Many ailments / allergies / diseases have environmental factors that need to be taken into account. This post is part education and part alternatives for a healthy environment.
Let's start with the education. There are many things in our homes / yards that can cause both allergies and weaken our immune system. Things you may not even think about. Carpet - have you ever smelled fresh carpet installed in a home? Do you get a headache from it? There are potentially harmful fumes that are given off by carpet of any age. In addition, we are unable to get all the dirt, dust, dust mites, mold, mildew out of carpet which can potentially add to asthma / allergies. Furniture - more and more we are seeing low or zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) for our furniture because of the types of materials our furniture is made from. Paint - again we are seeing more and more low / zero VOC paints on the market. Microwave - the energy waves that heat our food in a microwave changes the physical makeup of the food / water and potentially can be very damaging to our bodies. In addition, those waves don't remain in the microwave - they are spread through the house. It is recommended that you do NOT use a microwave for anything, including heating water. Plastic containers for foods - plastic containers release harmful chemicals into our foods. You should store all food in glass / ceramic containers. Get rid of any plastic tableware (plates, glasses, silverware, serving dishes). If you must use a microwave, make sure you do NOT put plastic in the microwave. Bedding - pillows / sheets / blankets / towels - all should be natural fibers. Electronics - TV / Computer / Cell phone - these things all change the electromagnetic field in your home. Opening windows helps to disperse the build up. Make sure to turn things off completely when not in use. Pay close attention to the THINGS in your home that can release potentially harmful fumes - not just at the beginning of it's life when you can smell it - but all through the life of the product.
In addition to the things in your home that can potentially be a factor are the things you use to clean your home. If a chemical has a warning about toxic fumes - it should never be used in your home. Those fumes do not disappear because you can't smell them - if you do not open your house regularly those chemicals build up in your home and can be very hazardous. There are studies out there showing that most homes are more toxic inside than outside. The things in our homes and the chemicals we use to clean our home are the reason for this high level of toxicity.
Now let's discuss options. What can you do to create a more healthy environment...
Obviously, changing out furniture and carpeting can be a costly step. We are going to start with some less expensive, and less difficult measures. Just make sure that you pay attention to the VOC levels when making your next major purchase - or when you decide to renovate / move. Next, we will discuss products you can purchase that are safe for you and your environment.
Natural Cleansers - there are a host of natural cleansers out there that you can purchase if you don't want to take the time to make your own. Clorox, Windex, Greenworks are some of the most common. Some you can find at the grocery store, Lowe's has a stock of them (oh yeah, I was surprised too), and obviously your natural food stores will have stock.
Natural Hair Care - I use Pureology products - they were created by someone who's friend had cancer and they wanted an all natural alternative. iherb.com also has a host of different options as well.
Natural Beauty Care - There aren't many out there that you can get at any grocery / drug store. In another post we will discuss recipes and options. I use a natural oatmeal bar from the natural food store because my skin is quite oily and very sensitive. The oatmeal soap actually balances my skin.
Now for a list of things that are far safer for you, less expensive, and more effective than the harsh chemicals we have become accustomed to using.
Vinegar - you should have JUGS of vinegar in your home! There are so many uses for vinegar that will surprise you. Vinegar can be used in place of anything bleach is used for. Whitening laundry, wiping down counters, showers, killing mold, mildew, and fungus. It also can be used as a toner for your face, and will help eliminate dandruff if you rinse your hair with vinegar after washing. Vinegar has been long known to help normalize bile production and helps relieve acid reflux / ulcers. Rinsing fresh produce in vinegar will help remove toxins / herbicides / pesticides. Vinegar also soothes and heals burns and bug bites.
Colloidal Silver - I wrote a whole post on the nutritional value of Colloidal Silver but there are also several environmental benefits. I have been told that if you add several tablespoons to your mop water, it will kill any little creepy crawlies that scuttle across your floor. Also, use it in your cleaning water when cleaning your cabinets, silverware drawers for the same benefit. It is also used to heal / relieve ear aches - a couple drops in each ear. Colloidal Silver also helps heal sore throats by gargling twice a day with silver.
