Is Your Home Making You Sick?

Your Home Could Be Toxic

Exhaust fumes, smoke, smog. When you step outside depending on where you live, you expect to be exposed to some unhealthy elements lurking in the air. If you think staying indoors is automatically safer, think again. Your home can be harboring up to two to five times more pollutants with common organic chemicals than outdoor air according to the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency. Winter is the worse, since it’s cold outside and you lock the windows to hold in the warmth, you can be inhaling a concentrated mixture of potentially dangerous chemicals found in products like air fresheners and cleaning products. It’s why at Crystal Clear Home we are so careful with what products we choose to clean your home; nontoxic and eco-friendly as we can source. If you would like a healthier home, you can follow some of these tips.

Tips for A Healthier Home

The cleaners, sprays, detergents, softeners, and stain removers you use to keep your home clean are a major source of indoor toxins. The Environmental Working Group publishes on their website by category products that are safe to use; such as all purpose cleaners, kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, etc. You can then click on the products that scored an “A” to see the list. Click on this link to be taken to the Environmental Working Group Guide.

Their current study found that of 2,100 common cleaning products that 53 percent contained chemicals like sodium or potassium hydroxide, which may damage the lungs, while 20 percent include carcinogens like formaldehyde. Don’t rush to purge your cleaning closet or buy everything you see with a “nontoxic or “green” label. Unfortunately most cleaning products don’t list many of their ingredients, and even some that say they are “natural” still contain harmful ingredients. Look for the EPA’s label, a seal of approval to products that contain only the safest levels of chemicals needed to give you a clean home.

Be Wary of Scents

No one wants a stale smelling home, but some of the worse offenders in chemicals added are air fresheners, which contain phthalates, the chemical that dispenses the sent through the room. Also synthetic scents  may disrupt the endocrine systems’ control of hormones, potentially leading to reproductive issues and even possibly breast cancer. Studies that have been published by Environmental Health Perspectives which looked at chemicals found in common household products ranging from laundry detergent to had sanitizers, found that air fresheners were amongst the highest in levels of synthetic fragrances. You would be much safer is an essential oil diffuser dispenses rosemary or lavender then using air fresheners.

Open Your Windows

It seems crazy to open your windows if you are heating your home, but natural ventilation is the vest way to rid your home of chemicals. If you rely on air purifiers, and they are great for dog dander, smoke and many small particle substances such as dust, but not as effective at removing harmful gases. If you live in a high traffic area, open your windows 10 minutes a couple of times in the evening to move fresh air through your home. If you live in a more low traffic area try cracking your windows open a few times during the day or evening to move fresh air in around your home.

Plants Add Ambiance–They Also Filter the Air

There is no way to keep your home completely pollutant free, but plants can help reduce your exposure while being also great for Feng Shui and adding greenery to your home. After testing methods to purify the air a NASA scientist has shown that microorganisms on the eaves and roots of certain common houseplants help remove chemicals like formaldehyde and ammonia from the air. Boston ferns, pot mums, and lady palms are the best at breaking down toxins, which means greenery can add beauty to your home and help you be healthier at the same time! Call us today at Crystal Clear Home or fill out Request A Quote Form and we can clean your home and make it a healthier place to live–be sure to ask about our current specials!