Home Detox; To remove unwanted chemicals from our home.
Chemicals. It seems they are everywhere nowadays. In our food, skincare, pet toys, you name it and there are chemicals.
I understand not all chemicals are bad for us. I am also learning some chemicals are very bad for us and we don’t even know they are in products that we buy.
How Can That Be?
The Environmental Working Group states on their website. ‘Cleaning products, unlike foods, beverages, cosmetics and other personal care products, are not required by federal law to carry a list of ingredients. This means that manufacturers have no reason to avoid risky chemicals that happen to clean well. Even if they can trigger asthma attacks or skin rashes or are linked to cancer. Without full disclosure, consumers lack key information they need to select cleaning products made with safer ingredients. Wow! Did you know that?
My husband and I began our quest for learning and being more mindful of our choices in 2010. Although, by most standards we live a pretty clean life we definetly had areas for improvement. It began with our food and drink choices and really cleaning that up. In about 2016 we began researching about chemicals in our yard, inside our home, and our skincare.
Do you understand what I mean when I say ‘clean life’?
I’m simply referring to choices that are in the healthiest form. For food; eating close to the earth. For drinks, choosing water over alcohol or soda. So, as we’ve evolved my husband and I are also choosing clean label living with our skincare and products that we use in our home such as detergents, dish soap, dishwasher soaps and so on.
Reading the following types of articles got us thinking. Could my diagnosis with cancer have been caused by my environment?
“The Home Depot plans to stop selling carpets and rugs treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which impart soil and stain resistance. The big home improvement retailer says the new policy, which will go into effect at the end of the year, will reduce the environmental impact of the products it sells at its US and Canadian stores. A number of PFAS—nicknamed “forever chemicals” because of their environmental persistence—are linked to a number of health problems, including cancer. The move continues a trend among major retailers to remove from shelves products made with chemicals of concern.” https://pubs.acs.org
In a press release P&G stated; “The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) announced today it will share online all fragrance ingredients down to 0.01 percent for its entire product portfolio in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2019, which includes more than 2000 fragranced products.” https://news.pg.com
Whether or not you think a cancer diagnosis could or could not be caused by the environment…
I’m simply bringing awareness to the ‘what if’ it does contribute? And if I have an opportunity to minimize harmful chemicals in my life then…’why not’ do it.
According to a 2009 study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, an average house may contain as many as 400 chemicals, some of them toxic, and many untested.
Speaking of toxic; researchers at George Washington University, wrote that 45 toxic chemicals are found commonly in our house dust and 10 of them are in 90% of homes in America.
Think about how much time we spend inside our homes, offices, schools or even gyms.
So, because of this information I began to detox our home.
My 5 Secrets for Home Detox:
- Clean Hands. This is simple and very effective. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for about 30 seconds. When you are done washing your hands turn the water off with a paper towel.
According to the CDC, hands should be washed:
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before and after treating a cut or wound, caring for someone who is sick, eating food.
- After:
- using the toilet
- changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- handling pet food or pet treats
- touching garbage
2. Air Purifier. I am a huge believer in air purifiers. You can research different brands online. The Winix gets good reviews and seems to be priced well for what you get.
My air purifier has a true HEPA filter and so does my vacuum.
3. Remove Chemicals from your home. I began with my skincare, body soaps, detergents, deodorant and toothpaste.
Look for plant-based products. Find formulations that have earned the EPA Safer Choice label as well as those that are NSF certified, EWG verified, and even confirmed gray water safe are also excellent choices.
Dusting: I begin with dry dusting with fluffy fibers that trap dust. Then I wipe everything clean with a multi surface cleaner (with plant-derived surfactants and biodegradable ingredients). Occasionally, I will also vacuum dusty areas using a soft brush and my vacuum has a ‘3 grade hospital filtration system’, to remove the smallest particles.
Why did I detox my home? Because of the Chemicals Among Us
Research shows that cleaning products can contain harmful chemicals and substances that evaporate into the air in gas form. Often times these products contain fragrances, solvents, and detergents with potential health effects, and their ingredients are often unlabeled.
Fragrance… that lovely smell; could be bad. Fragrances commonly contain phthalates, which are chemicals that help the scents last longer.
Phthalates are also found in some shower curtains and yes, certain foods.
Transform your home into a haven for your family’s health. Make a choice to live clean.
4. Plastic. Yes, we can talk about straws but we can also talk about food packaging, plastic wrap, containers for toiletries, cosmetics, crib bumpers, floor tiles, or shower curtains. Regarding plastic, Harvard’s School of Pubic Healths Newletter states; “The threat seems both real and ubiquitous. “At minimum, we want to reduce our exposure.”
5. Buy products from companies that voluntarily disclose their ingredients. A few ingredients that you DO NOT want to see on your labels; SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS), PARABENS, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ALUMINUM CHLOROHYDRATE, ARTIFICIAL COLORS, PHTHALATES, BHA & BHT.
Often times, what a manufacturer leaves out is as important as what they include.
Take look here at a brand that I highly endorse and my vacuum is a Sebo.
Even though a product may only have a tiny amount of harmful chemicals, I beleive with consistent use; overtime it can build up and then we can experience bad stuff.
When you use clean label alternatives, you may reduce your exposure to worrisome chemicals and compounds that surround you every day.
So begin with whatever is either most concerning for you and your family or where you feel you can begin and be successful. Begin 2020 with a home detox.
To your health!
