Home. A place that has been experiencing a lot of living lately. The place we are our truest selves, the place that feels inviting and safe. Our havens from the outside world. We love our homes and work hard to make sure that they are expressions of comfort and love, but are they truly safe to live in?
As we grow more comfortable in questioning how we do things it becomes easy for our eyes to be fully opened to the ramifications of the toxins surrounding us. They are present in our personal care products, but they are present in every aspect of our homes and lives as well. Many times chemical toxins in the home are only associated with products like fertilizers, cleaning supplies or pesticides. However, what if I told you it was likely you are sitting or sleeping on a load of brain damaging chemicals? Or that the pans being used to cook dinner may be contributing to your chances of developing cancer? Or that the beautiful welcoming scent of your home could be damaging your family’s endocrine systems?
Nixing these three offenders is a surefire way to make your home safer for you and your family.
1. Get rid of furniture with flame retardants.
That sofa you love to sit on for the big game? The mattress you sleep on every night? The easy chair that fits you just right? If those items have flame retardants in them a world of adverse health effects could also be right at your fingertips. Decreased neurological function, endocrine and thyroid disruption, reproductive toxicity, adverse effects on fetal and child development, cancer and lowered immune system functions are all problems that have been heavily linked with bioaccumulation due to flame retardants in the home.
A great first step: Look into purchasing a mattress or couch that is certified free of flame retardants. Another great step: Dust frequently and fill your home with plants to help filter the air.
2. No more nonstick pans.
Turns out there is more to be scared of in regards to the chemicals used on nonstick cookware than the fats the cookware eliminates. Who knew? Chemicals used to make nonstick cookware are constantly being tested and proven to be toxic to humans, leaching into the food we lovingly make day in and day out. Conditions linked to these chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, to be exact) include liver damage, cancers, thyroid and endocrine issues, infertility, high cholesterol, obesity and more.
A great first step: First remove any pan that is scratched or dented as these are most certainly leaching chemicals into any food they are used to cook. Another great step: Invest in cast iron. Not only is it less expensive and longer lasting, but free of iffy coatings and creates a more even cooking temperature.
3. Nix the traditional scented wall plugins.
Yes they are toxic, and no I’m not just referring to if they are ingested. These scented plugins (and a lot of candles, too, if I am being honest) are harmful to human health, no matter how lovely they smell. One of the biggest concerns are the use of phthalates, chemicals used to enhance fragrance and make it last longer. These are notoriously disruptive to our endocrine systems and are linked to reproductive toxicity. Another concern is formaldehyde, which has been linked to multiple cancers, asthma, neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity. Other areas of concern are the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including some that are classified as toxic or hazardous by federal laws.
A great first step: Throw them all away, right now. Another great first step? Diffuse 100% pure, organic and therapeutic-grade essential oils. This is a whole article in and of itself, but if your essential oils meet those three criteria then they will be much safer than the plugins.
Cleaning up the chemical warfare in our homes is no doubt daunting work, but, I invite you to remember how to eat an elephant: one bite at a time. Every step counts and your future self will thank you.
Heather Disarro is the author and creator of Heather’s Dish, a blog focused on clean living, food and fitness, and she is the social media boss of Content Titan, a digital content powerhouse. Heather loves spending time with her husband and two kids doing almost anything outdoors, eating good food and laughing. Always laughing.