Detoxing is a hot trend in our culture these days. We detox our bodies from things like sugar and caffeine, but have you ever considered detoxing your home?
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The average U.S. adult spends 90 percent of their time inside. This stat is concerning for more than one reason, one of them being that 500-1,000 chemicals are lurking in our homes. The worst part is that you’ll find harmful toxins in the most unexpected, common household items. Some of these include paper products, water bottles, carpet, and many more.
Although exposure to these chemicals in small amounts is not harmful, compounded they can cause a number of irritations to our bodies.
Just like we detox our bodies, here are four steps to detoxing our homes:
1. Add Plants
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.
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The good news is that plants improve indoor air quality by filtering toxins through their roots and replenishing 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.
2. Consider the Products You Bring Into Your Home
Although “going organic” is a hot trend these days, it’s not a bad idea.
Be picky about the brands you use. Check what is used to make the product and where they are made. You should only purchase from brands that clearly disclose what materials are in the products.
Many brands are catching wind of how important ethically sourced, organic materials are to customers. One example of an environmentally sound and transparent brand is Leesa Sleep.
Leesa Sleep is a Certified-B corporation which means they meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Their product is made in the U.S. (which holds the highest standards for product development) and built with Certi-PUR foams. This is just one example of many brands joining the fight to become green.
As a rule of thumb, here are a few tips when it comes to shopping for non-toxic household items:
- 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
3. Dust Regularly
Did you know there is a scary amount of toxins are lurking in dust? In fact, one study found that 90% of dust samples contained roughly 45 different types of chemicals across five main chemical classes. Some of these chemicals include phthalates, flame retardants, fragrances, and environmental phenols. Yikes!
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Do yourself a favor and clean your house regularly. That means getting those hard-to-reach places as well. Especially if you have kiddos running around the house.
4. Install the Proper Protection
There is no way to 100 percent 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.
For how much time we spend in our homes, it’s time we took care of it and the things we bring inside of it.
