Source:
Total Executive
Home safe home
Taking action to remove the harmful chemicals from your home environment is easier than you think. Swapping over to natural products can lead to healthier, happier kids (and grown-ups) and will also help our planet. Here are eight ways to make the change.
1. Bathroom Bliss
Changing your toiletries is one of the fastest ways to reduce your exposure to nasty chemicals. The skin is the largest organ we have, and through it we absorb a great deal of what we put on it. Standard soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, bubble baths, sunscreens and moisturisers that we use every day are filled with harsh chemicals and perfumes that can cause or aggravate eczema and other allergies. Go for all-natural, soap-free or organic and avoid products that contain sulphates wherever you can. If you dye your hair – consider using an organic alternative.
2. Clean & green
The average household has enough hazardous cleaning products under the sink to start a small factory! These chemicals aren’t just dangerous if you child accidentally eats or drinks them, their vapours affect our health in the short term and in the long term they pollute our waterways.
Allergies, asthma and eczema are all exacerbated by cleaning stuffs – but there are alternatives. Try using low-allergy and low environmental-impact products from your supermarkets. Planet Ark, Herbon, Amaze, Green Choice, Safe and Earth’s Choice are widely available cleaning products for use in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry, all of them non-caustic and bio-degradeable.
You can even make your own. Eucalyptus oil is a great disinfectant, while white vinegar is brilliant fro cleaning. For an entirely chemical-free approach, try a high pressure steam cleaner – the super heated steam kills dust mites, fleas eggs and bacteria while cleaning up oil, mould and dust. alternatively go to www.enjo.com.au or check out microfibre cleaning cloths and mops on the market that require only warm water to leave your house spotless.
3. Safe as houses
If you’re decorating your home you can start with some toxin-reduced basics. A low-odour paint range is available from Dulux and Crown. From the US, there are Benjamin Moore paints, which are recommended by the US Asthma Association. You can get them at all good paint stores, with prices starting at $50 for 4 litres. Safer types of plant and mineral-based paints and wood finishes can be ordered from Planet Ark and are only about 20% more expensive than conventional chemical-based paints.
Once you’ve finished the paint job, don’t pour the leftover paint down the sink; solidify it with waste paint hardener from your local hardware store. Once sachet cost around $6.50.
If you’re renovating your older property, contact the council for advice on lead and asbestos removal. Lead, which is common in older houses, is extremely dangerous for children and pregnant women, so if in doubt, move out while the builders are ripping up your home. If you want to reall get into healthy home building then go to www.healthyhomeplans.com
4. Sleep easy
For children and adults who suffer from asthma and allergies, check out the Madison range of asthma beds approved by the Asthma Foundation and which are dust-mite proofed. They’re available from Captain Snooze Australia-wide and, while they are not cheap, they are very effective against allergens.
Allergy pillows by Comfortel are also in the stores. They cost $35 and can be machine-washed and tumble dried. Low-allergen carpets can also help reduce symptoms in wheezy kids, though research tends to indicate that the best choice for reducing allergens is wooden floors.
5. At the supermarket
Highly-processed foods and drinks are a major cause of reaction in children. Whenever it’s possible, choose organic and chemical free foods. Wash all fruit and vegetables and, if your kids are sensitive, steer clear of labels that include glutamate, preservatives, colours and artificial sweeteners.
6. Toxic-free togs
Where possible, let your children wear and sleep in cotton clothes, sheets and natural fibres. If you have a highly allergic child, you can choose unbleached, organic cotton from specialist stores. Wash clothes in washing powders and fabric conditioners that don’t use irritating chemicals.
7. Playing with trouble
PVC has been identified as an environmental bad boy. Highly toxic chemicals known as dioxins are by-product of the creation of PVC. These are poison for nature and humans, and are associated with a host of health problems. Pass on PVC toys try something natural. There are companies that sell handmade Ecotoys and use 100% natural fibres. Try www.todae.com.au or www.ecoshop.com.au
8. Bug off
Insecticides are an obvious source of toxins, so choose eco-friendly pest-ridders. Yo can get natural flea treatments for pets and chemical-free cockroach baits. In the garden, keep the bugs at bay with environmentally responsible Multi-Crop pest products. There is a wide range available from Planet Ark. For more details visit www.planetark.com.au
By Julie Hamilton on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 and filed under 'Healthy Living' | (0)
No comments:
Post a Comment