Forget spring cleaning; it’s never too early (or too late!) to detox your home of items containing harmful chemicals. These poisons could potentially be contaminating the air you breathe and food you eat while simultaneously being marketed as safe.
Somewhere on the order of 70,000 different chemicals have been identified as toxic, and yet the FDA has banned only a fraction of a percent of those. Why? Thank the powerful industry lobbyists that make huge donations to dysfunctional American politicians. The bottom line: it’s up to us, as consumers, to educate and protect ourselves!
Don’t let corporations put your health at risk in the name of profit. Fight back by voting with your dollar!
Here is a list of 10 items that you should get rid of; and if the act of throwing things away makes you want to simply give up, I’ve provided healthier alternatives to help you avoid the feeling as though you have just been robbed!
Anti-bacterial Products
The antimicrobial chemical triclosan is found in antibacterial products (soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and mouth rinses). The chemical is believed to affect hormone levels and thyroid function, in addition to harming the immune system.
On top of all that, antibacterial products have now created a new breed of super-bacteria on our bodies that is resistant to triclosan and antibiotics. Scary.
Chemical Detox Tip:
Use good old-fashioned soap and water! Studies show that the same percentage of germs is killed in comparison to using antibacterial soap. But don’t buy it at the pharmacy or grocery store — those soaps are loaded with toxic chemicals that get absorbed through your skin. Buy an organic soap at your local health food store, or try Dr. Bronner’s soap bars or liquid soap.
If you are a fan of hand-sanitizer, use one that is natural and alcohol-based and does not list the chemical Triclosan on its label.
Fragrances
Getting rid of fragrance products may be a large feat for some, but it’s totally worth the benefits!
Fragrance products are probably the most prevalent toxin in your home, including perfume, dryer sheets, candles, hairspray, lotion, sunscreen, powder, air freshener, candles, disinfectant, and the like.
Chemicals in these products can cause an array of increased health risks such as breast cancer and asthma because they are carcinogens and disruptors of the body’s endocrine and reproductive systems.
“A rose may be a rose,” reports EWG. “But that rose-like fragrance in your perfume may be something else entirely, concocted from any number of the fragrance industry’s 3,100 stock chemical ingredients, the blend of which is almost always kept hidden from the consumer.”
Chemical Detox Tip:
Purchase unscented products when possible. Use 100% Organic Essential Oils in a diffuser/vaporizer to add fragrance to your home (but be careful if you have pets — like artificial fragrances, many essential oils are highly toxic to animals).
Avoid perfume, but if you must wear perfume, spray a minimal amount of it onto your clothing, not your skin, and try not to breathe it in. Or, better yet, but one that’s natural and uses essential oils, like this one from Pacifica.
Candles
Candles can be super-toxic because by far the most common waxes used are petroleum-based (since it’s a by-product of the oil industry, it’s cheap) which releases the same toxins as diesel fuel into the air, including multiple documented carcinogens. It’s basically like running your car and breathing the exhaust indoors.
On top of that, the dyes and fragrances are usually made using cheap, toxic chemicals that you breathe in when you burn it, and the wicks are sometimes made using lead (yup, lead!)
Chemical Detox Tip:
Stop using candles that are scented with chemical fragrances and buy candles that are 100% vegetable wax (like soy wax) and scented using essential oils, and have cotton wicks. Make sure that the candles say 100% soy, as many manufacturers say that their candles are soy or “soy blend” when they’re only 5% soy. #sneaky!
To test if your wick is lead, take a piece of notebook paper and rub it at the top of the unburned wick (cut the wick if you’ve already burned it). If it makes a mark resembling that of a graphite pencil, it’s likely has lead. And if it makes black smoke, it’s toxic. Non-toxic candles produce white smoke.
Candles are also easy to make yourself, and then you can scent them however you like, and put them in containers that perfectly match your home. Here is a great DIY candle tutorial.
Your Cleaning Products
The irony is that we use chemicals to achieve cleanliness in our homes. Unfortunately, so many of these products have chemicals that are highly dangerous to humans and pets, possibly causing vomiting (just from inhaling the fumes!), hormone disruption, organ damage, cancer, skin rashes, burns and irritation.
Chemical Detox Tip:
By far the safest, least expensive and most effective cleaners are items you probably already own: you will be surprised how many uses there are for baking soda and white vinegar (they make a great drain cleaner, disinfectant, glass cleaner, etc.) Here’s how.
If you don’t want to learn about natural cleaning methods, then use cleaning products labeled as eco-friendly that contain all natural ingredients (but be careful, because these terms are not regulated, and those products could still be toxic!) It’s easier to find non-toxic cleaning products at your health food store or Whole Foods, and Seventh Generation brand is widely available.
