbestos is a mineral found in rock and soil that is often used in building materials due to its strength and heat resistance. It is most commonly distributed during renovation projects when cutting materials.

Although you should eliminate sources of indoor air pollution, another great way to purify the air is with the use of indoor plants. Indoor plants purify the air by absorbing pollutants through their leaves and increasing oxygen levels. Some of the best plants to add to your living space are ferns, golden pothos and aloe vera.

Another great way to keep the air pure is to ventilate your home often. Open windows and doors to promote airflow.

4. Install the proper protection

 There is no way to 100% detox your home. In order to stay safe from potential pollutants in your home, take these precautionary measures.

• Install CO detectors to notify you when this harmful gas is present in your home
• Have your water tested for lead
• Always ventilate while painting or refurbishing to let toxic gases escape
• Get a shower filter. This will filter out any impurities in your tap water that could turn to gas at room temperature.

The average American spends 90% of their time in their home. It’s time we took care of it of the things we bring into it.