Jun 10
The Air That You Breathe
It may come as a surprise that the Environmental Protection Agency has determined most homes contain air that is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. The chemicals used in carpeting and other flooring, furniture of pressed wood products, cleaners, molds, pesticides, and – of course – tobacco smoke, all contribute to a poisonous atmosphere inside today’s well insulated and sealed homes. This recent article
summarizes ten ways the home owner can reduce and even eliminate these pollutants and ensure a healthy house.
The easiest way to improve air quality inside the home is to simply open the windows. Of course, this may not be an option during the cold winter months or when there’s a raging rain storm going on, but on good weather days, it’s great – and free – way to clear the air. Changing the furnace and/or air conditioner filters at least twice a year is the general recommendation.
Eliminating the amount of artificial chemicals you spray about the house is a no-brainer and easier than you may think. Many air fresheners, cleaners, and those scented candles are loaded with toxic chemicals. There are cleaner alternatives on the market these days – natural oils, soy candles, and non-toxic cleaning solutions can be found easily at many common grocery and department stores. You don’t have to go hunting for the local health-food store anymore as a lot of mainstream manufacturers are recognizing the desire and, subsequently, the market for non-toxic products. There are also a number of cleaning solutions you can make yourself from common household products such as borax, baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. That old reliable castile soap, made of vegetable oil, is a great all-purpose cleaner.