http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-10-products-to-keep-out-of-your-home.html
Top 10 Products to Keep Out of Your Home
Here are the top 10 products that I believe you never want to cross the threshold into your home. Don’t despair if you have them as most can be removed, sealed in, or otherwise gotten rid of! I have to say these top 10 just rolled off my keyboard but please add your own ideas, in the comment section, below.
1. Synthetic pesticides.
Avoid completely. Substitute with natural material alternatives, such as suggested by the Bio Integral Resource Center and Care2’s suggestions.
2. Moth balls.
Naphthalene is a registered carcinogen by the U.S. Government. Use alternatives, such as these natural moth balls designed by weavers.
3. Formaldehyde.
Found in pressed wood and particle board, many contemporary furniture manufacturers use formaldehyde-based wood products. There are alternatives, such as a
4. Products with VOCs.
Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are usually man-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs typically are industrial solvents and are often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry cleaning agents. Are your paints making you sick? Your nail polish?
5. Fragrance/perfumed products.
Learn about fragrances and discover natural perfumes .
6. Plastics with phthalates, PVC, and BPA.
Which plastics are safe?
7. Lead.
Lead is a highly neurotoxic heavy metal that was an ingredient in paint until 1978, so many homes have lead paint chipping away. Beyond paint, where else is lead found in the home?
8. Kerosene.
Kerosene is often used in the home in poorly ventilated space heaters that have inadequate combustion. Many deaths are attributed to the use of carbon monoxide buildup from the use of such space heaters.
9. Dry cleaned clothes.
The common solvent used to dry clean clothes is a suspected carcinogen and highly neurotoxic to boot. Learn how to wet clean wool, rayon, and silk.
10. Oven cleaner.
Who doesn’t get a headache from most standard oven cleaners? Skip the concern altogether by cleaning your oven with this secret ingredient!
P.S.. Fire retardants are problematic and found in cushions of sofas and chairs and which contain long-lasting chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, called PBDEs, that are endocrine disrupters. The challenge is that most of us would have to buy new couches and armchairs. That is asking a lot of anyone, which is why I didn’t include them in the top 10.
P.P.S. I also didn’t include a list of endocrine disrupters in my top 10 products not to bring into your home because the list is ever growing and overwhelming. I’d suggest you visit skindeep.org to investigate endocrine disrupters in your personal care products.
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11 comments
add your comment »thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner
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I would like to add bleach to the list. The Clorox brand has sold the American public on the idea of cleaning everything with bleach.
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I found the same thing with skindeep.org -- the right place is http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
LOTS of good information --
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Skindeep.org seems to go to a squatter page...
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GREAT ADVISE THANK-YOU
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To help remove toxins in the air try plants such as:
Rubber Plants
Ficus
Golden Pothos
Peace Lilly
English Ivy
Aloe Vera
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important to read
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a reply to Rebecca Young, concerning Fire Retardants on furniture. My Mum is sensitive,( to the point of allergic!) to fire retardants.Covering anything with the chemical on it, definitely doesnt work for her.
The retardant also seems to affect fillings; some duvet & pillow coverings have the chemical on them.We've tried putting the filling into new covers, but it didnt work.
Cheers
RuthN
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try rose water by the edgar cacye foundation Heritage products ..it is so pure you can eat it ! I use it for everthing from room spray to body spray and have used it for people who are sick spraying it on the body has a wonderful uplifting scent
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concerning fire retardants - would covering your couch with a natural fiber cloth protect your family in any way? I am wondering if there are things we can do besides throw away an otherwise functional couch - they're so expensive :( thanks! this is a very useful list.
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