Is Your Home Toxic?
By: Stephanie Hein, CH       

A wise person once said, “Home is where the heart is.” They were right.  As human beings we cocoon in our homes. They are our dens. We eat, sleep, work, and even shop online in our homes.  On average we spend 13-15 hours per day in our homes.  The Center for Disease Control has recently measured 212 different chemicals present in our bodies, 75 of which have never before been measured in the United States population. A variety of these human and animal toxicity studies have linked chemicals common in household cleaning products with a wide range of health risks. One of the most common offensive ingredients, according to a 2006 study by the University of California Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is ethylene-based glycol. This substance is used commonly as a water-soluble solvent in cleaning agents and classified as a hazardous air pollutant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  According to the non-profit Cancer Prevention Coalition, some other problematic chemicals found in many household cleaners include crystalline silica, an irritant to the eyes and lungs and a likely carcinogen, and butyl cellosolve, which has been linked to kidney and liver problems and is reportedly toxic to forming cells. No wonder chronic fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog are all on the rise among our populace.

Our homes are inundated with high levels of toxins in which we eat, sleep and breathe.  We are literally living in toxic overload. There may not be much you can do right this moment to stop the FDA and EPA from deeming toxic chemicals as safe and condoning the dumping of thousands of chemicals into our environment every year, but you can at least start doing your small part by de-toxing your home.  Let’s start with the floors in our homes. Carpets cover the floors of many homes. Children play for hours on them, infants crawl on them and deeply breathe in their fumes, proud homeowners inhale that “new carpet smell,” and all the while we are being poisoned by the chemicals, allergens, and toxic dust that lurks in our carpets. Whether you have new or old carpets, they probably contain more toxins and allergens than you are aware of. For new carpets; there are volatile organic compounds or VOC's.

These include:

• toluene
• benzene
• formaldehyde
• ethyl benzene
• styren
• acetone
• and a host of other chemicals

Some of these have already made the EPA's list of Extremely Hazardous Materials. Known carcinogens such as p-Dichlorobenzene are in new carpets, as are chemicals that produce fetal abnormalities in test animals. These chemicals can also cause hallucinations, nerve damage, and respiratory illness in humans. If you think that sounds bad, older carpets can be even more of a hazard than new ones. Not only do they contain the chemicals listed above, but they also have had years to accumulate pounds of dust mites, dirt, pesticides, and other toxins brought in on shoes, feet, and pet's paws. 

Did you know that your carpet can hold 8 times its weight in toxin filled dirt?

You can’t even see the trapped dirt that carpet hides. The EPA has stated that 80% of human exposure to pesticides happens indoors! So, you may be thinking what can I do? Well, getting rid of carpet is the first step.  There are many choices today; bamboo, reclaimed wood, and tile just to name a few. Cleaning these floors is much easier too.  White distilled vinegar is an extremely cost effective cleaner for your floors.  It is known to kill mold, bacteria, viruses, and other germs do to its high level of acidity. Adding a few drops of various essential oils to the mix can further increase Vinegar’s potency. If removing the carpet is not an option, then purchasing a high quality HEPA vacuum will help to remove some of the toxins from the carpet. Low quality inexpensive vacuums are usually not sealed well, causing dirty air to re-circulate back into your homes indoor air, making for reduced air quality.  Regardless of your vacuum, you can sprinkle a mixture of baking soda and high quality tea tree essential oil on the carpets before vacuuming to help eliminate harmful germs and molds.  You may also want to purchase a high quality HEPA air purifier to improve the indoor air quality of your home. What about the bathrooms, sinks, kitchen, and walls?

Many people complain that cleaning with natural chemical free cleaners is expensive. I would like to spill the beans on a little secret. Chemical free cleaners are simple house hold items! They are very inexpensive to make and restock as well. Plus, they are much safer to have around children.  White distilled vinegar, as I stated before, has a highly acidic PH. This helps to kill mold, bacteria, viruses, and other germs. Hydrogen Peroxide 3% can be used as a natural bleach alternative.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development listed hydrogen peroxide among the substances that can be used against mold spores. You can also use hydrogen peroxide when washing clothes instead of the hazardous bleach. Baking soda is a natural, effective, and abrasive cleaner. Borax is a natural cleaner and bleach alternative. You can purchase all of these effective chemical free cleaners at your local grocery stores.  It cost around $15.00 to purchase these items and they will last 2-3 months! Essential Oils may seem expensive, but a little bottle will go a long way, as they are hyper-concentrated. You can be as creative as you would like with bottling and labeling your home made house hold cleaners too.

All Purpose Cleaner

• 2 cups warm water (or 2 cups peppermint tea) 
• 2 tbsp. Borax 
• ½ cup lemon juice 
• ½ cup White Distilled Vinegar 
• 20 drops of essential oil of choice      

Stephanie Hein is a Certified Clinical Herbalist and the Supplement Coordinator at Vaughan Integrative Medicine and The Natural Vitality Center. Stephanie Hein has formulated all of Vaughan Integrative and The Natural Vitality Centers cleaning supplies to ensure that we stay chemical free.