If you’re like us, you’ve probably uttered the words, “I’m so sick of cleaning!” more than once. But a more accurate statement might be, “Cleaning is making me sick!” While a stylish, sparkling clean home may look great, it could actually be harmful for your health depending on the type of products you use.
But don’t think that means you’re off the hook for all those “honey dos” and household chores! There are plenty of “clean” products to choose from that will help you get the job done – without negatively impacting your health.
Constantly bombarded by toxins
In today’s industrialized world, our bodies are constantly bombarded by toxins – from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the food we eat (and even the containers it’s stored in!).
These toxins have detrimental effects on the entire body, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, reproductive and immune systems, as well as the liver and kidneys.
There are many toxin exposures we can’t avoid, which makes it more important than ever to control the ones we can (like the ones we bring into our homes!).
5 tips for safe cleaning
Whether you’re doing a quick wipe down, diving into a deep clean, or giving your space a style refresh, here are five tips for cleaning up your house – and your health:
- Giving your rooms a facelift with a fresh coat of paint? Be sure to choose nontoxic paints that contain the lowest possible levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which are carcinogenic. (You don’t want to bring benzene and formaldehyde into your home!). And if you live in an older home, be cautious of lead in painted surfaces. A lead testing kit is a quick, easy way to know what you’re dealing with.
- The plastic storage containers and bags many of us use can contain harmful chemicals that can leach into our food and drink – and then into our bodies. Option: Use glass or stainless steel storage containers, opt for organic cotton bags for produce, and transition to unbleached paper instead of plastic wrap and sandwich bags.
- A study by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that 10 to 20 years of cleaning is as bad for your lungs as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for the same amount of time. That doesn’t mean you can ignore your chores, though! You can find lots of natural, nontoxic cleaning product options – or make your own with common household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice.
- Harmful chemicals also hide in home furnishings and décor. Beware of anything that is flame-retardant, stain-proof, moth-proof, permanent press or wrinkle-resistant. When you’re shopping, look for products made with natural materials that are free of chemical treatments. Untreated wool, cotton, hemp, jute, sisal, seagrass, coir, kapok, millet and buckwheat are good options to consider.
- Filling your home with fragrance may seem like a good idea, but common air fresheners on the shelves today are made with nasty chemicals like benzene, toluene, terpenes and phthalates, which are linked to reproductive, skin, liver, kidney and hormone issues! And the issue isn’t just air fresheners – watch out for anything with “fragrance” in the ingredients, including your cleaning, cosmetics and personal care products. Go for fragrance-free or choose products made with natural, nontoxic essential oils.
Cleaning up your toxin build-up
Even when we “clean up” the products we use, our bodies can still have high levels of toxins built up from years and years of exposure in our environment. And over time, this toxic build-up can create serious, long-term health conditions. That’s why I work with my patients regularly on detoxing their systems so we have a “clean slate” to start optimizing their health. Read more about the environmental toxin testing and medical detoxification protocols available at my clinic.
If you’d like to learn how detoxing can help address your health concerns and reach your health goals, please get in touch. If you’re in the Oklahoma City area, I’m seeing patients in-person at Evoke5, my functional family medicine clinic. I also offer online consulting for clients across the country.