After spending more time indoors during winter, many of us see spring as time of renewal, and a time to re-evaluate our spaces to ensure they encourage good health. One way to do this is by removing common sources of contaminants.
Here are some steps to help you protect your family home:
Rethink Your Décor
Double check for contaminants from the items in your home. For example, pressed-wood furnishings can release toxic fumes like formaldehyde, a known carcinogen like in second-hand smoke. To reduce your risk, try to buy untreated wood or formaldehyde-free furniture whenever possible. Affordable options are available at popular home decorating stores.
Install a Water Filter
Lead, chloride and other potential toxins can seep into your tap water from sources like plumbing and soil. Fortunately, a water filter attachment on your kitchen sink can help. Not sure if your water has contaminants? you can try an easy at-home DIY test kit from My Water Quality. Simply follow the instructions and use the courier service included with the testing kit to ship your sample to an accredited lab. A report card will arrive within five to 20 days and provide you with easy-to-read results.
Ditch The Plastics
From food containers to water bottles, plastics can be a big part of our everyday lives. But they can expose you to BPA, phthalates and styrene. So, swap out plastic containers for glass ones, avoid putting plastics in the microwave and switch to a stainless-steel water bottle.
Bring Nature Inside
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Since it might be hard to know exactly where toxins in your home are coming from or to remove them all, you can use green plants as natural detoxifiers to purify your indoor air. Some of the best antitoxin plants include spider plants, philodendrons and rubber plants.
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