Baking Soda / Vinegar - Baking soda and vinegar help unclog drains, and clean silver. For drains - pour about 1/3 c baking soda down the drain (after the water level has dropped below the drain) and then pour 1 c vinegar down the drain. Pour another c vinegar if it still bubbles. Wait 10 minutes and then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. The more the better... you want to make sure that all the baking soda has been removed from the pipes. For silver cleaning, use a bowl large enough to completely submerge your silver and have more than 1/2 left for "fizz." fill with enough vinegar to cover the silver product and then slowly pour baking soda over until the fizzing stops. Then take an old toothbrush and scrub. You may have to repeat this process a couple times.
Salt and Baking Soda - Both have been used for centuries as an abrasive - both can be used to scrub stoves, caked on grunge on pots / pans / plates, ovens, mildew, mold, etc..
Tomatoes / Ketchup - can be used to clean copper and / or brass pans.
Rubbing Alcohol - Anyone have kids? Kids that like to get into your permanent markers? That like to draw on walls? carpet? etc??? Rubbing alcohol will remove those lovely drawings - make sure to take photos before you remove your little Picasso's creations.
Lemon Juice - lemon juice's acidic base helps dissolve soap scum and hard water stains. Grind it up in the garbage disposal to get a clean fresh smell. Mix with olive oil as a furniture polish.
Recommended Reading - additional natural solutions: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/cleaners
Outside / Yard / Garden - there are some very simple ways to remove many of the harmful chemicals from your outdoor space as well.
Garlic / Onion - Garlic and onion keep away a host of bugs - as they are natural pesticides. Plant onions around your roses to keep away aphids. Sprinkle a combination of garlic / onion granules on your yard to keep away mosquitoes. I use http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000DN7OQW/ref=wms_ohs_product_C and they work for about three weeks.... I love having the birds around - and they feed off the mosquitoes - so how to keep them off the yard so I am not eaten alive? These work great!
Eucalyptus / Lemongrass Oil - 32oz spray bottle, water filled to w/in 2" of top, 40 drops eucalyptus oil, 15 drops lemongrass oil. Spray around your doors / windows outside to keep bugs from coming in the house. Use in your laundry (final rinse) to do the same for your clothing / bedding. Another natural pesticide.
Marigolds - these pungent flowers have been used for centuries to keep pests out of the garden. Plant them throughout your garden to keep away pesky critters that want to enjoy your crops.
Let's start with the education. There are many things in our homes / yards that can cause both allergies and weaken our immune system. Things you may not even think about. Carpet - have you ever smelled fresh carpet installed in a home? Do you get a headache from it? There are potentially harmful fumes that are given off by carpet of any age. In addition, we are unable to get all the dirt, dust, dust mites, mold, mildew out of carpet which can potentially add to asthma / allergies. Furniture - more and more we are seeing low or zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) for our furniture because of the types of materials our furniture is made from. Paint - again we are seeing more and more low / zero VOC paints on the market. Microwave - the energy waves that heat our food in a microwave changes the physical makeup of the food / water and potentially can be very damaging to our bodies. In addition, those waves don't remain in the microwave - they are spread through the house. It is recommended that you do NOT use a microwave for anything, including heating water. Plastic containers for foods - plastic containers release harmful chemicals into our foods. You should store all food in glass / ceramic containers. Get rid of any plastic tableware (plates, glasses, silverware, serving dishes). If you must use a microwave, make sure you do NOT put plastic in the microwave. Bedding - pillows / sheets / blankets / towels - all should be natural fibers. Electronics - TV / Computer / Cell phone - these things all change the electromagnetic field in your home. Opening windows helps to disperse the build up. Make sure to turn things off completely when not in use. Pay close attention to the THINGS in your home that can release potentially harmful fumes - not just at the beginning of it's life when you can smell it - but all through the life of the product.
In addition to the things in your home that can potentially be a factor are the things you use to clean your home. If a chemical has a warning about toxic fumes - it should never be used in your home. Those fumes do not disappear because you can't smell them - if you do not open your house regularly those chemicals build up in your home and can be very hazardous. There are studies out there showing that most homes are more toxic inside than outside. The things in our homes and the chemicals we use to clean our home are the reason for this high level of toxicity.
Now let's discuss options. What can you do to create a more healthy environment...
Obviously, changing out furniture and carpeting can be a costly step. We are going to start with some less expensive, and less difficult measures. Just make sure that you pay attention to the VOC levels when making your next major purchase - or when you decide to renovate / move. Next, we will discuss products you can purchase that are safe for you and your environment.
