Eating healthier and getting plenty of exercise is the starting point for having a healthier family and a healthier you. However, if you want to cover all bases, you need to create a healthy home, too. While Houston, Tx is still cleaning up after Harvey hit, with the flood waters hitting the petrochemical area and releasing tons of chemicals in the Houston area. While the government is investigating the full effect and steps to take on big issues like that and checking for mold and damage from the storm is part of recovery, there are things you can do to make your home healthier, even if you weren’t affected by the storm.
Switch out toxic chemicals for cleaning.
There are better ways to clean than with chemicals and actually cheaper ways, too. If you’re like most people, you want your home to be safe, clean and free from illness causing toxins. There’s a problem when the very tools and supplies you’re using actually makes the problem worse! You can use common household products to clean that don’t cost a fortune, but also won’t pollute your home environment. Distilled white vinegar can make tubs and sinks sparkle by spraying it on to help get rid of soap scum, allowing it to work and wiping the residue away. Need a little more scrubbing? Put some baking soda on a sponge after you spray the vinegar. It sizzles and bubbles, plus provides a soft scrub that helps loosen the grime.
Eliminate pesticides and use natural methods.
There’s also no need for pesticides that not only kill insects, they also affect humans in unhealthy ways. Some natural pesticides, such as neem oil, is extremely effective. However, if you purchase neem oil pesticides, make sure it doesn’t contain tea tree oil if you own a cat. For fleas, bed bugs, ants and almost all types of pests, you can’t go wrong using diatomaceous earth. It must be the food grade type, not pool type that’s toxic. It’s drying and can irritate the eyes and lungs, as any dust might if you inhale it, but safe when applied sensibly. It has no poison, but kills insects by scratching their protective coating with microscopic shards that won’t hurt small animals or people. The insects dehydrate and die.
There’s no need for fabric softeners or fabric sheets, either.
Dryer sheets to soften clothes certainly are easy. Just toss them in the dryer and your clothes come out soft and smelling good. You might not love them so much if you knew all the chemicals they contain. The same is true for fabric softeners. The scent is designed to linger, which also means the chemicals do too. You’re wearing the chemical compounds linked to chronic illness and solvents linked to damage to the nervous and endocrine system. A better option is dryer balls, made from wool, aluminum balls or natural fabric softener added to the final rinse that’s a mix of white vinegar and water. The wool dryer balls are super easy and last a long time.
- Clean your oven with baking soda. Create a paste that you put on the interior and walk away for a few hours when you wipe it off, leaving your oven sparkling.
- Cut down on all cleaners by using antibacterial microfiber cloths and mops. You don’t have to use homemade or store bought cleaners with those, unless you’re cleaning the toilet.
- Another great soap scum cutter for bathrooms and showers is made from one part salt, one part borax and two parts baking soda.
- Keeping your house a healthy place to live can also keep you healthy if you turn on music and dance your way through the household tasks.