Wellness
Chemical Detox Tips: 10 Toxic Products in Your Home
These common products are poisoning you. Here are easy, healthy alternatives.
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).
Just say NO (…to the vinyl flooring, not the cutie!)
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:
PVC: Not a good look anyway.
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!
Edith Glover
*sigh* I’m guilty of having a good basketful of these toxic products you said we all should AVOID!
Angie Becker
Interesting article! Sadly, our sheets, pillows, mattresses and blankets are full of chemicals and flame retardants that can interfere with our health.
Muriel Vargas
Baking soda has “magic.” It cleans, deodorizes, and scours.
Amy Watson
Chemical detox of home takes time and patience. Thanks for the tips!
Dianne Copeland
I inhale and exhale toxic chemicals even in my own home 🙁
Shawna Henry
Oh no! I’m surrounded by awful synthetic chemicals everyday!!!! BAD!
Melba Harrington
Such an eye opener! I did not realize how much I’m surrounded by toxins on a daily basis!
Sheri Chapman
Thanks for this informative article.
Brandy Warner
Simple ways like keeping my bathroom fan on for 15 minutes after showering help.
Lillian Arnold
Nice one! This reduces condensation, limiting the risk of mold growth.
Margaret Palmer
If I have new furniture, I let them “off-gas” for one week in the garage before bringing it into the house. Can you imagine that even “carpets” can have VOCs?