Natural Cleansers - there are a host of natural cleansers out there that you can purchase if you don't want to take the time to make your own. Clorox, Windex, Greenworks are some of the most common. Some you can find at the grocery store, Lowe's has a stock of them (oh yeah, I was surprised too), and obviously your natural food stores will have stock.
Natural Hair Care - I use Pureology products - they were created by someone who's friend had cancer and they wanted an all natural alternative. iherb.com also has a host of different options as well.
Natural Beauty Care - There aren't many out there that you can get at any grocery / drug store. In another post we will discuss recipes and options. I use a natural oatmeal bar from the natural food store because my skin is quite oily and very sensitive. The oatmeal soap actually balances my skin.
Now for a list of things that are far safer for you, less expensive, and more effective than the harsh chemicals we have become accustomed to using.
Vinegar - you should have JUGS of vinegar in your home! There are so many uses for vinegar that will surprise you. Vinegar can be used in place of anything bleach is used for. Whitening laundry, wiping down counters, showers, killing mold, mildew, and fungus. It also can be used as a toner for your face, and will help eliminate dandruff if you rinse your hair with vinegar after washing. Vinegar has been long known to help normalize bile production and helps relieve acid reflux / ulcers. Rinsing fresh produce in vinegar will help remove toxins / herbicides / pesticides. Vinegar also soothes and heals burns and bug bites.
Colloidal Silver - I wrote a whole post on the nutritional value of Colloidal Silver but there are also several environmental benefits. I have been told that if you add several tablespoons to your mop water, it will kill any little creepy crawlies that scuttle across your floor. Also, use it in your cleaning water when cleaning your cabinets, silverware drawers for the same benefit. It is also used to heal / relieve ear aches - a couple drops in each ear. Colloidal Silver also helps heal sore throats by gargling twice a day with silver.
Baking Soda / Vinegar - Baking soda and vinegar help unclog drains, and clean silver. For drains - pour about 1/3 c baking soda down the drain (after the water level has dropped below the drain) and then pour 1 c vinegar down the drain. Pour another c vinegar if it still bubbles. Wait 10 minutes and then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. The more the better... you want to make sure that all the baking soda has been removed from the pipes. For silver cleaning, use a bowl large enough to completely submerge your silver and have more than 1/2 left for "fizz." fill with enough vinegar to cover the silver product and then slowly pour baking soda over until the fizzing stops. Then take an old toothbrush and scrub. You may have to repeat this process a couple times.
Salt and Baking Soda - Both have been used for centuries as an abrasive - both can be used to scrub stoves, caked on grunge on pots / pans / plates, ovens, mildew, mold, etc..
Tomatoes / Ketchup - can be used to clean copper and / or brass pans.
Rubbing Alcohol - Anyone have kids? Kids that like to get into your permanent markers? That like to draw on walls? carpet? etc??? Rubbing alcohol will remove those lovely drawings - make sure to take photos before you remove your little Picasso's creations.
Lemon Juice - lemon juice's acidic base helps dissolve soap scum and hard water stains. Grind it up in the garbage disposal to get a clean fresh smell. Mix with olive oil as a furniture polish.
Recommended Reading - additional natural solutions: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/cleaners
Outside / Yard / Garden - there are some very simple ways to remove many of the harmful chemicals from your outdoor space as well.
Garlic / Onion - Garlic and onion keep away a host of bugs - as they are natural pesticides. Plant onions around your roses to keep away aphids. Sprinkle a combination of garlic / onion granules on your yard to keep away mosquitoes. I use http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000DN7OQW/ref=wms_ohs_product_C and they work for about three weeks.... I love having the birds around - and they feed off the mosquitoes - so how to keep them off the yard so I am not eaten alive? These work great!
Eucalyptus / Lemongrass Oil - 32oz spray bottle, water filled to w/in 2" of top, 40 drops eucalyptus oil, 15 drops lemongrass oil. Spray around your doors / windows outside to keep bugs from coming in the house. Use in your laundry (final rinse) to do the same for your clothing / bedding. Another natural pesticide.
Marigolds - these pungent flowers have been used for centuries to keep pests out of the garden. Plant them throughout your garden to keep away pesky critters that want to enjoy your crops.
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