Tips for Keeping Harmful Chemicals Out of Your Home

Your home is supposed to be a place where you are safe and where you and your family are comfortable. Unfortunately, the indoor air quality in your home can be really terrible.  In fact, the EPA has listed indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental hazards that people face.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission makes clear that health effects from indoor air pollutants can have a profound impact, both after exposure and potentially years later. Some types of indoor air pollution can cause an immediate reaction and can be really dangerous while others may simply make you less healthy over time.

To avoid the risks associated with chemicals in your home, it is important to keep your house as chemical free as possible. Here are some key tips that can help you to do just that.

How to Rid Your Home of Chemicals

If you follow these basic tips for reducing chemical use in your home, you and your family can breathe easier. So, what are some tips?

• Choose a carpet cleaning company that places a priority on health.  Chem-Dry ensures that no harmful or dangerous cleaning solutions are used when you have your chemicals cleaned. Unlike with other carpet cleaning professionals, you don’t need to worry about toxic substances as our primary solution The Natural® contains no detergents or harsh chemicals.
• Always opt for low VOC paints, stains and varnishes.  That smell of paint or the smell of new wood furniture can actually make you sick. Off-gassing from VOCs can continue for a long time after new paint or a new furnish purchase. Fortunately, there are products that are low VOC or even no VOC. While there may be a small additional cost up front for this healthier option, it is usually wise to make the investment in keeping your home safe and chemical-free.
• Consider cleaning products carefully. Cleaning products are one of the greatest sources of chemicals and toxins that people bring into their homes.  You need to be careful about the cleaning products that you choose to use. There are now all-natural or organic options available for pretty much any type of product from laundry detergent to dishwasher soap to toilet bowl cleaner. These organic and all-natural solutions contain far fewer chemicals and can be a lot safer for you to use. If you are concerned about the costs associated with buying all-natural cleaning products, you can also consider making your own products to use.   Many of the cleaning products that you need to clean your home are actually made of simple household ingredients that you can find just about anywhere. Earth Easy provides some solutions for homemade substitutions for popular cleaning products that you can take advantage of.
• Be cautious with remodeling efforts, especially if you have an older home.   On many older homes in the United States, asbestos was used in plaster walls, popcorn ceiling, insulation and other building materials. While you don’t have to remove the asbestos since it isn’t doing any harm unless it is disturbed, it can create serious problems if you decide that you want to remodel. You should have the home tested for asbestos before you undertake any type of remodeling project. If asbestos is identified, hire a professional abatement team to take care of the removal for you.
• Be smart about pest control. Pest control is an area where using chemicals is very common. Sometimes there is no way to avoid chemical pest control, but there are all natural alternatives such as diatomaceous earth that can be tried as a solution first before you jump right into using chemical sprays.  For pest control in the garden when growing food, consider looking into organic methods of keeping bugs away so the food you eat will not be full of chemicals.
• Consider eating organic when possible. Many people bring lots of chemicals into their homes through the foods that they consume. USDA Certified Organic protects you from eating foods sprayed with pesticides and other potentially toxic chemicals that could have a detrimental impact on your health over the long-term.

These are just a few of the key ways that you can help to reduce the number of chemicals in your home and live in a cleaner and healthier environment. Avoiding common toxins is important to protecting your health and the steps are simple enough that just about anyone can move forward towards a life with less chemicals.

Anne Moore is a professional organizer that frequently works in private residences. She gets homes in working order by putting in systems that work. She’s extremely health conscious and encourages her clients to lead healthier lives.