Every person tends to keep his or her place of living neat and clean, just to make environment where he or she can feel comfortable spending time, either alone or with family and friends. Especially if you have a family and small children. When child comes, every parent becomes obsessed with keeping everything clean, healthy and toxin-free around the baby. That is actually easier said than done nowadays, when everyone is trying to sell something, just thinking about earnings and not about environment, but it is still possible.
Chemicals you should avoid
There are many chemicals that you should avoid, but here are couple of most common ones, the ones that are used in almost every product we buy for our home. First one and the worst one is formaldehyde. It can be found nearly everywhere, from mattresses and carpeting to kitchen cabinets. It can cause cancer, respiratory issues, rashes, nosebleeds, reproductive and hormonal disorders and developmental disorders. Yes, all of those.
Second is phthalates that can be found in vinyl, wallpapers, paints, carpeting, furniture, flooring and even scented candles. It damages our hormones and reproductive systems.
Then there are VOC’s or volatile organic compounds. They can be found in paint, vinyl flooring, building materials and carpeting and can cause cancer and respiratory problems.
Last, but no least, are flame retardants. They are found all over stain resistant fabric, mattresses, paints, foam cushions and carpeting and they can cause cancer and interfere with hormonal development and also cause developmental and reproductive disorders.
You surround yourself with all of those without even knowing it, but luckily there is a solution and alternative for everything, so you don’t need to worry. It takes time and money, but start small and build from there. You cannot change this overnight, but you will eventually, step by step.
HOW TO DO IT?
There are many ways. You can look for furniture that has 100% solid wood frame and that it does not contain any flame retardants or polyurethane foam, but you can also buy yourself something cheap and used, maybe from a garage sale, and then re-stuff it with healthy options and cover it with toxic-free fabric.
For painting always try to find a VOC-free paint and leave a window of that room open after the job is done for at least 24 hours. When considering a new flooring, try to avoid laminate and engineered hardwood because they contain formaldehyde and tend to find hardwood flooring with a PVC free finish.
Carpets and rugs are the most toxic things you can put in your house because they are literally filled with toxic chemicals, so try to find Eco-friendly and stylish chevron rugs made from cotton and jute.
Always read what the product is made of, and avoid the above-mentioned chemicals by any price. It is your life and lives of your family that are at stake. None of those disorders and side effects do not come immediately, but when they do it will be too late. Protect yourself and build a toxic-free and eco-friendly home.