Pesticides
You know that pesticides on your food are bad, but you may not have considered other types of pesticides.
Used to eliminate weeds and insects in the yard, anti-weed products for your garden or lawn contain chemicals that are easily tracked indoors (or travel via air through your windows) and are known to cause brain damage and various forms of cancer.
Chemical Detox Tip:
Chemical-free lawn care – these remedies are numerous, it just takes a little time and effort to research and implement what they are depending on your personal needs. Check out these helpful ideas.
Cans and Plastic Bottles
Bisphenol-A, also known as BPA, is a chemical found in the lining of canned goods, processed foods, plastic containers, and other food packaging. BPA has been banned in many countries (not the U.S., yet), and has been linked to cancer, heart disease, depression, emotional detachment and much more. Many food distributors have switched to ‘BPA free’ products and packaging, but the chemical they are using instead (BPS) is proving to be just as harmful – if not more.
Read more: Is any plastic safe?
Chemical Detox Tip:
Purchase fresh, dried, or frozen foods, or foods that come in a glass or stainless steel container. Don’t purchase products packaged in a way that allows the food to touch plastic or tin. Line your plastic containers with wax paper (not tin foil, which comes with its own toxicity problems) or, better yet, buy glass food storage containers.
Water
Recent tests have shown that roughly half of the tap water across America is contaminated with lead. But it doesn’t have to have lead in it to still be bad for you. The government adds several harmful chemicals to tap water to sterilize it …and simply because the politicians are in the pockets of the chemical industry. Take fluoride, for example. It’s been proven to have no effect on teeth or gum health, and despite the fact that it causes brain damage and isn’t added to the water in Europe, it’s still in the water in America. Here’s more about all the nasty ways that fluoride messes with your health. #corruption
Think you’re safer with bottled water? Consumers of bottled water unknowingly continue to purchase water by the case to avoid common contaminants in drinking water. The problem is that the contaminants in their tap are the same contaminants found in bottled water, PLUS added chemicals that seep out of the plastic (whether it gets warm or not). Most bottled water is tap water, it’s just bottled! Let’s not even get started on the amount of waste that is generated from the packaging.
Chemical Detox Tip:
Get a water filter that has had third-party testing and doesn’t use plastic. The best above-counter one we could find was the Berkey System (make sure to buy the fluoride filters with it). Reusable stainless steel or glass bottles are also a great idea.
Paint
Nothing freshens and brightens a space like a fresh coat of paint; until you realize that your oil-base paint contains hundreds of chemicals and carcinogens! Oil-based paints are the worst, but even water-based paints have these nasty things called VOC’s that go into the air and into your lungs, causing cancer. Think you can protect yourself by wearing a mask while painting? Nope. These chemicals have been proven to release continuously over many years.
Chemical Detox Tip:
Don’t be discouraged and refrain from painting; in fact, this is all the more reason to cover up your old VOC-laden walls with some new non-VOC paint. Simply opt for water-based finishes that are labeled VOC-free. The bonus? You can kiss that nasty paint-smell goodbye, because VOC-free paints don’t have any scent.
Nonstick Pots & Pans
Scientists and the EPA agree that perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) found in non-stick coatings have been repeatedly linked to cancer, thyroid disease, miscarriage, and birth defects. PFCs are also randomly found in pizza boxes, microwaveable popcorn bags, dental floss, some clothing and furniture. There have been lawsuits and industry coverups, but these terrible chemicals are still widely available in the cookware aisle thanks to corrupt politicians and chemical industry lobbyists.
As a side note, PFC’s are also found in stain-resistant clothing and carpets, fast food containers, microwave popcorn bags, and raincoats.
Chemical Detox Tip:
Avoid anything that is nonstick (except for silicone). Throw out your pots and pans and replace them with stainless steel ones with silver (no a dark color or coating) on the inside (we love this cookware set, and this baking pan). For a non-stick effect, line your baking pans with a silicone baking sheet or use organic coconut oil-based non-stick cooking spray (do not use olive oil to cook at high heat as it becomes carcinogenic). Camelina oil has a super high Omega 3 ratio (meaning it’s very healthy and anti-inflammatory) and can be safely heated at high temperatures… it also works as a great makeup remover and moisturiser! As always, make sure your oils are packaged in glass, not plastic.
Vinyl / PVC
We know plastic is not eco-friendly for many reasons, but vinyl is the worst of all plastics. The EU (European Union) and over ten other countries have banned many forms PVC (including vinyl), because it causes cancer, reproductive problems, and is an endocrine disruptor (think cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders).
PVC is most commonly found in flooring and toys. The chemicals in PVC have been linked to hormone disruption and eventually contaminate the air — and you! Children in homes with vinyl flooring containing PVC are nearly 90% more likely to develop bronchial obstruction and symptoms of asthma compared to children living in homes with floors that are PVC-free.
