By Emily Folk
We always consider home to be the safest, most comfortable place – and in many ways, it is. But, no matter how hard you work to keep a clean and hazard-free household, you still might be harboring a few unsavory chemicals and toxins that could be affecting your family’s health.
Fortunately, there are many ways to ensure everyone’s safety by removing these toxins from your home once and for all. Here are six methods you can use to make your space toxin-free once and for all.
- Go for Glass Instead of Plastic
Plastic is lightweight and convenient, but that’s where all its benefits end. Plastic, especially the types used in many food packages, can contain a chemical called BPA. Over time, BPA can seep from the plastic container and into food – this effect is particularly common when you reheat food inside a plastic container made with BPA.
That’s one of the reasons nutritionists recommend glass containers over plastic ones. This goes for your at-home storage system and the food you buy from the store: Choose glass wherever you can, or transfer food into plastic containers once you get home. You can clean and reuse glass, too, reducing the amount of waste you create.
- Hang a New Shower Curtain
It makes sense to hang a vinyl shower curtain: water easily beads on the material and streams back down into the tub instead of all over the bathroom floor. But vinyl includes volatile organic compounds that linger in the air for around a month. Vinyl is also made of phthalates, which can disrupt hormones and endocrine. Fortunately, there are all-natural alternatives made of cotton and other materials.
- Use All-Natural Cleaners
For a long time, home cleaning products have included chemicals marketed as making cleaning easier and more effective. However, there are other ways to kill germs and bring things to a shine. For example, vinegar diluted in hot water is all you need to wash down your windows to a streak-free shine. Lemon juice kills bacteria and makes rooms smell clean.
