Household Detox

Whilst decluttering, have a look at the products you use to scent and clean your home. If they are not plant-based and contain ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’ then chances are they contain toxic chemicals. If you wish to refresh your indoor air, start with good ventilation. Now the weather is brighter and milder, open you windows every day to get the outside air moving inside. Then start looking at your individual products. Take it one step at a time and you will gradually reduce your toxic chemical exposure:

• Switch from paraffin candles to natural wax candles with essential oils

• Ditch plug-ins/air ‘freshener’ sprays - use diffusers with essential oils

• Products like disinfectants, bleaches, sprays, anti-freeze, toilet cleaners, laundry detergents, moth balls - can be lethal when ingested especially to small children who do not see the danger and might be attracted to the bright colours or small size of the product. All of these products are also marketed in a positive way as being necessary to help with the domestic chores in our lives - there is never any emphasis that they are actually poisonous. Keep these on high shelves and away from children. Never ingest and ideally wear gloves or wash hands immediately after use. Some may even be polluting your indoor environment just by sitting on your shelf and off-gassing. If you don’t have the possibility of storing them in a shed or garage then a sealed plastic box will help contain the chemical smells. Once you have used them up, slowly replace each with a plant-based alternative.

  
  

If you have a project in mind and would like some healthier interior advice, please contact me for a free discovery call.