Chemical Detox Tip:
It may not be practical to rip your PVC floor out, but consider updating and investing in cork flooring, which is super sustainable and healthy. A cork floor provides a comfortable cushion underfoot because it “gives” when compressed. Cork is also a natural thermal and acoustic insulator, which means rooms with cork flooring are naturally warm and quiet. Aesthetically versatile, cork flooring is available in tiles and planks in many styles, colors and sizes. You can even get it in planks that mimic the look of wood.
If your child (or cat’s) PVC toy happens to go missing, I’m sure you can outsmart them through the purchase of a new (healthier) one!
Make sure your shower curtain isn’t vinyl. If it is, replace it with a non-toxic shower curtain.
These tips are easy to do and could save you, your pets or your family from some serious health conditions.
Bonus Tip: Air Filters & Conditioners
Watch out for air filters and air conditioners that produce negative ions. (If you smell a faint chlorine-like smell, it’s toxic.) Because ionizing air cleaners produce ozone, a byproduct that has been examined through almost a century as a harmful pollutant and a known lung irritant – you may assume that these products have long since been removed from the market. Alas, as self-regulated industry became filled with dubious products, many manufacturers and retailers continued to carry and sell air ionizers, despite the proven dangers of ozone production. In fact, many manufacturers these days often include ionizing features into their air purifiers to simply “pad” the feature list to justify the air purifier’s higher cost. There is some irony in purchasing a product that is supposed to improve your indoor air quality, but instead introduces a pollutant byproduct into your home.
Here are more of my favorite products for a healthy home:
Check out the GreenGuard Guide to Manufacturers, EWG, and ConsumerSafety.org before you buy products. They’ll tell you if the product you’re about to buy is going to off-gas toxic disease-causing chemicals into your home for years to come.
I know — it’s a minefield, and there’s a lot to remember, but it’s your health and your future that’s at stake!
Completely eliminate canned foods and if you are looking for your favorite tomato sauce use the ones in glass jars. Don’t consume vegetables or grains in cans, simply buy fresh ones.
Just as Aluminum pots and pans leak, so do aluminum cans. In fact, what most people are unaware of is that most often foods are put into aluminum cans, then seals, and then cooked, supposedly retain the freshness. That’s canned foods for you.
Eco-friendly products are both good for the environment and safer for consumers! They are the smart choice for families everywhere.
With the use of eco-friendly products, you’re not only helping out the environment but you’re also reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals. Manufacturers create eco-friendly products with the goal of producing equally beautiful items using natural resources and with the least chemicals. So don’t ever think that you’re using a lower grade just because it’s all natural or eco-friendly. Everyone wants to give their family the best! Whether that means the best food or the highest quality healthcare, or even cleaning materials, every parent or guardian is looking to provide their children with the best of the best. When looking into products for families, it is important to consider all of the effects of the products used. Many of these products are sneaky, and may use harsh or even toxic chemicals to make their product in the cheapest way possible, completely disregarding the safety and health of consumers.
The lovely, not so friendly, preservatives.
The most worrisome of all, among canned foods that can harm you, is plastic contaminants in our canned goods. Most canned food these days have a plastic coating inside the can to supposedly keep the food, vegetables, and fruits fresh. Well, it may keep them more fresh that otherwise without it being stored up inside a metal object, but this comes at the expense of harming you. The inner plastic lining is poisonous at small measures, although FDA tells us that the small amounts should not worry us too much…
If you’ve ever gotten a headache from someone else’s perfume or cologne, you’re not alone! This isn’t because you’re a “sensitive” person. This is because you’re inhaling potential toxins and harmful substances that are causing a reaction in your body. This is potentially just as bad as “second-hand smoke”.
Oh my, I know someone who uses too much perfume that it gives everyone a headache…
Eco-friendly products are made through processes that do less harm to the environment compared to their existing equivalents. Manufacturing processes are evaluated and redesigned to lessen carbon emission, reduce waste, and manage excesses. If we can’t help fix and reverse the damage to the environment, the least we can do is to lessen our own footprint. Even if you think you’re the only household to uses it, at least you’re not contributing to the existing damage. A little effort of checking the labels for “eco-friendly” isn’t going to take a year off your life.
Following simple handwashing practices is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness at home, at school and elsewhere. It’s very simple but it works. You don’t really need anything that has an anti-bacterial on the label.
I agree to this. It doesn’t really matter what kind or brand of soap you are using.
In order to conserve the beauty, resources, and inhabitable state of the planet, it is important that our everyday decisions positively affect the planet. That is where eco-friendly products come in. They are both good for families and for the planet, and eco-friendly products provide consumers with the option to choose responsibility over frivolity.